Dodging the Iceberg (Icebreakers)
A set of truths
Put a set of truths on the screen about the two presenters and have them
guess which one it is about. Both, one, or neither.
Who am I?
Give people names
Have them act that name to the group
Body Parts
Grab a partner and line up on opposite walls.
The mediator yells out two body parts
The partners have to touch them
The last ones to touch them are out
Bang
Get in a circle (20-infinite)
Person in the center shoots a person
They must duck to avoid the bullet
The people on either side must shoot each other
The last person to shoot OR the first person to mess up wins
o Must say BANG to count as a shot
Me too
Talk about yourself
When someone matches what you said the say ME TOO!
Then they talk about themselves
When someone matches what they said, they say ME TOO!
Step in the Circle/Up to the line
Say something
Everyone who falls under that statements steps up to the line/ into the circle
Example: I have divorced parents
Shoes
Sit in a circle and close your eyes
Take off your shoes and throw then in the middle
Then people will go into the circle and say who shoes are who and WHY
Can use gloves if people won’t touch shoes
The Flag Ship of Recognition (Examples on how to recognize)
1. Urban crowd surfing
Lift a friend up in the library when they got a good grade!
2. Awards by positions of E-board/ Professional Staff
Presidents Award
VP’s Award
Etc.
3. Rain Drop bucket
Keep a bucket in the staff office
Cut out rain drops
Write a recognition note on the drop
Add the drop to the bucket
4. Guilty Pleasure CD
Have all your RA’s or E-board members e-mail you their guilty pleasure song
Put them on a cd with spots to quess who likes each song
The most correct gets a prize at the next meeting
5. Pin of the month
Buy a bowling pin
Use it as a recognition item
Write who the item is given to and why
6. Dream Catcher
Right down your E-board members dreams at the beginning of the year
When the accomplish their goals
Give them a dream catcher that says “Way to catch your dreams!”
7. Send someone a voicemail a few hours after they have done something great
8. Shout outs each week at the beginning of meetings
9. Paper plate awards (superlatives)
10. Mini-Crystal awards (you can by crystal with engravings for $1.50 a piece
11. Decorate someone’s hall
12. Recognition wall (in the hallways or by the staff office)
13. Put someones picture on the agenda with a crown or tierra over it and say what
they did thay was so great
14. At the beginning of the meeting, award someone with a snuggie who has done
something amazing
15. Traveling recognition item
Buy an item (Razor scooter, teddy bear, stuffed animal)
Give it to someone who did something great in the last week
The next week and bring it
And pass it on
16. Target $1 dollar section
Target has a $1 section of items
Buy an item the person might want
Attach a note
Attach candy (candy is at the $1 section as well)
17. ABCD – Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
The exec board or professional staff will nominate people each week
3 people are chosen out of the nominees
o They are chosen if they went Above and Beyond this week
Three or however many people are chosen
A weekly e-mail is sent
18. Take your staff meeting or Exec meeting to a new location (Ice Cream, etc.
19. TIP: Use an index card with questions to give to each person and have them fill
it out. Then you can recognize them with what they REALLY want!
What is your favorite ceral?
Favorite snack?
Favorite Movie?
Etc.
20. [Link] to submit FEHA’s (like OTMs but everyone wins! They all get
certificates)
OTM’s submit them for NRHH!
ICE ICE BABY (Icebreakers)
Intro-Pass out candy as you start
Each person must share something about themselves
1 thing per piece of candy, minimum of 1 thing
**Or have a set list of up to 8 questions and ask those
Stickers!
Put a name on peoples backs
They have to ask others questions about their thing
The person can only answer their questions
**Or have them correspond with another name and they have to wander the
room to find their match
Balloons
Break into teams
Build the highest freestanding structure out of water balloons
Set a time limit
She’s Rich, He’s Gay (A presentation you can do for RHA, RA
Training, or a conference)
Speakers have prepared 14 questions about themselves:
i.e.
May favorite movie is……
I am gay…..
I am an only child…..
I drink alcohol…
Then the speakers chose 3 volunteers.
The two speakers and 2 of the volunteers leave the room
1 volunteer reads the questions to the group and the group must decide if each
question fits:
Speaker 1, Speaker 2, neither, or both
**While outside, the two speakers are helping the two volunteers do 14 questions of
there own.
The speakers come back in and ask the group which answers they chose and why
(discussion of stereotypes ensues)
Then the two volunteers leave the room and the same process is repeated.
Discussion on stereotypes and let the discussion go wherever it does.
Encourage them to be honest and “offensive” as it is about stereotypes.