It's that time of the year when we're thinking about staff training and summer programming. And who doesn't think about icebreakers when we bring people together. And, icebreaker questions! We're always looking for more of those.
This year I've completed my Trilogy of Icebreaker Cards. Three decks was a 'product' goal I had several years ago. My process goal along the way of creating and collecting questions was to find interesting topics to have a conversation about. Not just answer, but dig in a little bit. Yes, some of the questions in the three decks are surface level fun-to-answer questions. However, I think most of the 96 questions in the trilogy (32 question cards in each deck) can take a conversation to another level of connection.
This year I've completed my Trilogy of Icebreaker Cards. Three decks was a 'product' goal I had several years ago. My process goal along the way of creating and collecting questions was to find interesting topics to have a conversation about. Not just answer, but dig in a little bit. Yes, some of the questions in the three decks are surface level fun-to-answer questions. However, I think most of the 96 questions in the trilogy (32 question cards in each deck) can take a conversation to another level of connection.
Levels of Engagement (Action)
I've been promoting the idea of three levels of engagement when it comes to connections and conversations. (There may be more, but I'm sticking with three for now – let me know if you have other levels you're thinking about or using. And I just added the idea of 'Action' meaning, simply, levels of experiential participation.)
Level 1: Everyone pick up a card at random (maybe all the cards are face down on a table). Then, participants pair up. Each person asks their question and their partner answers. Then, they switch cards and go off to ask and answer with someone else in the group. Play for 8 to 10 minutes and we've gotten people to talk with each other – an initial connection.
Level 2: Same as Level 1, but this time after someone answers a question (in the pair), the question asker asks a follow-up question related to something they heard the answerer say. Hence, initiating a conversation (Level 1 interactions, for me, are connections, not conversations). At Level 2 we're just asking one additional question as a way to practice 'curious' listening, conversation behaviors, and getting to know someone on a slightly deeper level.
Level 3: At this Level I'm planning extended time (maybe 15 minutes as apposed to 5) to practice conversations and get to know someone (or more) on an even deeper level. I discuss with my groups what they like about having good conversations – appreciated behaviors during a conversation. Then, encourage everyone to consider practicing these behaviors during the activity.
Here's the experience: Pair up participants (before picking up cards/questions). Then, one person from each pair goes to pick up a question to talk about with their partner – you can leave question cards facing up so they can be seen, or face down asking them to pick up a random card/question. (Be sure to set a time limit on this choice – I recommend 30 seconds.) When the person picking the card returns to their partner, the two sit down somewhere and talk about (have a conversation) about the topic on the card. Allow for about 7 to 8 minutes for the conversations to take place and then bring everyone back together to reflect on the 'conversation' experience. One objective of this process is to identify useful conversation behaviors in order to 'transfer' them to future experiences. (NOTE: There are more aspects of setting up a Level 3 conversations which I'll cover in the near future.)
I've been promoting the idea of three levels of engagement when it comes to connections and conversations. (There may be more, but I'm sticking with three for now – let me know if you have other levels you're thinking about or using. And I just added the idea of 'Action' meaning, simply, levels of experiential participation.)
Level 1: Everyone pick up a card at random (maybe all the cards are face down on a table). Then, participants pair up. Each person asks their question and their partner answers. Then, they switch cards and go off to ask and answer with someone else in the group. Play for 8 to 10 minutes and we've gotten people to talk with each other – an initial connection.
Level 2: Same as Level 1, but this time after someone answers a question (in the pair), the question asker asks a follow-up question related to something they heard the answerer say. Hence, initiating a conversation (Level 1 interactions, for me, are connections, not conversations). At Level 2 we're just asking one additional question as a way to practice 'curious' listening, conversation behaviors, and getting to know someone on a slightly deeper level.
Level 3: At this Level I'm planning extended time (maybe 15 minutes as apposed to 5) to practice conversations and get to know someone (or more) on an even deeper level. I discuss with my groups what they like about having good conversations – appreciated behaviors during a conversation. Then, encourage everyone to consider practicing these behaviors during the activity.
Here's the experience: Pair up participants (before picking up cards/questions). Then, one person from each pair goes to pick up a question to talk about with their partner – you can leave question cards facing up so they can be seen, or face down asking them to pick up a random card/question. (Be sure to set a time limit on this choice – I recommend 30 seconds.) When the person picking the card returns to their partner, the two sit down somewhere and talk about (have a conversation) about the topic on the card. Allow for about 7 to 8 minutes for the conversations to take place and then bring everyone back together to reflect on the 'conversation' experience. One objective of this process is to identify useful conversation behaviors in order to 'transfer' them to future experiences. (NOTE: There are more aspects of setting up a Level 3 conversations which I'll cover in the near future.)
The above are just some basic ideas on using icebreaker question cards. And I know you have others ways to use them as well. So let's get you the Trilogy of fun so you can get started. Here are the decks (deck 3 is the latest one). Please, let me know your favorite questions for good conversation experiences. I want to put together the best 30 from the decks for a 'Conversation Curriculum' module I'm working on.
Thanks!
NOTE: When you click on the Download File link, you will have an opportunity to preview the file before downloading.
Thanks!
NOTE: When you click on the Download File link, you will have an opportunity to preview the file before downloading.
| icebreakercards_deck3.pdf |
| icebreakercards_deck2.pdf |
| icebreakercards_deck1.pdf |
Have Fun out there!
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
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