Rythm Instruments
Rythm Instruments is a fun way to break the ice in groups, helping each participant to feel involved and create something from "scratch".
Library of facilitation techniques
Opening Workshop Activities
Tools and techniques activities to effectively kick-off a meeting, workshop or training session.
70 results
The Sketch Game
A drawing exercise that shows us how we can have different perspectives on various subjects and/or objects - demonstrating cultural diversities. It can help us unlock some of our unconscious assumptions and biases. The task is fairly simple to execute and doesn’t require more than 6 A4 pages/or post-its and a pen for each participant, or a Miro/Mural or virtual whiteboard.
Light Medium Heavy
A great get-to-know activity that dives a bit deeper than regular name repeating games.
Altitude
Sometimes it can be difficult to keep a meeting on track when people have a hard time staying focused at the right level. People can find themselves “down in the weeds” or operational details when the meeting is supposed to be strategic, or, conversely, they can find themselves being too abstract and strategic when operational detail is exactly what’s needed.
Postcard from a Friend
Here's an interesting icebreaker that uses the postcards written in the previous closer activity (Postcard to a Friend). It involves distributing postcards from previous participants with their highlights and advice for a new group of participants. Be sure that you receive informed consent from the writers before using their postcards in this activity.
Hypeman
In small groups one person is introduced and their hypeman hypes them up
Unique thing in common
With a partner find the 3 most unlikely / weird / surprising things you have in common with each other
Each pair chooses one to share with the group
Yes, and cards
Pass out 2 colors of cards. Everyone answers "what does it look like when X topic is present (positive goal). One color puts down cards and builds out answers in paired yes, and conversations. Then switch roles.
Wishes: an Opener
What wishes do participants have for your training session? Which of these wishes do the most participants share?
Here's an opening activity that helps the participants to generate a list of wishes, discuss them, and identify the highest-priority wishes.
3 things in common
In pairs, partners find 3 unusual things they have in common. Then each pair chooses one to share with the group.
What's in the Bag?
This is a fun icebreaker or energizer where participants are asked “What's in the bag?” It's a simple way to engage people and have fun getting to know each other, it gets participants to step into the space together. Each team gets points for any items that are called out that they have with them.
Weather Forecast
On a board there is a Sun, a Sun with a cloud, and a cloud with a thunder. Participants write their name on a postit and put it in the area that matches their current mood.