Resources / Icebreakers
Simple games and questions to help your group connect, laugh and feel at home together.
Icebreakers help people integrate and connect in a group. They also enhance your teaching by stimulating cooperation and participation, and give positive momentum to small group study and discussion by:
A quick either/or quiz to get everyone warmed up.
Great for new groups. Leaders should join in too!
Ask everyone to write THREE things about themselves that may not be known to the group. Two are true and one is not. Taking turns, they read out the three "facts" and the group votes on which are true and which is false. There are always surprises. It's simple, fun, and helps the group and leaders get to know each other.
Divide the people into pairs. Give them three minutes to interview each other, finding 3 interesting facts about their partner. Bring everyone back together and have each person present their partner's 3 facts to the group. Watch the time on this one and keep it moving.
Go around the group and ask each person to state their name and add an adjective that describes a dominant characteristic and starts with the same letter, e.g. generous Grahame, dynamic Dave. Write them down and use them for the rest of the evening.
Give each person a sheet of paper with a series of instructions. This is a good mixing game and conversation starter, because each person must speak to everyone else. For example:
Bonus: who knows what Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a fear of? Nearest guess wins. If that's too easy, try Arachibutyrophobia, Alektorophobia, Ephebiphobia or Anglophobia. See the answers.
You need a spool of string or wool. Ask everyone to stand in a circle. Hold on to the end of the string and throw the spool to someone, who then picks a question from 1–20 to answer. Still holding the string, they throw it to someone else. Eventually this creates a web, and everyone learns something interesting about each other.
At the end, point out that we all played a part in creating this unique web, and if one person was gone it would look different. In the same way, it's important that we all take part to make the group what it is: unique and special.
Announce: "You've been exiled to a deserted island for a year. In addition to the essentials, you may take one piece of music, one book (which is not the Bible) and one luxury item you can carry with you, i.e. not a boat to leave the island! What would you take and why?"
Allow a few minutes for everyone to draw up their list of three items before sharing with the group. As with most icebreakers, it's good for leaders to join in too.
Ask the group to sit in a circle. Write 20 "IF" questions on cards and place them face down in the middle. The first person takes a card, reads it out and gives their answer, comment or explanation. The card goes back to the bottom of the pile before the next person takes theirs.
It's a simple way to get people talking and listening. Keep it moving and don't play for too long. Write your own additional "IF" questions.
Divide into two teams. Give each person a blank card and ask them to write five little-known facts about themselves, e.g. "I have a pet iguana", "I was born in Iceland", "my grandmother is called Doris". Include the leaders too.
Collect the cards into two piles. Draw a card from the opposing team's pile. Each team tries to name the person in as few clues as possible: 5 points on the first clue, then 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. The team with the most points wins. Tip: start with the most obscure facts to increase the competition and head-scratching.
Questions can range from silly trivia to more serious content, and you may find out interesting things about your group. Place a line of tape down the centre of the room and ask everyone to straddle it. When you ask "Would you rather…?", they jump left or right as indicated. Encourage adult helpers to join in. Add your own questions.
You'll need crayons or paints, markers, scissors and white card. Give each person a piece of card and ask them to draw and cut out a life-sized face shape (eyes and mouth optional), then decorate it. One side shows what they think people see, know or believe about them (the outside). The other side shows what they feel about themselves, the things going on inside that people don't necessarily see.
Best used in an established group where people are comfortable with each other. It's also a good discussion starter on self-image and self-worth.
A get-to-know-you activity that helps people express what's important to them. Provide large sheets of paper, crayons, markers and paints. Each person draws a flag divided into 4 or 6 segments, each holding a picture: a favourite food, a hobby, a skill, where you were born, your family, your faith.
Give everyone 20 minutes, then ask some to share their flags and explain what they drew.
Great for new groups. Make a 5×4 grid on a card and duplicate it for everyone, with one statement in each box. Everyone mixes and talks to others; when a statement fits the person they're talking to, that person signs the box. End after 10 minutes and review the interesting facts discovered. Add your own statements.
Word games, story games and active games to get the whole group laughing together.
The leader says the name of any country, city, river, ocean or mountain found in an atlas. The next person must say another name that begins with the last letter of the word just given. Each person has a time limit (e.g. three seconds) and no names can be repeated. Example: London → Niagara Falls → Switzerland.
The first player says: "I went to the supermarket and bought an Apple" (any item beginning with A). The next player repeats the sentence, including the "A" item, and adds a "B" item. Each player recites the whole list and adds one more. For example: "…bought an apple, banana, CD, dog food, envelopes, frozen fish." It's not too hard to reach the end of the alphabet with a little help. Watch out for Q and X!
The leader starts a story with a sentence ending in SUDDENLY. The next person adds a sentence that also ends in SUDDENLY, and so on until everyone has contributed. The story gets crazier with each turn. Record it and play it back. Example: "Yesterday I went to the zoo and was passing the elephant enclosure when SUDDENLY…"
Ask each person to think of a person, a place or a thing and share it with the group. One person begins a story, but within 10 seconds must mention the person, place or thing they chose (use a stopwatch or kitchen timer). The next person continues the story and must also mention theirs within 10 seconds. Continue until everyone has contributed. The stories get really weird, and that's part of the fun!
A word-association game. Sit in a circle. The first person says any word, e.g. red. The next person repeats it and adds a linked word, e.g. tomato. The next adds another link, e.g. soup, and so on. Keep it moving with only five seconds for each link.
Collect a number of objects in a canvas bag: everyday items such as a pencil, key-ring or phone, plus some unusual ones like a fossil, a holiday photograph or a wig. Pass the bag around and let each person pull out an object without looking.
The leader begins a story that includes their object. After 20 seconds the next person picks it up and works in their own object, and so on until everyone has contributed to your epic tale.
Simple, ridiculous and fun. The first person says a word, e.g. "The". The second repeats it and adds a word of their choice, and so on. At the end you might have a complete sentence, e.g. "The aardvark spiralled into the puddle of custard clutching his skateboard…". Add twists so the next player has a hard time. Can be played a few times without getting boring.
Think of a word and give the first letter. The next player thinks of a word starting with that letter and gives the second letter. The third player thinks of a word beginning with those two letters and adds a third. The aim is to avoid completing a word. A player who completes three words, or fails to add a letter, rests their brain for the rest of the game. Keep a dictionary handy to settle disputes.
The aim is to talk for one minute on a given subject. Announce the topic and randomly select a speaker (e.g. whoever draws the lowest card). Time each person to see how long they last before drying up. Choose subjects that stimulate the imagination and amuse, such as "my earliest memories", "my favourite computer game", "why beans are good for you", "10 things you can do with potatoes" or "alligator wrestling".
Divide into teams of five or six and give each team a copy of the SAME newspaper, spread out in front of them. Describe a particular advert, article, fact or picture, and the team has to find it, rip it out and bring it to you. The first team gets a point. The team with the most points wins. Watch the paper fly!
Divide into groups of four with paper and pens. Each group draws a grid and writes their first names in it, for example:
S I M O N
W E N D Y
R O B E R T
A N N E
Give each team three minutes to write as many words (3+ letters) as they can using only the letters in their names. Letters must adjoin in the grid but needn't be in a straight line. Scoring: 3–4 letter words = 1 point, 5 letters = 2 points, 6 letters = 3 points.
Ask the group to line up (works best with 8–10 in a line; split bigger groups and have lines race each other). Ask them to form a new line in order of:
Prepare a sticky label for each person with the name of a well-known person on it (historical figures, sportspeople, musicians, TV personalities; a good mix of men and women). Without showing them, stick one on each person's forehead. They ask the others yes/no questions to find out who they are, e.g. "Am I alive?", "Am I in a band?"
A "yes" lets them ask another question; a "no" ends their turn. Keep playing until everyone has guessed, or stop after the first few correct answers if time is short.
Form a circle and give the first person a large orange. It must be passed around the circle using only chin and neck. If it's dropped, it goes back to the previous player and the game restarts. A camera is a must for this one!
An old party game that's still fun. Sit in a circle on the floor. In the middle place a large unwrapped bar of chocolate on a plate, with a knife, a fork and three items of clothing: gloves, a scarf and a cap. Take turns rolling a dice.
Whoever rolls a six runs to the middle, puts on the clothing and tries to eat as much chocolate as possible, but may only cut it with the knife and pick it up with the fork. When someone else rolls a six, they run in and take over. Continue until the chocolate is gone.
Line up in teams of six. Everyone holds a toothpick in their mouth. The first person has a Polo mint on their toothpick and must pass it down the line without using their hands. If anyone drops it, the team starts again from the front with a new Polo.
Divide into teams of 6–8, each forming a small circle. Everyone extends their right hand across the circle and holds the left hand of the person opposite, then extends their left hand and holds the right hand of someone else. The task is to untangle the web of arms without letting go of anyone's hand. Give them a three-minute limit. Pressure!
Divide into pairs. Each pair sits on the floor back to back, feet out in front, arms linked, and tries to stand up together. When everyone has managed it, two pairs join up and the group of four tries again. Keep adding people until the whole group is trying to stand together. A sight to behold!
Before the meeting, choose several well-known songs and write the opening lines on separate cards, using only as many songs as needed to cover the number of people present. Scatter the cards on the floor. When the game starts, each person grabs a card and finds the other holders of lines from the same song. The first group to assemble their song correctly and sing it wins. Record the songs to play back later.
Tip: choose songs your group will definitely know, from classic rock to current worship.
Make a list of 20 popular TV programmes. Divide into teams based in different spots around the ground floor, with you in the middle. One person from each team comes to see the first programme on your list, returns and silently acts it out. As soon as someone guesses, that person runs to you for the next one. The first team to act out and guess all 20 wins.
Divide into pairs with a paper and pen. They visit cards you've placed around the room and unscramble the names of 20 famous movie stars, e.g. SHRIN FOR ROAD (work it out yourself!). Points for each correct answer. Variations: animal scramble, TV scramble, and even Old Testament prophet scramble.
Teams of five, barefoot. Teams can play against each other or the clock (five-second limit). With a felt-tip marker, write three letters on each team member: two palms and one sole, or one palm and two soles. Example sets: TDO, HYI, EHR, BFT, OCS.
Call out a series of 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-letter words. The team spells each word using combinations of hands and feet, clearly visible to the leader. Choose 20 words, for example:
An old party game that encourages deductive reasoning and creativity. One player thinks of an item. The rest of the group tries to guess it by asking questions that can only be answered "Yes" or "No". Truthful answers only, please. Anything else ruins the game.
Sit in a circle. Choose playing cards to match the number of players, making sure one is an ace. Everyone draws a card without showing anyone. The player with the ace is the murderer, who "kills" victims by winking at them.
The game begins quietly, with everyone looking at each other. When someone catches the killer's eye and is winked at, they die in any manner they choose: a quiet whimper, a blood-curdling scream, or falling off their chair. The aim is to identify the murderer without being killed. An incorrect guess means instant death!
Stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder. Everyone turns to the right to face the back of the person in front and places their hands on that person's shoulders. On the count of three, everyone slowly sits down on the lap of the person behind. As long as everyone helps the person in front sit, the weight is supported by all. If someone slips, it becomes "human dominoes". It may take a couple of attempts.