Getting Together

Ukens, Lorraine L. (1997).  Getting Together:  Icebreakers and Group Energizers.  San Francisco:  Joffey-Bass/Pfeiffer.

Here are some sample techniques from the book.

1) Comic Capers: copy and enlarge comic strips on the section's topic, paste onto card stock and then cut the comics into individual panels.  Give one panel to each person with instructions to find the other persons needed to complete their comic strip. 

2) Defining Moments: find five or six words relating to your topic that are ambiguous; i.e., have at least four different definitions.  List the four definitions in large type, cut each out on a slip of paper, and distribute to students.  Participants have to find other participants with complementary slips.

3) Eagle's Nest: paste pictures relating to your topic onto card stock, then cut the pictures into four pieces each.  Write a related (but not the same) discussion topic on the back of each square.  Participants complete the picture puzzle, then hold a discussion on the topics listed. Alternative:  cut up old greeting cards.

4) Hum-dingers:  write the name of a common tune (e.g., Old MacDonald; Mary Had a Little Lamb; Row, row, Row, Your Boat; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star) several times on a sheet of paper.  Cut into slips, shuffle and give one slip to each participant.  Participants have to find others in their group by wordlessly humming the tune (they cannot show their slip of paper to others). 

5) Talking in Circles: form two concentric circles with equal numbers of persons in each (if there's an unequal number of people, you can join in).  The inner circle faces outward, the outer circle faces inward.   Announce a discussion topic that they discuss with their "partner" for a few minutes, then have everyone shift some number of spaces to the left and discuss another topic.  Repeat as desired.

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