CREATE COMFORT
Ice-breakers and Energisers
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'WHY?'
Find root causes and get warm
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Neverending Story
Co-create a cool story and some laughter
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Remember Your Partner
Break the ice and engage participants
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Ninja, Grandma, Tiger
Break the ice and let loose
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How to Use 'THIS'?
Bond over competing in creativity
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Mutant Creatures
Co-create sketches and easy fun for all, with a low threshold
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Draw on Back
Break the ice and engage participants
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Longest Strip of Paper
Compete with care, solve problems
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Carry Pen vs. Carry Paper
Bond while competing with care
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Word Association
Think fast and see other perspectives
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The first stage in a workshop is all about creating a pleasant atmosphere by easing participants to get to know each other. Creating comfort also means creating group spirit. We do this by some small games called ice-breakers and energisers. This is exactly what you will find on this page.
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2+ participants
Any audience
5 minutes
A soft ball (or a fruit)
Any phase of the process
2+ participants
Any audience
3-5 minutes
No required material
Any phase of the process
4+ participants
Any audience
3-5 minutes
Pens and paper (A4)
Any phase of the process
2+ participants
Relaxed, young audience
3-5 minutes
No required material
Any phase of the process
1. Distribute an A4 and pen to each participant
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2. Start out with a word (related/non-related to the workshop)
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3. The participants should write down the word said as well as the first word that comes to their mind
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4. The word said is then folded away, leaving only the new word visible
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5. The papers are then exchanged (clock or anticlockwise), where the participants write down the first word that comes to mind when seeing the word the previous person wrote down
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6. Repeat until time is up
Steps
Consulting
This exercise allows participants to get to know a little bit of each other’s perspectives and mindsets when thinking about a word
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It also helps participants open up ‘creative doors’ if the word is related to the workshop
None
Rules
Notice
(for large groups - similar steps for pairs)
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1.Start out with a random problem and ask ‘why?’ as you throw the ball to one of the participants
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2. The participant that grabs the ball answers the question and asks ‘why?’ as he/she throws the ball to another participant
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3. Repeat these steps till the answers get less spontaneous
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4. In case someone gets stuck, restart the exercise with another problem, or conclude the exercise
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Example:
Participant 1: ‘I was late this morning. Why?’
*throws ball*
Participant 2: ‘Because you had to buy milk. Why?’ *throws ball*
Participant 3: ‘Because you gave the rest of your milk to your neighbour. Why?’ *throws ball*
...
Steps
1. Start out with a sentence
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2. The following participant (either clock or anticlockwise) builds up the story with another sentence
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3. Repeat until you feel participants are more relaxed or answers become less spontaneous
Steps
Consulting
Participants may need to be relaxed and comfortable
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If used at the start of the workshop, consider using an additional ice-breaker prior to this game
None
Rules
Notice
1. Ask participants to pair up and stand back-to-back, facing opposite directions
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2. The participants try to describe their partners until time is up
Steps
Consulting
Participants may need to be relaxed and comfortable
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If used at the start of the workshop, consider using an additional ice-breaker prior to this game
No peaking or touching
Rules
Notice
2+ participants
Relaxed, young audience
3-5 minutes
No required material
Any phase of the process
1. Ask participants to pair up and face each other
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2. Similar rules to ‘Rock, paper, scissors’ applies, instead they should say ‘Ninja, Grandma, Tiger’ and mimic their chosen character. The rules show who beats who.
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3. Keep playing until time is up or rotate winners/losers around to create diversity
Steps
Consulting
​Done in pairs
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Participants may need to be relaxed and comfortable
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If used at the start of the workshop, consider using an additional ice-breaker prior to this game
Ninja beats Tiger; Tiger beats Grandma; Grandma beats Ninja
Rules
Notice
4+ participants
Any audience
2 minutes
A random object
Any phase of the process
1. Divide the participants in groups (at least 2)
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2. Bring up a random or workshop related item and ask the teams to come up with as many ways the item can be used
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3. The team with the most ‘ways’ wins
Steps
It is difficult to keep track of all the suggestions. If possible have someone help with that.
Similar functions do not count. The same idea cannot be said twice
Rules
Notice
2+ participants
Any audience
2 minutes
Pens and paper
Any phase of the process
1. Hand out 1 template for each participant
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2. Explain the meaning of the dashed lines (to be folded once the finish sketching on the section)
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3. Ask the participants to start sketching the feet of the character
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4. Once they are done, they should fold their sketched section away (so no one can see it)
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5. Papers are then passed clockwise or anticlockwise to the next participants, who should sketch the next body part and fold away
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6. Repeat these steps until all the characters are created
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7. Unfold and put it up on the wall so everyone can admire each creation
Steps
​Pre-fold the paper to guide participants where to draw on each round and to make sure previous parts are hidden.
There is a template for this in the Library of Templates.
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This exercise allows even the ‘non-sketchers’ to warm-up their sketching skills, which can be used at later exercises (if sketching is required).
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Have the results in an exhibition where everyone can admire them!
No peaking
Rules
Notice
2+ participants
Relaxed audience
3-5 minutes
No required material
Any phase of the process
1. Ask participants to pair up
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2. Either provide suggestions for things to be drawn (secretly; show or whisper) or let the participants decide for themselves
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3. While one of the partners "draws" on the back of the other using their finger, the other should guess what it represents
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4. Repeat until time is up
Steps
Done in pairs
If used at the start of the workshop, consider using an additional ice-breaker prior to this game
Some people may not like the 'close contact' with other participants
None
Rules
Notice
2+ participants
Any audience
3-5 minutes
Paper (A4)
Any phase of the process
1. Hand out 1 piece of A4 for each participant/ group
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2. Ask participants/ groups to produce the longest paper strip using only the given A4 (in a continuous manner)
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3. The participant/ group with the longest paper strip wins
Steps
Can be done in groups or individually
No attaching is allowed.
Rules
Notice
4+ participants
Any audience
3-5 minutes
Pen and paper
Any phase of the process
1. Form pairs
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2. Distribute 1 pen/pair to half of the pairs.
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3. Distribute 1 A4/pair to the other half of the pairs.
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4. Ask the pairs to line up.
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5. The pairs with a pen should carry it across the room between their shoulders. Pairs with the A4 should balance it across the room only using one finger each.
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6. The first pair that crosses the room wins.
Steps