Icebreakers for Small Groups
The following 20 icebreakers are simple to use and suitable for a wide range of ages.
They can be used in a small space and require very few props and preparation so they
can easily be used in a home without wasting a lot of time or re-grouping afterwards.
Why do icebreakers for adults?
Icebreakers play an important role in helping people integrate and connect with one
another in a group environment. The first 15 minutes of your group are critical in building
the culture and starting the night off right. Icebreakers can enhance your group by
stimulating cooperation, increasing participation, building ownership and having fun.
• Helps a new group get to know one another.
• Helps new members to integrate into a group.
• Helps people feel comfortable together.
• Helps people transition from the stresses of the day.
• Encourages transparency and ownership.
• Encourages sharing and listening to others.
• Creates an inviting atmosphere for learning, reflecting, and participation.
• Have some fun and laugh together. It’s a sin to start boring.
A 10 SECOND CHECK LIST!
1. Be enthusiastic, whatever happens, be enthusiastic!
2. Choose volunteers carefully and don't cause embarrassment.
3. If something is not working move quickly on to the next part of the night.
4. Timing is important. Use only 1 icebreaker as a 5-10 minute introduction. Finish each
icebreaker while people are still enjoying it and always leave people wanting more.
5. Above all, stay away from awkward icebreakers that might take things too far!
Two Truths and a Lie
Ask everyone to write on a piece of paper THREE things about themselves, which are
not known to the others in the group. Two are true and one is not. Taking turns each
person will read out the three ‘facts’ about themselves and the rest of the group votes
which are true and false. There are always surprises. This simple activity is always fun,
and helps the group and leaders get to know more about each other.
Hot Seat
Ask for one volunteer to sit in the hot seat. They will be asked questions and interviewed
by the rest of the group. Spend no more than 5 minutes. Use a variety of questions to
learn more about the person’s background, family, work, hobby, goals, etc. Keep the
questions fun and interesting ... while encouraging depth and authenticity. Watch the
time on this one, keep it moving. Rotate people in the hot seat over the coming weeks.
In This Year I…
Hand out a coin to each member in the group. Ask the group to think back and share the
most memorable event that happened in the year of their coin was minted. Encourage each
person to share one thing that impacted them personally, not a national or world event.
Desert Island
Announce, 'You've been exiled to a deserted island for a year. In addition to the
essentials of food, water, and clothing, you may take three things with you. One item
must be for survival, one item for a hobby, and one luxury item. What would you bring?’
Scar Show and Tell
We all have cuts, marks, and scars and (if appropriate) showcase your scar to the group.
Tell everyone what happened. How old were you, what were you doing, and did it hurt?
Wallet and Purse Show and Tell
Most people carry important things in their wallets or purses. Have each member take an
interesting item out of their wallet/purse to show the group (a photo, a driving permit, a
report card, ID for work). Ask some follow up questions to find out more about the item.
Ink Me
You have just arrived at Tonyʼs Tattoo Parlor for a tattoo. Tony wants each of his tattoos
to say something about the person wearing them. From you, he needs a little inspiration
and a design before he can start his work. Give everyone a piece of paper and ask the
group to design a tattoo that reveals something about yourself. Then, you must also
make a note about how big the tattoo should be and where you will have it applied.
Everyone then shares their tattoo ideas with each other, and in the process, they tell a
little about themselves. If you want, you can vote on the best tattoo, or everyone can
tape their tattoos on their bodies to wear for the rest of the night
Around the world
The leader begins by saying the name of any country, city, river, ocean or mountain that
can be found in an atlas. The person next to him must then say another name that
begins with the last letter of the word just given. Each person has a definite time limit
(e.g. 10 seconds) and no names can be repeated. For example - First person: London,
Second Person: Niagara Falls, Third Person: Switzerland
Fast stories
First the group needs to come up with a character, location, and an event. For example,
the character is Abraham Lincoln, the location is the White House, and the event is
eating breakfast. With this “story” in mind, go around the group and each person adds
one word to the story. For example… One – morning – president - Abraham – Lincoln –
woke – up – and – he – was – hungry. Since – he – was – the president – he wanted…
The leader starts the story by saying one word. The next person then has to add to the
story with another word, which must fit the story and grammatically make sense. If the
person pauses between words they are out of the game and skipped as the story
continues. Eventually this will get down to one person who is the winner of the story.
Who am I?
Prepare a post-it note for each person in your group. Write on it the name of a wellknown or famous person. This can be an historical character, musician, TV personality,
celebrity etc. Have a mix of men and women. Keeping the names hidden, stick the postit notes on the foreheads of everyone in the group. They must then ask questions of the
others to find out their identity.
Each person takes a turn asking questions to figure out who they are. For example, Am I
alive? Am I female? Am I in a band? Only yes or no questions can be asked.
If
Ask the group to write down 1 or 2 'IF' questions on cards and place them (question
down) in the middle of the group. Have each person takes a card, read it out loud and
gives their answer(s). The following are questions, you could prepare in advance:
•
If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or
in history would you visit?
•
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
•
If your house was burning down, what three objects would you try and save?
•
If you could talk to any one person now living, who would it be and why?
•
If you HAD to give up one of your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling,
tasting) which would it be and why?
•
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
•
If I gave you $10,000, what would you spend it on?
•
If you could wish one thing to come true this year, what would it be?
•
If you could live in any period of history, when would it be?
•
If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change?
•
If you could be someone else, who would you be?
•
If you could have any question answered, what would it be?
•
If you could have any kind of pet, what would you have?
•
If you could do your dream job 10 years from now, what would it be?
•
If you sat down next to Jesus on a bus, what would you talk about?
•
If money and time was no object, what would you like to be doing?
•
If you had one day to live over again, what day would you pick?
•
If you won a car (any car), what would it be? 9
Brags & Bummers
Have each person share one “brag” & one “bummer” from the previous week (a high
land low). This is an easy exercise to use to get feedback concerning their life at that
moment. Encourage members to be authentic in their responses.
The M&M Game
Pass around a bag of M&Ms and have each person take only one M&M. After everyone
has an M&M ask everyone to share something about themselves based on their color.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Red: What’s your biggest pet peeve and why?
Blue: If you could be any age, what would it be and why?
Green: What famous person would you most like to meet and why?
Brown: What’s an accomplishment you are most proud of and why?
Orange: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Yellow: If you got a $50 giſt card to any store… where would you go, what would you buy?
Random Questions
•
•
•
•
What items would be on the dinner menu for your ultimate birthday feast?
What possession of your spouse would you most like to throw away?
What’s the worst hairstyle you’ve ever had?
What’s your favorite (or not-so-favorite) car you have ever owned?
Celebrity
Ask everyone to write down 3 names on separate pieces of paper (cut index card in thirds).
These names can be fiction, nonfiction, dead, alive, athlete, actor, cartoon character,
president, etc. The names should be common enough so that at least 2 other people in the
room know the name of this person. Don’t tell anyone the names you have written down
and put them face down into a hat.
Divide the group into 2 teams. In 30 seconds, one person from one team will draw as
many names as they can (one at a time) from the hat. With each name, you will give
clues to the rest of group about who this person is. During the first round, none of the
names are known until after they are guessed. There are 3 rounds to this icebreaker.
The first round you can say anything but the name of the paper. The second round is like
charades and you have to act out the name and are not allowed to talk. Then in the third
round you are only allowed one one word to sum up and describe your character. By the
third round you have heard the names two times, so remember all the characters.
Complete all of the names in the hat before moving to the next round.
Never Have I Ever
Give each person 5 dimes. Go around the group and have each person share something
they have never done. For example, someone could say …. “never have I ever flown in
an airplane” and everyone who has flown in an airplane would have to give them a coin.
If anyone has done this before, they have to give up one of their dimes to the person.
Once a person runs out of dimes they are out. Continue going around the group until
one person has all the money. At some point you might need to increase the amount
and have each person give up 2 or 3 coins to help the game go quicker. The person at
the end with all the coins gets to keep the coins as a prize for being the most
“uninteresting person” who has never done very many things!
Would You Rather?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Visit the doctor or the dentist?
Watch TV or listen to music?
Own a lizard or a snake?
Have a beach holiday or a mountain holiday?
Be invisible or be able to read minds?
Be hairy all over or completely bald?
Go without television or fast food for the rest of your life?
Be handsome/beautiful and dumb or be ugly and really smart?
Always be cold or always be hot?
Not be able to hear or not be able to see?
Be stranded on a deserted island alone or with someone you don't like?
See the future or change the past?
Be three inches taller or three inches shorter?
Have your grandmother’s/grandfather’s hair or name?
Who, What, When, Where, Why
•
•
•
•
•
Who is the most influential person in your life?
What transitions or changes are you facing over this next year?
When are you at your best? When are you at your worst?
Where in the world would you like to travel to? Where would you like to live for a year?
Why do you live in Indiana? Why do you like living in Indianapolis?
God at Work
How has God been at work in your life since you first started attending Harvest? What
has God been doing in your life over the last month? How is God at work right now?
The Newlywed Game
ROUND 1 – QUESTIONS FOR THE WIVES ABOUT THEIR HUSBAND
1. What color of tie would your husband prefer?
2. What bill does your husband complain about the most: gas, electric, food, or phone
3. What comic character does your husband most resemble: Batman, Charlie Brown,
Goofy, or Daffy Duck
4. How many times has your husband been to the Emergency Room?
5. If you asked you husband to cook dinner, what dish would he prepare?
ROUND 1 – QUESTIONS FOR THE HUSBANDS ABOUT THEIR WIFE
1. What color are your wife’s eyes?
2. What flower best describes your wife in the morning when she first gets up:
Sunflower, Bird of Paradise, or Snapdragon.
3. How long will your wife say she can go without a mirror?
4. Using one descriptive word that begins with the first letter of your last name, how will
your wife describe you on your first date together?
5. What will your wife say is the one gift she received at Christmas that she loved the most?
ROUND 2 – QUESTIONS FOR THE WIVES ABOUT THEIR HUSBAND
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What type of blood does your husband have?
How much cash does your husband have on him right now?
Which wedding gift did your husband dislike the most?
What will your husband say is the last thing he had fun helping you do?
What will your husband say is his least favorite piece of furniture in your house?
Bonus Question: How will your husband complete this sentence, “My Wife is a natural born ______.”
ROUND 2 – QUESTIONS FOR THE HUSBANDS ABOUT THEIR WIFE
1. What will your wife say is her favorite vacation spot?
2. What will your wife say is the one home appliance the two of you need (or updated)
the most?
3. Who caught the bouquet at your wedding?
4. What will your wife say is the very first gift she gave you?
5. On average, how many times will your wife say you take a shower per week?
Bonus Question: What time (within 10 minutes) were you two pronounced man and wife?
Conversational Roadmap
Have you ever been in a conversation and it just stopped and you didn’t know
what to say? Have you ever reached a point where you didn’t know how to
continue to connect with an individual and it quickly became awkwardly silent?
It’s easy to chatter about the obvious topics like news, weather, and sports… but
how do you really get to know someone and begin sharing on a whole new level?
Think of someone outside of your immediate family that you really enjoy talking
to. What is something specific that they do well when conversing with you?
This icebreaker uses 12 word pictures to create a conversational roadmap. These word
pictures are important because they help guide the conversation towards meaningful
topics and provide a way beyond small talk and will help you avoid dead end conversation.
Use this icebreaker to get to know others in your group and also learn how to be more in
intentional in having more meaningful conversations and building redemptive relationships.
IMAGINE THESE 4 PICTURES:
1. A nameplate, like something that would sit on someone’s desk.
2. On top of the nameplate there is a house.
3. On top of the house is a family waving in the air.
4. The dad of the family is waiving his hand and on his hand is a giant work glove.
DRAW: Now draw these 4 pictures on a dry erase board or large poster board. There
will be a total of 12 pictures, so leave enough room to fill the page and start at the
bottom. Next to the picture write a descriptive word (name, house, family, work, etc...)
REVIEW THE ROADMAP: The 4 pictures stand for:
1. Nameplate
=
Exchanging names, “My name is, what’s yours?”
2. House
=
Where is the person from? Where do you live?
3. Family Waving =
Family, wife, children, extended family
4. Work glove
=
Where do you work? OR, How do you spend your time?
PAIR UP: Have everyone find a partner and have a conversation with the first 4 pictures.
GROUP UP: What is something that you learned about the other person?
IMAGINE 4 MORE PICTURES:
5. The giant work glove is holding onto an airplane.
6. The airplane is propelled by a tennis racquet.
7. On the front of the airplane is a light bulb.
8. On top of the light bulb is a soldier.
DRAW: Have someone draw these four pictures on top of other pictures with a descriptive word.
REVIEW THE ROADMAP: The next 4 pictures stand for:
5. Airplane
=
Travel, vacation
6. Tennis Racquet =
Sports, hobbies, fun
7. Light bulb
=
Ideas, thoughts, dreams, opinions
8. Soldier
=
Problems, frustrations, challenges, concerns present in life
PAIR UP: Have everyone find a new partner that is different from the first partner and
continue your conversation based on the second set of 4 pictures.
GROUP UP: Now what is something that you learned about the other person?
REVIEW: Ask for someone to review all 8 pictures and explain what they stand for.
IMAGINE THE LAST 4 PICTURES:
9. A football goal post coming out of the back of the soldier.
10. Inside the goal post is a bouquet of flowers.
11. Coming out of the bouquet of flowers are praying hands.
12. Then the praying hands open up.
DRAW: Have someone draw these four pictures on top of other pictures with a descriptive word.
REVIEW THE ROADMAP: The last 4 pictures stand for:
9. Football goal post
=
goals, dreams, future plans
10. Bouquet of flowers
=
encouragement (character quality, how you see God at
work in their life, or an encouraging Scripture passage).
11. Praying hands
=
pray for the person (problems, frustrations, challenges),
thank God for working in their life, or a godly character trait.
12. Opening hands
=
The praying hands that are opening up stands for hospitality.
This ends the immediate conversation but extends an
invitation to get together, go out for a meal or coffee,
or do something together in the future.
PAIR UP: have everyone find a new partner and go through the entire stack of 12
pictures. Allow some extended time for this conversation so it doesn’t feel rushed or
forced. The point is to learn how to take your conversations deeper and more vertical.
The goal of this icebreaker is not to get through and check-off the 12 word pictures.
GROUP UP: Now what is something that you learned about the other person?
Do you think this word picture roadmap can help you become better at having
more intentional and deeper conversations? Why?
How do you think your relationships would change if this is the way you talked?
How do these pictures foster different conversations then you would normally have?
How do these conversations challenge or stretch you? Does “deep” intimidate you?
What are one or two word pictures you can takeaway and use in your conversations?
Outside of this icebreaker, the goal of this exercise is not to get through a conversation—
you may only cover 3 of the 12 pictures. The goal is to engage other people and develop
points of common interest that build into redemptive relationships. It’s easy for us to talk
about ourselves and base our conversation around with shallow topics, but we want to be
filled with redemptive relationships that care for one another and get beyond small talk.
Take your relationships vertical and consider how we can spur one another towards Christ.