Free Team Building Ideas: Shrinking Island

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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Shrinking Island is an icebreaker game that literally fosters togetherness and teamwork in order to
achieve the goal of standing on a ‘shrinking’ island. Participants have to attempt to keep afloat on a
piece of newspaper as it becomes smaller and smaller.

Team Size

8-10 per group

Materials Required

Newspapers

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. Each group will be given a big piece of newspaper.

2. The objective of the game is for everyone to keep their feet on the newspaper, and have no
part of their body touching the walls or the floor.
3. It’s a game where everyone has to attempt to squeeze as much as possible together.
4. For each round that is successful, they will have to fold the newspaper in half and attempt to
stand on it again… they will keep folding the newspaper in half until they are unable to
successfully stand on it as a group.
5. The group that can survive with the smallest piece of newspaper wins.

Debriefing Notes

1. Groups are free to come up with innovative ideas to stand on the newspaper. Some possible
strategies are like standing on each other’s foot, taking off their shoes or even sitting on
shoulders.
2. This game will have a lot of physical contact so do ensure that it is appropriate for your
participants.
Make A Shape
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Make a Shape is a communication game that shows the importance of goal setting and articulating
your goals to your team.

Team Size

5-8 players

Materials Required

A piece of rope about 2 metres long

Time Required

10 minutes
Instructions

1. Tie the rope into a ring large enough for everyone to hold a section of the rope with both
hands.
2. Everyone stands in a circle facing each other.
3. Everyone holds a section of the ring of rope with both hands while standing up.
4. The instructor gives instructions to form the rope into a particular shape. For example, a circle.
5. The group attempts to coordinate their movements and then lay the rope down on the floor
with the shape as instructed.
6. They are asked by the instructor if the shape is to their satisfaction.
7. Repeat steps 1 – 6 with a more complex shape (a dog, flower or what not), but this time round
without speaking and only using hand gestures.
8. Repeat steps 1- 6, this time round without even hand gestures.
9. After the game is over, the instructor can ask the participants about their experience of trying
to communicate to make the shapes.
10. The instructor can then explain the analogy that he is trying to make during the game. The
explanation is below.
This exercise can be used to illustrate the importance of communication in leadership. Sometimes as
leaders we don’t know the importance of communication our goals and objectives to our members.
As such, we get people who give vague results. But you can’t blame them. Vague instructions beget
vague results.

Therefore, articulate your goals as clearly as you can. Specific instructions give precise results!

Debriefing Notes

1. How did you feel when you could not communicate with your team?
2. How do you think this communication problem relates to your workplace?
Host and Guests
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Hosts and Guests is a quick test of a person’s initiative and a good get to know you game. This
game should be played in a setting where the participants do not know each other (or are relatively
unfamiliar with one another).

Team Size

A room full of strangers

Time Required

10 minutes

Instructions

1. The facilitator will ask everyone to take 5 minutes to meet 5 other people in the room.

2. After 5 minutes, the facilitator will ask the crowd a few questions:

 How many people actually met five other people?

  How many people met more than five people?
 How many went the extra mile and asked for name cards?
 What is one interesting fact that you learned about one of the people you met?
3. During this short exercise, the group is able to evaluate themselves on how they would behave on
in a relationship:

 Were they active? Did they take the initiative to pursue meeting people? Or…
 Were they passive? Did they wait for other people to approach them.
Alphabetic Introductions
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Alphabetic Introductions is a great icebreaker you can use for each participant to get to know each
other better. It is also a great tool for participants to demonstrate creativity, innovativeness and
humor!

Team Size

4 or more

Time Required

About 10 minutes depending on group size

Instructions

1. Each participant is asked to choose one letter of the alphabet. Duplication of letters by the
participants is allowed.
2. Participants are given five minutes to think up as many words as possible to describe
themselves.
3. So for example, a person who chooses ‘E’ will be using words like ecstatic, enigmatic,
extraordinary.
4. At the end of the five minutes, each participant should speak out the words that they thought
of to describe themselves.
 5. The player with the most words after all participants have taken their turn is named the
winner.

Debriefing Questions

1. Choose three of your words and explain to the group how those particular word describe you
as a person.
Balloon Fight
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Balloon Fight is a physical game that can be used to break the ice for a group of strangers or used for
observing group dynamics of a team in a competitive setting. Do note that this game may be
inappropriate for certain groups due to its physical nature.

Team Size

10 or more

Materials Required

 One balloon per person (have a few extra, just in case)

 One piece of elastic band per person

Time Required

1 minutes
Instructions

1. Divide everyone into groups of twos or threes.

2. Give everyone a balloon and a piece of elastic band each.
3. Get everyone to blow up their balloon to a reasonable size (if you haven’t already done so)
and tie it to their ankle using the elastic band, facing outwards.
4. The objective of the game is for a team to destroy all other teams’ balloons by stepping on
them. (Their balloons, not their feet!)
5. Before you start the game, allocate each team to a particular location within the playing space.
6. Announce the scoring system to them:
 For destroying one balloon, 1 point is awarded.
 For being the last team standing, 3 points is awarded.
7. Give the teams 5 minutes to strategize.
8. After 5 minutes, start the game.
9. Every time a person’s balloon is burst, that person is eliminated and will be asked to sit down
on the side.
10. Call the game when only one balloon remains.
11. The winning team is the one with the highest score.

Debriefing Notes

1. What behaviors did you observe from your team members before and during the balloon
fight?
2. What behaviors did you observe from your opponents during the balloon fight?
3. How do you think that behavior is reflected in the workplace?
4. Talk about a behavior that you thought was helpful toward the team effort.
“Blow Wind, Blow!”
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

“Blow Wind, Blow!” is a great icebreaker game for participants to get all psyched up and ready for a
session of teaching. It helps build a fun atmosphere around a session and fosters bonding.

Team Size

8 or more

Materials Required

A random item each from participants

Time Required

15 minutes
Instructions

1. Participants are to stand forming a circle facing inwards.

2. Pick a volunteer out first to stand in the centre of the circle.
3. Spread the rest of the participants out until there is about a space of 1 metre from one person
to the next.
4. Next, each of these participants standing on the outside takes out a personal item ( big and
noticeable) and places it in front of him/her.
5. This item serves to mark a ‘home’.
6. When everyone is ready, the volunteer in the centre will say,”Blow, Wind, Blow!”
7. The participants are to echo, “Blow which way?”
8. Then the volunteer in the centre must choose the criteria. For example, “The wind blows for
everyone wearing jeans!” or “The wind blows for everyone wearing a watch!”
9. Immediately, the people that fulfil these criteria must leave their ‘homes’ they were standing
on and seek out another spot to stand on.
10. During this time of momentary chaos, the volunteer standing in the centre must quickly run
and take the ‘home’ of a person who left.
11. At the end of it, there will be one person left standing in the centre because all the ‘homes’
have now been taken up.
12. This person will be the next volunteer to perform steps number 6- 10 again.
13. The game goes on until the instructor decides the time is up. There are no winners in this
game, only much laughter and fun!
Some suggestions for criteria; “the wind blows for everyone…”
 “who brushed your teeth this morning!”
 “wearing white socks!”
 “who didn’t eat your breakfast today!”
 “who loves Star Wars!”
 “with long hair!”
Master Architects
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Master Architects is a great exercise to demonstrate the importance of planning, teamwork, problem
solving. It’s also useful for observing a team’s group dynamics.

Team Size

10 or more

Materials Required

 Around 30 sheets of newspapers per team

 One roll of masking tape per team
 One pair of scissors per team
 One drink packet/juice box (unopened) per team
 One measuring tape

Time Required

30 minutes
Instructions

1. Divide the team into groups of 5-6.

2. Each team is given the necessary materials as mentioned above.
3. With the materials, they must construct a tower using the newspapers that are provided for
them as high up as possible.
4. Participants are given 20 minutes to complete the task.
5. When the structure is completed, it must be strong enough to support a drink packet at the top.
6. When the team is finished construction, the drink packet should be placed at the top of the
structure to test its strength.
7. The team that builds the tallest structure that can hold the drink packet wins the game.

Debriefing Notes

1. How did your team decide on the structure you were building?
2. How do you think building this tower relates to teamwork in your job?
The Newspaper Hop
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

The Newspaper Hop is a simple, fun game for a group of participants to see their own teamwork
and planning skills in action. It is suitable for most groups to play, however do be sensitive that
some people might be uncomfortable about being blindfolded.

Team Size

6 players or more

Materials Required

 Newspapers
 A bell
 Two blindfolds
 Masking tape to hold down newspapers

Time Required

About 20 minutes
Instructions

1. Divide the group into two teams.

2. Set up 10 pieces newspapers in a straight line, as shown below.
3. Each team blindfolds one of their members and gets them to stand at the start of the
newspaper line.
4. The objective of the game is for the two teams to use ONLY the bell to guide the blindfolded
member to the other side of the newspaper line.
5. The game is over when the representatives from both teams have successfully reached the
other side.
6. The winning team is the one that their representative to the other side first; they get one point.
7. If the representative touches the floor, he is ‘dead’ and must return to the starting point.
8. Inform the teams that they have 15 minutes to get the other player to the other side and they
are not allowed to communicate by talking during the time they are blindfolded.
9. The game continues until all players have gone through the newspaper line.

Debriefing Notes

1. How did you feel when you were blindfolded?

2. Is there any way you feel blindfolded at work?
3. If so, based on what you learnt from this game, what do you think everyone can do such that
work is done well even though someone may be ‘blindfolded’?
Truth or Lie
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Title and Description

Truth or Lie is another simple icebreaker that you can play for the participants to get to know each
other better with interesting facts about themselves.

Team Size

6 or more

Materials Required

 One piece of paper per person

 One pen per person

Time Required

15 minutes
Instructions

1. Divide the group into two teams.

2. All participants are to write down three facts about themselves on a piece of paper.
3. Of these three facts, two should be true and one a lie.
4. Then the first team sends their representative forward and faces the other team.
5. He reads out the three facts about himself and the other team is supposed to guess which one
of the facts is a lie.
6. If the team guesses correctly, they score a point. If not, the representative’s team scores the
point.
7. To make the game more fun and engaging, the participants should be encouraged to write
interesting facts about themselves.
For example: “I have a twin brother who is 6 minutes older than me” is a more interesting fact
than, “I am 1.65 metres tall.”
The team with the highest score after all participants have gone forward wins the game.

Debriefing Notes

1. What did you learn about your fellow participants from this exercise?
2. Name one fact you found most interesting about a particular person.
Who Am I
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Who Am I is a simple get-to-know-you icebreaker that you can play to get participants to quickly
learn about each other. It’s used in groups where participants are generally strangers.

Team Size

6 or more

Materials Required

 Four blank cards per person

 One pen per person

Time Required

15 minutes
Instructions

1. Participants are to write down four facts about themselves, one on each card.
2. The facilitator then collects the cards from the participants and shuffles them.
3. A random set of four cards is then handed back to each participant.
4. When the time begins, each participant has to go around to return the cards to whom it
belongs.
5. To do so, participants have to go around asking each other questions that will reveal if a given
card belongs to them.
6. The game ends when every participant has their own set of four cards.

Debriefing Notes

1. What did you learn about your fellow participants from this exercise?
2. Name one interesting fact you learnt about a particular person.
Word Scramble
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Word Scramble is a great icebreaker for demonstrating the importance of team cooperation, and is
useful for observing group dynamics as your team works together to solve a problem.

Team Size

10 or more

Materials Required

 Paper
 Two pens
 A large piece of paper (or chalkboard)
 Marker
 Dictionary (Optional)
Time Required
20-30 minutes

Instructions
1. Divide the group into two or more teams (about 5 participants to a team).
2. Distribute one piece of paper and one pen to each team.
3. The task: The instructor will write down 7 random letters on the large piece of paper (or
chalkboard).
4. When the timer starts, the instructor will put the large piece of paper up for display. Each team
will have 3 minutes to write down as many words that can be formed from the 7 random
letters.
5. Words must be at least 3-letters; 2-letter words do not receive
 6. points.
7. Allow 3 minutes for the teams to come up with their words.
8. At the end of the 3 minutes, go over the list of words that each team comes up with to see if
the words are found in the English dictionary (use if necessary).
9. Repeat for 2 more rounds with different sets of 7 letter words.
10. At the end of the three rounds, tally the score. The team with the highest score wins.
11. The scoring systems is as follows:
 7 letter word – 40 points
 6 letter word – 30 points
 5 letter word – 20 points
 4 letter word – 10 points
 3 letter word – 5 points

Debriefing notes

1. What kind of behaviors helped solve the problem?

2. What kind of behaviors increased communication within the team?
WHACKO!
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Whacko! helps a new group get to know each other’s names and at the same time have a lot of fun.

Team Size

About 8 or more

Materials Required

A rolled up stick of newspaper

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. The group sits in a circle facing inward.

2. Before the game begins, everyone takes turns to say his/her name and if you so wish, a little
about themselves.
3. The game master chooses one person to be the ‘hitter’. The hitter stands in the center of the
circle of the group.
4. The round begins when the facilitator calls out the name of one of the person sitting in the
circle.
5. The hitter must immediately find the person and give him a hard WHACK! ( not too hard)
with the newspaper roll.
6. To prevent the hitter from hitting the person, the person must quickly call out the name of
another individual in the group.
7. The hitter then must approach the other person and attempt to hit him before he calls out
another name.
8. The round ends when the hitter successfully hits a person who does not call out the name of
another person in time, or calls out a wrong name (a person that is not in the group sitting
down)
9. The person who is hit will become the new hitter and the next round begins.
Charades
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Charades is a classic game for participants of all ages; whether you’re 5 or 50, it’s a fun filled game
that can engage everyone.

Team Size

6 players or more

Materials Required

 About 6 envelopes
 30 small pieces of Paper

Time Required

10 – 20 minutes
Instructions

1. Before you begin the game, write out several categories like Movies, Animals, Street Names,
Cartoon Characters and so on. Make 6 of them, one for each envelope.
2. Under each of these categories think of about 5-6 items for each list. For example, Under
Movies you could put: Transformers, Lord of the Rings, Batman… and so on.
3. Make sure that all the items are not too hard to guess. Pick items that the other participants
would know about; nothing obscure.
4. Write each item down on one small piece of paper.
5. Label the envelopes and then put the pieces of paper inside according to the categories.
6. Separate the group into two teams. Each team will take a turn and send out a representative to
be the actor.
7. The actor must first pick an envelope from the game master’s hands. The category chosen is
told to the group.
8. When the round begins, the actor must quickly act out the items in the category to his own
group. He cannot speak or draw any word out while trying to act.
9. The team has to guess what the actor is trying to portray and when the correct answer is called
out, the actor should move on to the next item.
10. The actor may choose to pass if he feels the team cannot guess the current item.
11. The round ends when either the time runs up (40 seconds) or the actor manages to finish the
items in the category.
12. This is repeated with the other team and the team with the highest score at the end of 3 rounds
wins the game!
Money Machine
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Money Machine is a interactive group game that requires a lot of moving around, shouting and
laughter that will help your participants break the ice and bond!

Team Size

10 players or more

Approximately equal number of male and female participants

Time Required

About 10 minutes

Instructions

1. The participants are divided into male and female participants.

2. The game master now decides the ‘value’ of each male and female participants. For example,
the male participants will be worth 5 cents and the female participants will be worth 10 cents
each.
3. When the round begins, the game master calls out a value:” Form… 25 cents!”, the
participants have to scramble to get partners to form a group to form an equivalent of that
value.
4. For example, 5 guys at 5 cents each would have to group together to form that 25 cents, or 2
girls and 1 guy, or 3 guys and 1 girl, and so on.
5. The participants who fail to join a group to form their 25 cents would have to perform a forfeit
after the game is over.
6. So the next round begins when the game master calls out another value,” Form… 15 cents!”
and so on.
7. To vary the game play, the game master can change the ‘value’ of the male and female
participants in between rounds.
8. The game master will decide when the game should end and then the people who picked up
the most forfeit points would have to do a forfeit for everyone!
Cat and Mouse
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Cat and Mouse is a fast-paced, exciting team bonding game that will bring your participants closer
together through lots of laughter!

Team Size

8 or more players

Materials Required

Two ties of different colours

Time Required

15 minutes
Instructions

1. The participants sit down forming a circle facing inwards.

2. The two ties each represent a ‘cat’ and a ‘mouse’. Choose one tie to represent each.
3. To begin a round, place the two ties with two people sitting at opposite sides of the circle.
4. Now the cat tie is supposed to chase after the mouse tie.
5. To move the cat tie left/right (predetermined by you), the person holding on to the cat tie must
make a knot around his neck using the tie.
6. To move the mouse tie, the person holding on to the mouse tie must make two knots (doesn’t
have to be around the neck)
7. When the round begins, the two people holding the respective ties must start making the
knots.
8. As you can see, the cat tie should be moving faster than the mouse tie, therefore the cat is
chasing the mouse.
9. This goes on until the cat finally catches the mouse; that is, a person holding on to the cat tie
passes the tie to the next person, when that next person has not finished tying the two knots for
the mouse tie.
10. The loser has to perform a forfeit!

Debriefing Notes

NIL. This is purely for fun and bonding!

Leadership Activities: For Groups River Crossing
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

River Crossing is a competitive fast-paced game that requires teamwork, coordination and speed.
This game can help improve team dynamics within a group.

Team Size

10-16 players; the more the merrier!

Materials Required

 About 10-16 pieces of cardboard, each about the size of your palm
 Tape

Time Required

15 minutes
Instructions

1. This game should be played in a large indoor open space.

2. Using the tape, two parallel lines are created about 10-15 metres apart. The space in between
these two lines represents the river.
3. This river is infested with man-eating piranhas so no player is can ‘touch’ the river.
4. The players are split into 2 equal teams: Team A and Team B. Both teams start together on
one side of the river.
5. The teams are given out equal pieces of cardboard (about 6-7 each).
6. When the round starts, each team must use these cardboard pieces to get across the river. The
cardboard pieces can be placed on the river as stepping stones and can be moved around.
7. The team must therefore share the cardboard pieces and attempt to get the whole team across
to the other side of the river.
8. If anyone makes contact with the river (the floor space between the two tape), then he/she is
considered eaten up and has to go back to the starting point.
9. The team that gets its team members across in the fastest time wins.

Debriefing Notes

1. How did your team plan to cross the river in the shortest time possible.
2. Who took leadership in this fast-paced, high-stress situation? How did he/she do?
Pull the Tail
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Pull the Tail is a free-for-all frenzy that brings a lot of chaos, fun and laughter the group! It’s a great
team bonding exercise that will bring your participants closer together.

Team Size

10 or more

Materials Required

 Strips of plastic about 30 cm long and 5 cm wide (One strip per person)
 A large indoor space

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. Each player attaches the strip of plastic on his side by stuffing the strip of plastic into his/her
pocket.
2. A large part of the strip of plastic should be hanging on the side of the pocket, where it is easy
to reach.
3. The plastic strip represents the lifeline of a person and the objective of the game is for each
player to pull off the other players’ plastic strip to ‘kill’ off the other player.
4. To start off, each player takes a corner in the room.
5. When the game starts, usually either the players will be defensive or you will see a massive
frenzy in the center of the room!
6. If they want to hide in their corner, encourage them to go into the frenzy by giving them a
friendly push!
7. The player that ends with his/her plastic strip still hanging from his pocket will win the game.
Things to Note:
1. Do advise the players to take it easy as a physical game like this can get out of hand easily.

Debriefing Notes

1. How did you behave in the competitive setting? Were you the type that went all out to win, or
did you take care of your fellow teammates and defend?
2. How do you think that applies to your daily work ethic?
Human Bingo
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

People Bingo is a great getting-to-know-you game that can foster communication in a newly formed
group.

Team Size

More than 15 people

Materials Required

 Paper with 5×5 panels filled with descriptions (will explain below). You are required to do
some homework preparing these pieces of paper.
 Pens enough for all the participants

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. Everyone will receive a paper with the boxes of descriptions. The descriptions will include certain
general characteristics of a person. Some examples:

a. Is an only child

b. Ate Macdonald’s at least twice this week

c. Drives a car

d. Has moved their house/apartment at least four times in his/her life

e. Practices martial arts

2. Those are some suggestions. We recommend you tune these descriptions according to your
participants.

For example, if you are playing with a group of youth, descriptions like ‘has three kids’ don’t make
sense.

Now go and create your own customized 5×5 panel for your participants.

3. When the game starts, participants should mingle to find someone who might fit one of the
descriptions.

4. When they meet, participants should introduce themselves and then sign a box with a description
that fits them.

5. Each person they meet can only sign on one box (or two boxes, depending on the number of
participants).

6. The winner will be the one who completes one (or two) straight lines and then he/she has to shout
“Bingo!” and bring his 5×5 sheet to the facilitator to verify.

7. The game ends when three winners are announced.

Debriefing Notes

1. What was one surprising thing you found out about another participant?
2. What has this short exercise taught you about how much you know another person?
You can use this short team building activity to talk about not pre-judging people:

While we often have a certain first impression of people, we must not jump to conclusions because as
we know more about the person, we might find that everything that we thought about another person
was untrue.

The better way is always to adopt a non-judgmental approach when you meet new people. You just
might be pleasantly surprised.
Exercise Name Grid
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Name Grid is a quick reaction word game that fosters communication between the groups. This
game only takes a few minutes to play, but is sure to bring out excitement in your participants.

Team Size

4 people per group

Materials Required

 One piece of A4 sized paper per group

 One pen per group

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. Each group has to draw grids where they will have to write the first four letters of their first names
in those grids one below another. Example:

2. Each team will have three minutes to write down words that can be formed by only the letters in
the grid.

3. The letters do not have to be in a straight line but they have to be joining either horizontally,
vertically, diagonally. In the example above, you could form the words: VINE, MANE, JIVE, DAM
and so on.

4. When the time is up, each team adds up their points for each word they have found. You can use
the following as their score sheet:

3 letter words = 1 point

4 letter words = 2 points

5 letter words = 3 points

6 letter words = 4 points

5. The group with the most points at the end of three minutes is the winner.
6. Tip: In order to make this game even more competitive and the participants more involved, you
can consider giving them an attractive prize.

Debriefing Notes

1. What were some of the emotions you felt in those three minutes?
2. Was there a particular person that immediately took the pen, or was it a democratic process
and you guys decided together?
3. In the midst of excitement, we often get extremely task oriented and focus on everything it
takes to achieve the victory; however sometimes, you will have relationships strained because
of words spoken on impulse or in the heat of the moment.
4. How did you and your team mates react when the prize was announced and you knew that
everyone was going to do their best? What was your internal dialogue? Did you tell yourself
“We can win this!” or did you simply say,”I don’t think we’ll win; there’s too many groups.”
5. Our reaction determines how we choose to face high tension situations in our lives: either
head-on with courage, or we back down and hope that things will work out fine.
Line Up
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BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Line Up is an icebreaker game where everyone has to communicate without speaking and line up in
a straight line according to a pre-determined characteristic. It is a game that will illustrate the power
of communication and at the same time, have a group of new friends enjoying a fun time together.

Team Size

More than 10 people

Time Required

About 5 – 8 minutes

Instructions

1. The participants will be split into two groups.

2. Participants will then arrange themselves randomly in a straight line within their group.

3. Then, the facilitator will call out a particular characteristic:

  “Height, from shortest to tallest!”
 “Birthday, from earliest to latest!”
 “Hair length, longest to shortest!”
 “Number of kids, least to most!”
and so on…

4. The participants will then rush to arrange themselves in that order, and the group to successful
completes the arrangement should all raise their hands in unison.

5. The facilitator then has to verify if the arrangement is correct. If it is, they get awarded 1 point. If
the arrangement is wrong, then the other team gets the 1 point.

6. To bring the difficulty up a level, after a certain number of rounds, the facilitator must dictate that
NOBODY can speak. All must use sign language.

7. Obviously, it will take more time, but the aggressive hand signals will make for much laughter!

Debriefing Notes

1. How did it feel like when you could not use words to communicate?
2. You took much longer to arrange yourself when you couldn’t speak, what does that imply
about our ability to speak and communicate?
3. Effective communication is essential to a productive workplace. If the team does not
purposefully communicate with one another, it give rises to misunderstanding, mistakes and
wasted effort.
4. Make it a point to keep the communication lines open in your workplace.
Pass the Objects
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Title and Description

Free Leadership Games: Pass the Objects is an icebreaking game where objects have to be passed
down a line of people holding spoons with their mouth! It is a game of communication, teamwork
and strategy that will be sure to bring out lots of energy and laughter from the participants.

Team Size

2 groups of participants, preferably 6-8 per group

Materials Required

 Plastic Table Spoons, one for each participant

 10 x Rubber bands
 10 x Marbles
 10 x Ping Pong Balls (Table Tennis Balls)

Time Required

About 10-15 minutes

Instructions
 1. Each group is to line up in a straight line and use their mouths to hold the plastic spoons given
to them.
2. The objective of the game is to pass objects from the first person in the line to the last person,
and at the end of 5 minutes, the group that received the most points will win the game.
3. At the start, the first person in each group will be given 5 rubber bands, 5 marbles and 5 ping
pong balls which the person will hold in his/her hands.
4. Before the game starts, each group is given 2 minutes to strategize on how best to get the most
points. They can choose whichever order or item they want to transport first.
5. When the time starts, the first person must place an object on his/her spoon and THEN use the
spoon to pass the object to the next person’s spoon. Remember, it’s Spoon to Spoon. No
Hands are allowed!
6. If the object is dropped on the floor or hands were used, then the object must be returned to
the first person to start all over again!
7. At any time, only one object should be transported.
8. This will give time for the participants to encourage one another as the objects are bring
passed.
9. At the end of 5 minutes, the objects that have successfully crossed to the last person will be
counted and scores are tabulated. The group with the highest score wins.
10. The scoring system is as follows:
 Each rubber band = 1 point
 Each marble = 2 points
 Each ping pong ball = 3 points

Debriefing Notes

1. Who took the initiative to strategize immediately when the group was huddling?
2. Did everything go according to what was strategized, or were plans being changed on the
ground?
3. How many of you took the time to encourage your team mates as they were passing the object
from spoon to spoon?
4. In high stress competitive situations, we often see leaders emerging; those that immediately
take the lead in such a situation and those that take a step back and wait for someone to lead.
Of course, if there were two such vocal leaders, there would be a little disarray.
5. Also, during the course of the game, you will see the encouragers come out… they will start
cheering their team mates on during the game rather than just to stand there and wait for their
turn. These are great team players who take ownership of the team’s success.
6. Also, plans are often changed on the ground. The saying goes, it’s essential to plan before a
project is executed, but don’t expect anything on the ground to go according to plan. How fast
a team adapts to changes shows the versatility of the team and increases the likelihood of
success.
Entangle
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Entangle is an icebreaker where participants’ hands are all entangled up in the center and they have
to communicate in an attempt to disentangle themselves.

Team Size

2 groups of 8-10 people are needed. Too few people makes the game too easy to complete.

Time Required

About 5 minutes

Instructions

1. The participants from each group form a circle, facing inwards.

2. Each participant extends their hands outwards and they have to grab another person’s hands.
Note that both hands cannot be holding on to the same person.
3. After the hands are tangled up, they will have to try to disentangle themselves without
breaking the contact with the hand that initially grabbed.
4. The end product should be a group of participants still holding each other hands with no
crisscrossing of any hands.
5. The fastest group to disentangle themselves wins.
Debriefing Notes

1. Who took the initiative to start organizing everyone?

2. Were there too many people giving their opinions about what they should do? If so, did it
confuse you about what you should do?
3. How do you think your group would perform if there was only one person doing the speaking?
4. In such a situation, it is natural that the more vocal participants will voice out their opinions on
how the group can disentangle themselves; however, this often leads to the group being
confused.
5. In an organization, there is often a need for a clear leader: one person giving the direction,
setting the standards and leading by example. Without that, people can become confused
because they do not know who to follow.
Toilet Paper Game
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Toilet Paper Game is an icebreaker where participants have to introduce themselves in an

innovative way: the more toilet paper they choose to tear off, the more they have to share about
themselves.

Group Size

5 people and up

Materials Required

A roll of toilet paper

Time Required

20-30 minutes
Instructions

1. The participants will be seated in a circle.

2. The facilitator will pass the toilet roll to the first person and give the group to take as much
tissue as possible. “The toilets near this room will not have any toilet paper, so I would like
you to take what you NEED.”
3. The toilet roll will be passed from person to person, and each will take what they think they
will need for the day.
4. After everybody has taken their share, the facilitator then tells the group, “For every square of
toilet paper you tore off, you have to say something about yourself.”
5. At this point, you will hear all the laughter and groaning because some took too much. Get
them to start counting their squares.
6. Then, starting with the first person, get them to share something interesting about themselves.
7. You can end the session by introducing yourself and share a humorous moral: “Sometimes
excess can be bad for you!”

Debriefing Notes

1. How many of you took more than what you knew you would need just in case? What does that
say about your approach to life in general?
2. What are some interesting things you have learned about your fellow participants?
Words from Strings
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Word from Strings is a game that fosters communication, coordination and teamwork within the
group to complete the task. Participants have to cooperate by controlling a marker with their strings
to write a full word.

Team Size

5-6 people per group

Materials Required

 A piece of paper per group

 One marker per group
 One string per participant

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. Each group will sit in a circle with the piece of paper in the center.
2. The strings that each participant holds should now be tied to the marker. Each marker should
have 5-6 strings tied to it.
3. One end of the string will be tied to the marker, while the other end will be held by each
participant.
4. Next, the group will have to decide on a quality regarding leadership.
5. Then, they will have to maneuver the marker by only holding on the strings to write out that
quality that they have chosen on that piece of paper.

Debriefing Notes

1. Who was the person that chose to take lead immediately when I gave you the instructions?
2. What system did you use to write out the words?
3. Was that system effective? Did your group chose to change how to do it in the middle of the
challenge?
4. This is a great game to illustrate the importance of team work and coordination within a
system. When a consensus is met on how the word should be written, a system is created.
A system is a way of running and doing things within an organization and when individuals work
together under the rules of the system, goals can be achieved faster.

On the other hand, when one or two individuals choose to play by their own rules and do things their
way instead of coordinating with the team under this ‘system’, chaos ensues and you find that the
goal is more much harder to achieve together as a team.
Blindfold Maze
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Blindfold Maze is a team icebreaker where all participants will be blindfolded and have to get
through an obstacle course with only instructions from one leader. It is a game of communication and
trust, and also usually ensures your participants will have a great time together.

Team Size

Each group should have around 10 people. An equal number between groups is recommended.

Materials Required

 Blindfolds, one for each participant

 Chairs and tables to form an obstacle course in the play area. (How you choose to arrange
these chairs and tables is up to you)
 A stopwatch

Time Required

About 15 minutes
Instructions

1. All participants in the group will be blindfolded except for one, the leader.
2. This leader will be giving instructions to the blindfolded participants.
3. The blindfold participants have to stand in a straight line, with their hands on the shoulders of
the person in front of them.
4. When the time starts, the leader has to guide these participants through a man-made obstacle
course (set up by you) in the shortest time possible.
5. The leader has to shout instructions: “Turn left, Walk 2 steps forward…” and so on.
6. The leader is not allowed to touch the team members but only allowed to give instructions.
7. In the course of moving through the obstacles, they are not allowed to let go of their partner’s
hip.
8. The round is complete when the last person has passed through the finish line.
9. The time taken must be recorded down for both groups, and the group that finishes faster
wins. Alternatively, if you only have one group, they can change their leader and repeat the
exercise to see if they can beat their time.

Debriefing Notes

1. How did it feel to be blindfolded and not being able to see where you were headed?
2. Did it feel comforting that there was a voice that was guiding you through the obstacle?
3. Did the leader give good/specific instructions to your team?
4. How about those standing further back. How did it feel relying on the person in front of you to
guide you through the obstacle?
5. The person giving the instruction is like the leader or the mentor in your life. When you
encounter a new situation, often you are walking in blind; you don’t know what the obstacles
and challenges will be, and that’s why you rely on the leader giving you the instructions to
help you avoid the pitfalls and obstacles along the way to help you achieve your goals as soon
as possible. And as you are going through challenges, you can also guide others along in the
journey with you, like those people holding your shoulders. You don’t have to know
everything to be a leader. All you have to be sometimes is one step ahead.
Human Scissors Paper Stone
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Human Scissors Paper Stone is a fun-filled, action-packed game where two groups will have to
strategize, communicate, and act in order to outsmart their opponents. There is quite a bit of physical
activity like making funny actions, chasing your opponents and getting chased by them.

Team Size

Groups of 6-10 participants each

Materials Required

A roll of masking tape

Time Required

15-20 minutes
Instructions

1. Groups will be playing scissors, paper, stones with one another, but with a twist.
2. Instead of the usual hand signs, groups have to come up with their own unique 3 second action
for each object: scissors, paper and stone!
3. So before the actual game starts, each group has to show their action representing the
respective objects.
4. This will be a source of a lot of laughter as the participants start demonstrating ridiculous
or funny moves together.
5. Note that each group can have their own unique actions for the objects.
6. When the dances are completed, it is time for the showdown.
7. The ‘battleground’ consists of just place with lots of room to run. Two lines of masking tape
will be laid out on each end of the room to mark the ‘safe zone’. 7. Each group will then first
come forward to the middle to battle.
8. Each group must huddle and decide on one of the three actions (that represent the scissors
paper and stone) secretly and not let the other group know.
9. On the count of 3, both groups will do their actions at the same time.
10. The participants from the winning group must try to catch the participants from the losing
group while the losing group has to try to run back to past the safe zone.
11. Once past the safe zone, they cannot be captured anymore.
12. Participants who are captured by the opposing group will join the group that caught them.
Eventually, the numbers of one group will keep growing and growing.
13. The game ends when everybody is on the same team.
Ping Pong Knockout
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Title and Description

Ping Pong Knockout is a fun game that guarantees lots of laughter, as a few unlucky participants
attempt to knock down cups by swinging their bodies.

Team size

8 – 15 people

Materials required

 Raffia string
 20 Styrofoam cups
 Markers
 2 ping pong balls (table tennis balls) per group

Time required

About 15 minutes
Instructions

1. Split the group into two (or three, depending on the number of participants)
2. Groups will be will first required to make a two pendulums with the ping pong ball and the
raffia string. Note that the string should be about ¾ of a person’s height.
3. Next, each group will nominate two participants.
4. The other end of the two pendulums should be tied about the neck of the two participants.
5. In an open area, 20 Styrofoam cups are placed. 5 of these Styrofoam cups will have smiley
faces, while the other 15 will have angry faces.
6. The participants should stand on the four corners of the open area.
7. Once the game starts, the participants with the pendulum must use their body to swing the
pendulum to hit the angry faces. The participants cannot use their hands, but only their bodies
to swing the pendulum.
8. The other participants are also not allowed to touch the pendulum but they are allowed to give
advice/commands to the person attempting to knock it down.
9. For every cup with an angry face knocked down, one point will be awarded. For every cup
with a happy face knocked down, one point will be deducted.
10. The aim is to knock down all the angry faces in the areas in the given time.
11. When the game ends, the group with the most points is the winner.

Debriefing Notes

1. When you heard the game instructions, who were the first two people you guys thought of?
Why?
2. (To the pendulum swinging participants) During the game, when things are intense, whose
commands did you listen to? Why did you listen to him/her?
3. In the end, did you think you executed the strategy well?
4. Usually, we choose participants that are able to let themselves loose and just be spontaneous;
we instinctively know that they don’t mind making fun of themselves and allow themselves to
be the butt of jokes. Such people are a joy to be with, and they bring life and fun to a team as
well.
5. During intense competition, it is the leader’s voice that we listen to amongst many others,
such people naturally command some influence and authority and its usually those voices that
we listen to.
Human Checkers
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Human Checkers is an icebreaker game that requires good communication and strategy to win. In
this game, participants have to play checkers, but with themselves as the checker pieces.

Team Size

At least 16 participants, 2 groups

Materials Required

 A 7×8 checker board on the floor made with tape

 Masking Tape
 5 marbles for each group

Time Required

About 15-20 minutes

Instructions

1. The play area should be prepared by making a 7×8 board marked by the masking tape.
2. Each group will be given 5 marbles. Participants can choose to allocate the marbles to
different people or to let one person keep it. These marbles represent the groups’ lives.
3. Participants are free to strategize their own plan and should not let the other group know who
has the marbles.
4. Then, 2 groups will be standing at their starting position (first 2 line of the board with alternate
spaces between one another)
5. Each side will have a turn. At each turn, only one player is allowed to move and only
diagonally.
6. If they meet diagonally and one side chooses to attack, they will play scissors paper stone. The
loser will have to give up their marbles to the winning team (if they are in possession of
marbles) and they are eliminated from of the game. i.e they have to leave the play board.
7. Participants can choose to avoid the battle by not attacking if it is their turn.
8. The objective is to see which group is the first to reach the opposite side with the most number
of marbles.
9. You may also choose to leave one person outside the game board to be the director of the
‘checkers’ pieces.

Debriefing Notes

1. What was your strategy to win this game?

2. (Optional) Who did you choose to stand outside the game board to direct the play? Why did
you choose him?
3. Did your strategy play out successfully? Or did you have to change your plans in the
meantime?
4. This is a game of strategy, teamwork and communication. Each team has to try to guess the
opposing team’s strategy and try to outsmart them. This means a lot of adaptation in real time.
This is a reflection of real life as well; in the field, many big decisions have to be made and
adapted according to what is happening live.
5. A leader must always be prepared, but also be prepared to change his/her plans when it is
called for. Of course, there’s always the element of ‘luck’ (like in the scissors, papers, stones)
that adds to the unpredictability… but how you choose to act and react in these situations
shows your ability to be dynamic as a team.
Ha-Ha-Ha Game
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Ha-ha-ha is a fun ice breaker game and one requires a lot of focus, concentration and coordination in
order to succeed. Participants will literally laugh at themselves throughout this fun-filled, physical
activity.

Team Size

8-15 people

Time Required

10-15 minutes

Instructions

1. Everyone in the group lies down face up with their heads on each other’s stomach. When
everyone has laid down, it should look like a zig zag.
2. The first person will have to say “Ha” and the second person will continue with “Ha Ha”…
the third person “Ha, Ha, Ha” and so on.
 3. This means that the number of ‘Ha’s that you say must corresponds with the number of
position you are in. (i.e if you’re the 7th person in the line, you must say “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
ha, ha.”)
4. If anyone gets confused, or says the wrong number “ha’s”, or the group breaks out in
uncontrollable laughter, they must start from the first person again.
5. The game will end when the last person says their share of “Ha”. Alternatively, you can try
again in the reverse the order (the last person goes first this time).

Facilitation Notes

1. Members have to control their own laughter as they are feeling the laughter of the previous
member.
2. If any participant laughs apart from his/her turn, then it must restart. This restriction on people
laughing will ensure that even more people break out in uncontrollable laughter!
3. Also, if the group finishes too quickly or a particular participant keeps making a mistake,
suggest changing their order.
4. The game will end in a lot of laughter as everyone would have been holding back until the last
person finishes.
5. Do note that this game requires a lot of physical contact across different genders, so do ensure
that the participants are receptive to such a game.
Animal Farm
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Animal Farm is an icebreaker game that is guaranteed to bring out lots of laughter as participants
have to mimic animal sounds to find one another. It is a simple and fun game that can help
participants warm up to one another as they let loose.

Team Size

More than 10 people

Materials Required

 A bag
 Pieces of paper with names of animals written on them. (10 participants -> 5 pairs of animals)

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. Each person from the group will be asked to pick a piece of paper from the bag. There will be
at least 4 different pairs of animals in the bag. (For e.g, dog, monkey, cat etc)
2. Once they have picked the paper, they will have to stand up and close their eyes.
3. After that, they will have to move around with their eyes closed and making the animal sound
that they have chosen.
4. The other person who has picked the same animal would be making the same or similar
sound, and so these two participants must find each other.
5. Once they have touched their partner’s hands, they can open their eyes and take a seat on the
side of the room and watch the other participants find their way.
6. The game ends when everyone has found their partners.
7. The slowest pair of participants to find each other will have to do a forfeit.

Debriefing Notes

1. Remind participants to be careful and walk slowly as everyone is walking around blindly.
When they have identified their partner’s voices, they may get excited and try to move to them
quickly. Advise them to calm down and walk slowly to their partners.
2. This game can be really quick; so what you can do to follow up is to get the partners to
introduce themselves to one another for the next 5 minutes after the game is completed.
3. You can even introduce a follow-up game where partnership is required to further help the
participants bond.
Jones
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Jones is an icebreaker game that gets people blindfolded and then have them communicate with one
another with this unique word “Jones”.

Team Size

About 10 or more

Materials Required

Blindfolds

Time Required

About 10 – 15 minutes
Instructions

1. Each person is blindfolded and spread across the play area.

2. The facilitator will then tap someone who will become ‘Jones.’ He/she will then take off their
blindfold but the rest of the group will not know who ‘Jones’ is.
3. Everyone will walk around slowly in their blindfolds and each time they (carefully) bump into
someone, they will have to shake their hand and ask ‘Jones?’
4. If a person is not Jones, he/she must reply with “Jones”. If the person is indeed Jones, then
he/she must not reply AT ALL.
5. Ask the participants to be careful while they walk around in blindfold; remind them to take
small, slow steps to avoid crashing into another person.
6. If a participant chances upon Jones, they will take off their blindfold and join hands with
Jones and carry on moving around the room. If anyone bumps into a participant holding the
hand of Jones and asks the question… then this participant MUST NOT reply as well. The
other participant can now also take down his/her blindfold and join the Jones group.
7. The Jones chain can move around quietly and anywhere they want within the boundary.
8. The game ends when everyone has found the Jones chain and the last person takes off their
blindfold.

Debriefing Notes

1. What were you thinking while you were blindfolded?

2. What did you observe about others when you were seeing and others were still blindfolded?
What was their strategy to find Jones?
Body Water Relay
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Body Water Relay is an intense, competitive icebreaker game that requires participants to get
physical by using their body parts to transport water with a sponge.
Participants might a little wet from the activities but you can be sure you will have an energetic and
breathless bunch of participants after the activity!

Team Size

More than 10 people

Materials Required

 2 Pails & Sponges

 2 empty 1.5 litres plastic bottles
 Envelope with strips of paper listing body parts

Time Required

About 10 – 15 minutes
Instructions

1. Participants are split into two groups.

2. There should be two pails filled with water and put at the starting line.
3. On the other end, there should be two empty 1.5 litres plastic bottles.
4. Then, group members will split into pairs and choose a strip of paper from the facilitator
where each strip of paper will have a body part stated on it. (For example – palm, elbow,
shoulder, knee).
5. The sponge will be placed into the pail to absorb the water.
6. When the time starts, a pair of participants can use their hands to place the sponge on the
stated body part, and then start transporting the sponge ONLY with the stated body part. (i.e
elbow to elbow for a pair, shoulder to shoulder for another pair… and so on)
7. The pair must now attempt to squeeze all the water in the sponge using only the stated body
part into the plastic bottle. They are not allowed to move or touch the plastic bottle.
8. When the sponge is dried up, they will return to the pail to get water again while their group
mates have their turn at squeezing water into the bottle.
9. This will go on until the water reaches a certain height in the bottle (up to the facilitator), and
the group who reaches that height first is the winner.

Debriefing Notes

1. What strategy did your team adopt in order to achieve your objective faster?
2. Did you work well with your partner? What are some ways you could have improved that
partnership?
3. Allow the participants to clean themselves up after the game as they’ll likely spill water on
themselves during the game. Also expect the place to get a little messy, so it is preferable that
you conduct this activity outdoors.
Hula Hoop
0
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Hula Hoop Chain is an icebreaker game where participants have to attempt to weave a Hoola hoop
through a series of connected bodies in the shortest time possible.

Team Size

About 10 people or more, 2 groups

Materials Required

Two Hula hoops, one per group

Time Required

About 10 minutes
Instructions

1. The participants will stand in a circle and hold hands.

2. Then, the facilitator will place the Hula hoop on someone and the objective is to pass the Hula
hoop from the first person all the way to the last person without breaking the hands link.
3. Each person will therefore have to try to move the hula hoop without the use of their hands;
they have to move their whole body to get it from their left side to their right (or vice versa).
4. The group which can finish the one round the fastest wins.

Debriefing Notes

If a group finishes too fast, they can try with 2 Hoola hoops, or they can combine groups to do the
exercise one more time.
Captain on Deck
1
BY MICHAEL ON AUGUST 10, 2016ICEBREAKERS

Description

Captain on Deck is an icebreaker game for a big group. It’s a game that requires each participant to
form groups according to the captain’s commands and is bound to result in much joy, laughter, and
bringing the participants closer together.

Team Size

More than 20 people

Time Required

About 10 minutes

Instructions

1. First, the participants should stand around randomly in a clear, open area. Ensure the area is
sufficient for them to run around.

2. The facilitator will give a command and the participants have to react accordingly:
  ‘Captains on the Deck’ – where everyone stands at attention, salutes and say “Aye, aye
captain”
 ‘Lighthouse’ – a 2 person combo where one person stands up straight while the other circles
around him/her.
 ‘Man Overboard’ – a 3 person combo where two people hold each other’s hands and the third
person stands in between them looking overboard while turning right and left.
 ‘Row the Boat’ – a 4 person combo where participants line up and pretend to row a boat.
 ‘Eat the Grubs’ – a 5 person combo where participants stand in a circle and pretend to eat with
their hands.
3. After each command, there will be some participants that didn’t manage to find a group. They are
eliminated and will be spectators until the end of the round.