Ice Breaker Day II

In the first icebreaker you had the students create name tents with three things about themselves and to answer the question: What kind of vehicle do you think I drive?

Hand the name tents back out to the kids and ask then one by one what type of car they think you drive. Compile the answers and ask the kids why they choose the certain type of car. Why did some choose a mini van, a 4-door sedan or a truck?

When you have the information, let the class know what type of vehicle you drive.  Then discuss with them, the idea of stereotypes.

The last class I did this with were tied between a mini van and a nice business type car. They choose the mini van because they knew I was a mom and they choose the nice business car because I was in high heels. Some choose a truck because they knew I had a mini farm.

The correct answer was a mini van. It gave us an opportunity to discuss how we judge people, maybe for the clothes we wear, the fact that we are parents, or where we live. It also opens up the discussion for times when they have felt they were stereotyped for good or bad.

Ice Breaker

Have a piece of card stock paper for each student. Choose light colors, you want to be able to see the writing on them from the front of the room.

·         Ask the kids to fold the paper in half to make a name tent. 

·         On the outside have the students write their name in bold pen/marker

·         On the inside have the student write the following things

o   Write 3 things about yourself

o   What kind of vehicle do you think I drive? (The answer for this will be used in Ice Breaker Day 2)

·         Complete one for yourself. Make it clear what you want the students calling you. I preferred Ms. Jenny, so this let the students know I wanted that versus Mrs. Schiltz.

·         Once the students have completed the activity, ask for volunteers to share what they wrote.

·         At the end of class, collect the name cards. Bring them to future sessions.

This activity has multiple purposes:

o   It allows you to get to know the students names and little things about them.

o   It gives the students information about you as well.

o   Upon returning to the class room – have fun with yourself and see if you can remember which name card belongs to the student. When you make a mistake, make light of it. You are then showing the kids that you are human, not perfect and that mistakes are OK, as long as you keep trying. Practice this each time you return to class until you have memorized the names of each student.