• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Building Faith

Building Faith

A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • Who We Are
    • Our Writers
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
  • ARTICLES
    • ARTICLES BY TOPIC
    • MOST RECENT ARTICLES
  • EN ESPAÑOL
  • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • Episcopal Teacher
    • Choosing Curriculum
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Signs of Life
    • Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John
    • 5 Marks of Love
    • Growing a Rule of Life
    • It’s Time To…
    • #AdventWord
  • SUPPORT US
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home/Youth Ministry/Ice Breakers to Get Groups Going

Ice Breakers to Get Groups Going

 

Whether gathering with children, youth, or adults sometimes you just need an ice-breaker to get folks warmed up, moving, or engaged with each other. It can be the first five minutes of a class, an introductory exercise when a group is meeting for the first time, or an activity to break up a long session of sitting and deep thinking.

Try any one of these next time you’re looking for a quick filler (or starter) with your group!

Spectrum Exercise. Get everyone up and moving. Have one side of the room serve as one answer on the spectrum, the other end of the room, the opposite. Or individuals could stand or sit, depending on their response. These are easy to make up on your own, depending on the questions. For example, if the question is “How’s it going today? or How was your week?” you give funny options like Sunny / Stormy ; Miss America / bad hair day ; Tasmanian Devil / Rip Van Winkle.

 

 Questions for ‘on-boarding’

  • What is your favorite food? Least favorite food? Favorite meal?
  • High point of the week? Low point of the week?
  • Favorite place in your house? Why?
  • What is your middle name? Where does it come from? Why did you get it?
  • Name your favorite thing to do on a rainy day.
  • What is your most prized possession?
  • What is the best costume you have ever had?
  •  If you were an animal, which one would you like to be, and why?
  • Remember the fits time you won something . . . how did it feel?
  • You are invisible for one day . . . what will you do?
  • You can raise one person from the dead . . . who will it be?
  • Where would you like to visit . . . why?
  • What is the best gift you ever got? The best gift you ever gave?
  • Which of the seven dwarfs are you most like today? This week?

Name Roll – toss a ball of yarn to students, each holding on to the yarn as it is tossed to the next person. Name a bible person, vocabulary word, etc.

Scrabble Scramble – write out the alphabet on index cards (1 letter per card, 2 of the letters A-H-N-S-T, 3 of E-O). Distribute. Name or describe a biblical character – all must scramble to spell it out.

“That’s Me!” – When something is named that describes you, jump up and shout, “That’s me!” and then sit down again. Place close attention and you will learn a lot about each other.

“What’s Different?” – In groups of two, each person looks at the other. Sit back to back and change one thing about yourself (unbutton a button, untie a shoe). Turn around and face each other. Each one guesses what has changed in the other. They say, “Let’s change back to the lesson and see how it can change our lives!”

 

 

Print PDF

June 1, 2013 By Sharon Ely Pearson

Filed Under: Adult Education, Intergenerational, Youth Ministry Tagged With: adults, children's ministry, family ministry, games, resources, youth ministry

About Sharon Ely Pearson

Sharon Ely Pearson recently retired as Editor & Christian Formation Specialist with Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) with 35+ years of experience in Christian formation on the local, judicatory, and church-wide level. Known for her knowledge of the variety of published curricula across the Church, she has also had her hand in the birthing of numerous books, including the best-seller, Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People and the 6-book series of Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God. A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary (2003) and a lifelong Episcopalian, she lives in Norwalk, Connecticut with her husband John, a 17.5 lb. cat named Shadow, and Chobe, a 7-year-old, tennis-ball-fetching, rescue black lab. They have two adult children (both teachers) and a 5-year-old granddaughter who is a budding environmental activist. Follow her at www.rowsofsharon.com.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Subscribe to Building Faith

You’ll get new articles, plus free weekly updates in your inbox.

We respect your privacy. View our privacy policy here.

Search our site

Search by Topic

New Articles

Woman sitting in chair with book surrounded by children.

The Pleasures and Perils of Reading Aloud to Children: Tips From A Children’s Book Author

Every year at our Maundy Thursday service, I told the Godly Play story of Jesus’ Last Passover. …

Continue Reading about The Pleasures and Perils of Reading Aloud to Children: Tips From A Children’s Book Author

Three young people on a bench in prayer.

Mental Heath Awareness Month: The Role of Church Leaders

It’s estimated that nearly 1 in 5 adults in the US, or more than 50 million people, suffer from some …

Continue Reading about Mental Heath Awareness Month: The Role of Church Leaders

Hand of person drawing boxes on a piece of paper.

Backward is Better: Create Impactful Congregational Programming with Measurable Results

How many times have you sat down with your leadership team to plan a program and the first question …

Continue Reading about Backward is Better: Create Impactful Congregational Programming with Measurable Results

Footer

Keep In Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook

Upcoming Webinars

Eventbrite Registration

Building Faith

Lifelong Learning, Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22304

Copyright © 2022 · Building Faith · A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary

Design by Blue+Pine Creative, Inc.

Subscribe to Building Faith

Get Articles and Resources by Email

Privacy Policy