Have fun, while helping members get to know each other better, by scheduling an icebreaker at the beginning of each club meeting. Here are a few favorites. For more ideas, stop by CSLIS and take a look at the Icebreakers and Team Building Manuals.
Name Game
Everyone sits in a circle. First person states their name and a word that may describe them that begins with the first letter of their name (there can be limits placed on the word, like a topic: food, vacation, sport, etc.). The second person repeats the first, then says their own. The third person repeats the first and second, then their own, etc.
Getting Acquainted
An informal discussion sharing feelings about being at SSU and a member of the club. You can use some of the following leading questions:
- Where are you from?
- Why did you choose Sonoma State?
- Why did you join this club?
- What is your major and/or career goals?
- What sort of activities were you involved with in high school?
- What sort of activities do you think you'll get involved in here?
- What do you do in your spare time?
The Toilet Paper Game
Get a roll of toilet paper (the kind with perforated sheets), and pass it around the circle, telling everyone to take as many sheets as they want (don't tell them why!). Once everyone has done this, tell them that for each sheet they took, they have to share something with the group about themselves. The leader may want to start. Either go around the circle, one sheet at a time, or have each person use all their sheets at once. As someone shares something, they tear off the sheet and throw it in the middle of the circle. This game also works well with M&Ms or other candy.
Brown Bag
Have each person bring three things in a brown bag that symbolize them or are important to them. Share the objects with the group. Variation: Put all bags in a pile and draw them out one at a time, guessing which person brought which bag.
Life Line
Provide each person with a large sheet of paper and a marker or pen. Have them write their name and create their "lifeline" on the sheet -- drawing or writing significant events in their life from birth to that day. Then share with the group. |
