Free Ice Breakers
These are just a few free ice breaker ideas that we have either used ourselves or have seen used productively in things like conferences or business meetings.
The Talent Show
Everyone selects one talent or special gift that they possess and can demonstrate for the group. They introduce themselves, explain what their special talent is, and then perform their special talent for the group.
Toilet Paper
In this ice breaker, pass around a roll of toilet paper to the group and ask them to take what they need. No further explanation. When done. Tell the group that as they go around the room, each person must tell a fact or something about themselves for each square of TP they took.
Birthday
Have the group stand and line up in a straight line. After they are in line, tell them to re-arrange the line so that they are in line by their birthday. January 1 on one end and December 31 at the other end. The catch is that they must do all this without talking or writing anything down.
Paper Airplane
In this free ice breaker everyone makes a paper airplane and writes their name, something they like and dislike on it (You may also want to add additional questions). On cue, everyone throws their airplane around the room. If you find an airplane, pick it and keep throwing it for 1-2 minutes. At the end of that time, everyone must have one paper airplane. This is the person they must find and introduce to the group.
The Artist
For this useful ice breaker give everyone a piece of paper and a pencil. In 5 minutes they must draw a picture that conveys who they are with out writing any words or numbers. At the end of 5 minutes the host collects the pictures. Show the pictures to the group one at a time and have them try to guess who drew it. After this allow each of the artists to introduce themselves and explain how their work clearly conveys who they are.
Polaroid
As participants arrive, take their picture with a Polaroid type camera. Hand out the pictures to the group with each participant getting a picture of another member of the group. Give them 15 minutes to find and talk to the people matching their picture. When the group reassembles, have each member introduce their
new picture pal to the group and talk about what they learned about them.
Famous
As each participant arrives for this free ice breaker, tape an index card on their back with the name of a famous person or city. They must circulate in the room and ask questions that can ONLY be answered with a YES or NO to identify clues that will help them find out the name of the person or city on their index card.
