The document discusses ice breakers, which are activities used at the beginning of training sessions, team building events, and other group meetings. The purpose of ice breakers is to encourage interaction and get people comfortable with each other. There are three main types: ice breakers just for fun, those that introduce a topic, and those based on the purpose of the session. Effective ice breakers consider factors like participant backgrounds and the "ice" that needs to be broken. When planned and facilitated well, ice breakers can boost team spirit, but they require careful consideration to be successful and avoid wasting time.

1. ICE BREAKERS
THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE AT WORK!
BY NIA, CARLY, NATHAN, MITCH AND NAJAR

2. WHAT AN ICE BREAKER REALLY IS
AN ICE BREAKER IS AN ACTIVITY, GAME, OR EVENT THAT TRAINING CLASSES,
TEAM BUILDING GROUPS, MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS USE WHICH REQUIRES
PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND INTERACT, USUALLY WITH A FACILITATOR
RUNNING THE ACTIVITIES. WHEN USED CORRECTLY, AND ICE BREAKER WILL
PRESENT A COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL ALLOW AND REINFORCE
INTERACTION WHILE ENSURING THE PERSONS INVOLVED ENJOY THEIR
INTERACTIONS. THIS IS A POSITIVE WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW EACH
OTHER TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. IN THESE SITUATIONS THERE
ARE THREE TYPES OF MAIN ICE BREAKERS THAT CAN BE USED.

3. ICE BREAKERS THAT ARE JUST FOR FUN
THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER CAN BE USED IF THE TEAM KNOWS EACH OTHER OR
NOT. WHEN THE TEAM MEMBERS KNOW EACH OTHER, THEY LAUGH AND TALK TO
TOGETHER WARMING UP THE GROUP. WHEN THE TEAM MEMBERS DON’T KNOW
EACH OTHER, THE ICE BREAKER DOES ITS JOB BY HAVING THE TEAM MEMBERS
INTERACT AND LEARN THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER. DOING THIS, IT GUARANTEES
THAT INTRODUCTIONS AND CONVERSATION HAPPENS BETWEEN THE MEMBERS.
WHEN USING ICE BREAKERS IN THIS MANNER IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE TEAM
ENJOYS THE ACTIVITY AND FIND VALUE IN THE EVENT.

4. EXAMPLE OF A FUN ICE BREAKER

5. ICE BREAKERS WHICH INTRODUCE A TOPIC
WHEN THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER IS USED, THERE IS A CLEAR PURPOSE TO THE
REASON FOR THE ACTIVITY. THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE
LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATION, BUT THE PURPOSE IS CLEAR ABOUT BEING THE
OPENING OF A TOPIC FOR THE SESSION.

6. EXAMPLE OF AN ICE BREAKERS WHICH
INTRODUCES A TOPIC

7. ICE BREAKERS WHICH ARE BASED ON THE
PURPOSE OF THE SESSION
THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER CAN BE USED AS A BRAINSTORMING SESSION, OR
DEBRIEFING SESSION. IT MIGHT BE USED TO PLAN ANOTHER EVENT FOR A LARGER
WHOLE, OR TO IDENTIFY WHAT WENT WELL OR WRONG WITH THE EVENT. THIS IS
WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE IDEAS AND OPINIONS FREELY AND THERE WILL BE
NO REPERCUSSIONS FOR SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS.

8. EXAMPLE OF AN ICE BREAKER BASED ON
THE PURPOSE OF THE SESSION

9. WHEN ARE ICE BREAKERS BEST USED?
THE MAIN CONCEPT BEHIND ICE BREAKERS FOR TEAMS IS TO GET THE GROUP OFF TO A GOOD
START. WHEN MEMBERS GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER THEY BECOME MORE ENGAGED AND
COMFORTABLE. THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE EFFECTIVELY
TOWARDS TEAM SUCCESS. HOWEVER, AS SIMPLE AS ICEBREAKERS MAY SEEM, MANY OF THESE
SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED POORLY, AND DON’T ACHIEVE THIS BENEFIT. AN INEFFECTIVE
SESSION WILL JUST BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MAY EVEN DECREASE TEAM MORALE OR
MOTIVATION TO WORK TOGETHER. FACILITATORS MUST KEEP SEVERAL TOPICS IN MIND WHEN
PLANNING AN ICEBREAKER FOR A GROUP.
-C

10. WHEN THE FACILITATOR SHOULD CONSIDER
USING ICE BREAKERS:
• PARTICIPANTS COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
• PEOPLE NEED TO BOND QUICKLY SO AS TO WORK TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL.
• YOUR TEAM IS NEWLY FORMED.
• THE TOPICS YOU ARE DISCUSSING ARE NEW OR UNFAMILIAR TO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.
• AS FACILITATOR YOU NEED TO GET TO KNOW PARTICIPANTS AND HAVE THEM KNOW YOU
BETTER.
• DISABILITY
• AGE
• MOBILITY
• TIME

11. WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN USING ICE
BREAKERS
WHEN FACILITATING AN ICE BREAKER YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT “ICE” IT IS “THAT NEEDS
TO BE BROKEN”. SOMETIMES YOU’RE BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE OF
SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS THAT JUST NEED A MEANS TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
OTHER TIMES YOU MIGHT BE WORKING WITH A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF DIFFERENT CULTURES
OR VALUES, AND THE “ICE” TO BE BROKEN IS THE STEREOTYPES OF HOW THEY PERCEIVE EACH
OTHER. THE FACILITATOR SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT THESE PEOPLE MAY HAVE IN COMMON AND
CELEBRATE THEIR DIFFERENCES BEFORE PLANNING THIS ICE BREAKER.

12. ICE BREAKING IDEAS
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED ICE BREAKERS IS CALLED THE “NAME AEROBICS”. ITS
STARTS BY EVERYONE STANDING IN A CIRCLE AND STATING THERE NAME. BUT
THE TWIST IS THAT YOU HAVE TO ADD AN ADJECTIVE BEFORE YOUR NAME, SUCH
AS MUSCLE MAN MITCH. IT GOES AROUND THE GROUP AND EVERYONE HAS TO
REPEAT THE PERSON’S NAMES BEFORE THEM BEFORE MAKING UP THEIR OWN
NAME. THIS CAN BE FUN AND CONFUSING, BUT WILL HELP FOR EVERYONE IN THE
GROUP TO REMEMBER THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS NAMES, AND EVERYONE WILL
GET TO SHARE A LAUGH.

13. ICE BREAKING IDEAS (CONT.)
ANOTHER ICEBREAKER THAT IS A FAIRLY QUICK AND SIMPLE IS CALLED “THINKING
OUTSIDE THE BOX”. IN THIS EXERCISE A RANDOM SHAPE IS WRITTEN DOWN ON A
PIECE OF PAPER AND IS PASSED AROUND TO EVERYBODY. AFTER THIS HAPPENS,
EVERYONE HAS TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK IT IS, SUCH AS A RECTANGLE BEING A
PHONE AND THAT SORT OF THING.
WHILE THESE ICE BREAKING GAMES SEEM SIMPLE, THEY ENCOURAGE INTERACTION
WHILE HAVING A FUN AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR TEAMS
TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF CONFLICT OR

14. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS
ICEBREAKERS ARE A GOOD WAY TO RELAX A GROUP ESPECIALLY AFTER A
STRESSING OR A CHALLENGING SITUATION SO AS TO BRING THE MEMBERS
TOGETHER. THE PROCESS SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS THE AGE
AND SUITABILITY OF THE ICEBREAKER TO THE GROUP. DESPITE ICE BREAKERS
HAVING THE INTENTION OF ENHANCING THE TEAM SPIRIT, IT MAY BE VERY
CHALLENGING WHEN DEALING WITH A VERY DIVERSE GROUP. FOR EXAMPLE,
MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS WHOLLY INCLUSIVE AND PART OF THE TEAM
COMES WITH A GREATER CHALLENGE IS SUCH A LARGE GROUP.

15. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS
(CONT.)
IT IS A NOVEL IDEA TO SUBDIVIDE LARGER GROUPS INTO SMALLER ONES SO AS TO GET MORE
OF THE BENEFITS AND ATTAIN THE GOALS QUICKER. CONSIDERATIONS IN SPLITTING THE
GROUP ARE TO ENHANCE THE GENERATION OF NEW IDEAS AND TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS FROM
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. FURTHER, THE GROUPING MAY BE TO ATTAIN A DIFFERENT MIX OF
THE PARTICULAR GROUPS. WAYS OF DIVIDING A LARGE GROUP MAY INCLUDE FAVORITE DRINKS
OR DINNERS, THEIR HOBBIES, THEIR WEAR, COMPLEXION AND EVEN THEIR FAVORITE FLAVORS.
HOWEVER, THE LIST IS NOT EXCLUSIVE AND CAN INCLUDE OTHER OPTIONS BEYOND THIS
SCOPE. IN ADDITION, THE INCLUSION PROCESS SHOULD CATER FOR ACCESSIBILITY,
COMMUNICATION, USE OF LABELS, ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFERENCE AND PREVIOUS
EVALUATION.

16. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS
(CONT.)
GAMING IS AN IMPORTANT FORM OF MEETING WHOSE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE BOTH THOSE WITH OR
WITHOUT DISABILITIES. THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS TO MASTER THE ART OF BEING A LEADER, COOPERATION,
ACCEPTING DEFEAT, WORKING IN SHIFTS, ACCOMMODATING OTHERS AND OBSERVING THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS. FURTHER, YOU LEARN HOW TO RESPECT CHOICES MADE BY COLLEAGUES AND BETTER YOUR
SKILLS. THE POINT IS TO LEARN AND ADAPT THE SITUATION AROUND ESPECIALLY FOR THE STUDENTS WHO
HAVE DISABILITIES. OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO ICE BREAKERS IS DIVIDING THE GROUPS,
CHICKEN IMPULSE, CIRCLING THE CIRCLE AND CREATING FIRST IMPRESSIONS. FURTHER, DEVELOPING THE
ART OR KNOWING EACH OTHER, MARSHMALLOW TOWER, PAPER PIECES AND THRASHING YOUR EGO ARE VERY
NECESSARY. THEY ALL ADVANCE GROUP SOLIDARITY, PARTICIPATION AND ESTABLISHING MEANS OF ICE
BREAKING WHEN IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

17. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS
(CONT.)
ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO START A TRAINING SESSION OR TEAM
ACTIVITY IS THROUGH AN ICE BREAKER. ICE BREAKERS ARE A GREAT WAY FOR
TEAM MEMBERS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND TO REALIZE WHY THEY ARE
PARTICIPATING. THIS HELPS THE PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
BE AN IMPORTANT PART TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE TEAM AND THAT
THEY SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS. YET, IF THE ICE
BREAKER WAS TO GO POORLY THEN THE TEAM MIGHT SHUT DOWN. ICE BREAKERS
ARE A THING THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY IF USED, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE
TO GO POORLY THEN THE OVERALL TEAM MEETING WOULD BE A WASTE.

18. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS
(CONT.)
ICE BREAKERS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT
BACKGROUNDS OR NEED TO BOND QUICKLY IN ORDER FOR THE OVERALL GOAL OF
THE TEAM TO BE A SUCCESS. ALSO, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF “ICE” NEEDS TO BE
BROKEN, WILL DEPEND ON THE ACTIVITY THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP. THE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE INCLUDE BACKGROUNDS, EXPERIENCES, TYPES OF PEOPLE,
AND SO ON.
IN ORDER TO DESIGN A SUCCESSFUL ICE BREAKER, PEOPLE WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHO ALL IS IN THEIR GROUP AND WHAT WILL HELP THEM TO FEEL LIKE
PART OF THE TEAM OR LEFT OUT.

19. WORKS CITED
• (CARLY THIS PART IS YOURS! HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE WORKS USED IN THE
POWER POINT)
HTTP://HUMANRESOURCES.EXT.WVU.EDU/R/DOWNLOAD/130942|
• HTTP://WWW.MINDTOOLS.COM/PAGES/ARTICLE/NEWLDR_76.HTM
• HTTP://HUMANRESOURCES.ABOUT.COM/OD/GLOSSARYI/G/WHAT-IS-AN-ICE-
BREAKER.HTM
• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PRWVQLZNYWA
• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YZFKODO1OES
• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4KIX1GLKHHC
• (CITATION NEEDED FROM THE BOOK)