Ice Breaker: What Do We Have in Common

Ice Breaker: What Do We Have in Common

Materials:

• Marker or other writing utensil
• Poster board or other paper

Instructions:

1. Break into small groups of 4-6 (at least 1 adopter in each group)
2. Pass out poster board and marker to each group
3. Set a timer for a defined amount of time (5-10 minutes)
4. Each group is to discuss what they all have in common and identify at least 5 commonalities.
   • Can be hobbies, music, interest, favorite foods, family traditions, etc.
   • Should not be body parts, clothing, or outwardly identifiable items.
   • The more unique the items are, the better
5. Write your 5 commonalities on the poster board.
6. Taje time to share out your items. This can be done by each group reading off their items and discussing how they came to identify that is was a commonality,
7. Make certain to point out the fact that no matter what you may think or know about others, we all will have something in common with one another.
8. Display the poster in the room after the activity is complete

Tips:

• For Pre-K through 1st grade, the adult in each small group should act a scribe and write down the items in common on the poster.
• For older classrooms 5th – 8th challenge the the groups to not repeat any commonalities listed by other groups. This will help the conversation focus on more thoughtful items.
• Increase or decrease the number of times to identify depending on your groups abilities and time allotment.
• Engage with your teacher to identify the make-up of the groups so that students who normally don’t interact much, have an opportunity to connect in the same small group.
• This can also be used as an anti-bullying or bullying awareness activity.

Download this activity here.