College and Career Icebreaker Activity

Candy Introductions
Purpose/Goal: Candy Introductions is a great game for groups to get to know more
about each other in a fun, candy-filled setting. This icebreaker is intended to allow
group members to explore their hobbies, interests, strengths, and long-term goal
ideas. Children of all ages should begin thinking about college and career in an age
appropriate manner. This activity allows children to do just that in a group setting,
where they will have the opportunity to learn from each other.
Appropriate Age: This icebreaker is appropriate for ages 10-18
Group size: small or medium size group
Materials needed: variety of colored candy, whiteboard, marker, paper, pens
Time: 20 minutes, depending on the group size
Activity: Pass around the candy and tell each participant to choose anywhere from
1 to 5 pieces of anything that they want. Instruct them not to eat it just yet. Next,
give each group member a piece of paper and a pen to write with. After each
participant has the needed items, you will tell them what each candy type/color
represents.
On the whiteboard, write the following:
Red - Favorite hobbies
Green List two of your strengths
Blue Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Yellow -Dream job or Dream college
Orange - Wildcard (tell us anything about yourself!)
You can adapt this list to best fit the needs of the group and the colors of candy that
are available. Then, each person takes turns introducing themselves to the group
beginning with their name and then saying one fact for each candy type that they
have.
Reference
icebreakers.ws. (n.d.). Fun games, icebreakers and group activities. Retrieved July
12, 08, from icebreakers.ws: http://www.icebreakers.ws/

Environmental and Social Ice Breaker

Pick-Up-Sticks Game
Purpose/Goal: This icebreaker activity allows children and adolescents to become
comfortable expressing their feelings in a new group setting. By allowing the group
to start playing along with the original rules of the Pick-Up Sticks game lets
members have the opportunity to relax and have fun. As the new rules of the activity
are introduced, each group member is able to share the same experience of taking
turns to speak out loud about their feelings and has the opportunity to see others do
the same. This exercise allows the members to develop a sense of group trust and
identity, while having fun simultaneously.
Appropriate Age: This icebreaker is best intended for children ages 7 and up.
Group size: small group
Materials needed: Pick-Up-Sticks game, pass cards, color/feelings chart
(Color Pairs: Red/Angry, Purple/Rage, Blue/Sad, Green/Jealous, Black/Very Sad,
Brown/Bored, Gray/Lonely, Yellow/Happy, Orange/Excited)
Time: 20-30 minutes depending on skill level and group size
Activity: The counselor begins by reviewing the color-feelings pairs with the group.
Next, the counselor explains the rules to the original game of Pick-Up-Sticks to
familiarize children with the game. Either one child or the counselor will then hold
the sticks in their fist and drop them on the table. The goal of the original version of
the game is for an individual to remove the stick without moving any of the other
sticks around it. The players in the group take turns removing the sticks. A turn is
ended when the player accidentally moves one of the other sticks.
The counselor then adds the new rule of the adapted version. Each time a
player removes a stick, they must tell about a time when they had the feelings
associated with the color of the stick. When it is the counselors turn to pick, rather
then disclosing personal information, it may be helpful to tailor responses to the
specific needs of the group. Each player receives one pass that they may use during
the game. This gives the child some control over the feelings that he/she chooses to
express. This game allows many opportunities for interpretation by the counselor.
You can look at what colors the clients chose and the colors that they may be
avoiding.
Reference
Hall, T., Kaduson, H., & Schaefer, C. (2002).Fifteen effective play therapy techniques.
Professional Pscychology: Research and Practice, 33, 515-522

Mental Health Ice Breaker Activity

Fear in a Hat
Purpose/Goal: This icebreaker, titled Fear in a hat is a teambuilding exercise
that promotes unity and group cohesion, which can lead to a discussion centered
around common fears and/or common goals that the group may wish to achieve
together (Icebreakers.ws, 2012; Neill, 2004). Due to the nature of personal sharing
in this icebreaker, it will also aid in building a sense of group unity and will help to
evoke a feeling of trust among the group members, as they come to realize that they
all have similar fears. The counselor can then facilitate a group discussion
surrounding common fears and separate fears, and utilize those to build a set of
ground rules for sharing in the group.
Appropriate Age: This icebreaker is appropriate for age 9 and up
Group size: any size group
Materials needed: paper, pen, and a hat
Time: 15-20 minutes, depending on the group size
Activity: Distribute a sheet of paper and a writing utensil to each person. Instruct
them to anonymously write a fear or worry that they have. Tell them to be as
specific and as honest as possible, but not in such a way that they could be easily
identified. After everyone is done writing a fear/worry (including the group
leaders), collect each sheet into a hat.
Shuffle the sheets and pass out one per person. Take turns reading one fear aloud,
and each reader should attempt to explain what the person who wrote the fear
means. Do not allow any sort of comments on what the reader said. Simply listen
and go on to the next reader. After all fears have been read and elaborated, discuss
as a whole group what some of the common fears were.
Reference
Icebreakers.ws. (2012). Fear in a hat. Retrieved from
http://www.icebreakers.ws/medium-group/fear-in-a-hat.html