Basic Structure:

• Have participants stand in the centre of the room.
• A statement that has two possible responses—agree or disagree—is read out loud.
• Depending on whether they agree or disagree with this statement, participants move to one side of the room or the other (establish which side means which beforehand).
• From that spot, students take turns defending their positions.

Variations:

1. Can be used as a “True or False” game when presenting facts about a topic.
2. Can be used as a “Me or Not Me” icebreaker where participants pick a side depending on whether or not the statement describes them, from trivial facts to deep truths (for example, “I like gummy bears” or “I have been bullied”)

Adapted from: www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/

Aim:

• To encourage the group to reflect on an individual level.
• To enable different people to contribute to the same reflection.

Resources:

• Papers
• Pencils/pens/markers

Basic Structure:

• Ask participants to write a key reflection (or the answer to a reflective question) on a sheet of paper.
• When done, the papers are to be crumbled up into a ball & tossed to the other side of the room.
• Once participants catch a “snowball”, they read it and add something new to the reflection.
• The paper is to be crumbled up again and the process repeated.

Variations:

• Key reflections can be drawn instead of written down, and after every toss, someone adds on the drawing they receive.

Adapted from: www.nureva.com/blog/education/15-ways-to-spark-student-reflection-in-your-classroom

Aim:

• To help participants reflect on a situation/session.
• To enable reflection without the use of words.

Resources:

• Papers
• Pencils/pens/markers/colouring pencils

Basic Structure:

• Present a question to be reflected upon. (For example: What have been the effect of gummy bears in your life?)
• Ask participants to draw their answers.

Variations:

• Sketch reflections can be stuck onto a noticeboard. (If the setting allows it, a wall can be dedicated to the affixing of reflective notes/sketches after sessions.)
• Sketch reflections can be made as part of other journaling activities.

Aims:

• To facilitate a discussion which is inclusive to the entire group.

Basic Structure:

• Participants begin in pairs, responding to a discussion question only with a single partner.
• After each person has had a chance to share their ideas, the pair joins another pair, creating a group of four.
• Pairs share their ideas with the pair they just joined.
• Next, groups of four join together to form groups of eight, and so on.
• Repeat until the whole group is joined up in one large discussion.

Variations:

1. Participants could be required to reach consensus every time they join up with a new group.

Adapted from: www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/

Uno

https://www.letsplayuno.com/

The classic Uno game & a more adventurous version are available to be played among groups, in teams and you can even host a tournament! 

Scattegories 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magmic.android.squash&hl=en

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scattergories/id1011376303

This category game allows you to host a challenge between a closed group of people (by sharing a code). 

Words/Crosswords/Chess/Boggle With Friend:

https://www.zynga.com/games/words-with-friends-2/

This website has 4 different games which can be played online between people. Most are one-to-one games but you can use them by creating teams. 

Kahoot!: https://kahoot.com/

Kahoot! makes it easy to create, share and play learning games or trivia quizzes in minutes. You can host a live Kahoot! by sharing a screen while participants answer on their devices.