Hello, my name is Amerah Saleh I’m Head of Creative Learning, a poet and workshop facilitator.
In my five years of facilitation I have gathered the top five that young people not only don’t get bored of but also can help with easing into work. Enjoy, be sure to follow @BeatfreekED and let me know what you think!
1. Human Knot
Instructions: Works with 10–15 young people at one time, although with a class of 30 you can split them into two teams. Everyone has to stand in a circle (tight circle) and put their hands out in front, someone has to hold their hands (same people cant be holding same hands). After everyone is locked and has their hands locked with someone else’s you have to get them to untie the knot. Some people will be facing backwards and crossed arms.
Aim: The aim of the game is to work together and think creatively. Young people will have to use levels and imagination to see how they can untie themselves.
What you need: You will need nothing but a big space for young people to create a circle in the end.
Time length: It depends on level of young people; this could take up to 15 minutes.
Rules: Young people must not at any point let go of the two hands they are holding.
2. Beatfreeks Machine
Instructions: Young people to get into a circle and layer beats on top of each other- here the young people will have to use their bodies to layer a beat on top (they can use vocals, words, clapping, clicking, stamping, etc.). This goes around the circle with either the option to make it louder and quieter by teacher using hand to control levels (like a choir), or young people start dropping off one by one from the end of the circle.
Aim: The aim of the game is to get young people to listen and respond relevantly, it gives them the energy for a session and also helps them work as a team.
What you need: You will need enough space to form a circle.
Time length: This is a 15-minute exercise with a group of 30 young people.
Rules: Young people cant copy the same move as the person next to them.
3. Stationery Jam
Instructions: Young people must have any stationery they own on the tables in front of them. Similar to the Beatfreeks machine, they must all add a sound on using their stationary and the table.
Aim: This is a fun energiser for young people using relevant equipment in the classroom. The aim for the young people is to listen in a different setting, as they can’t all see each other like they can when they’re in a circle.
What you need: Young people will need to be seated at their tables, with stationary in front of them.
Time length: This activity can take up to 15 minutes.
Rules: Young people can’t use the same stationery the person before them has used.
4. Word Association
Instructions: Young people must go in turn to say the first word the previous word made them think, for example; if someone said sun, I would think moon, stars, sky, solar system, world, poverty, etc. You can use this in lessons, so if you were studying percentages, Macbeth, World War 1, you can start with that and get the class to say what that words they think of.
Aim: This is a nice reminder for young people of what they’ve been learning; the aim is to get young people to express their honest opinions without feeling left out.
What you need: You will need a topic. This activity can be done sat down or stood up.
Time length: This activity can go on for as long or as little as possible.
Rules (More of a warning): Young people may have a tender of using irrelevant and crude words!
5. Make Up Stories
Instructions: Young people must all get a card each, teacher can start first time with a card and make a story up, young people must now bring in their card and follow on the story.
Aim: The aim of the game is to broaden imagination and relevance.
What you need: You will need up to 30 cards with characters on them. Young people can play this game however the teacher feels relevant.
Time length: This is a longer activity and could take up to 30 minutes.
Rules: Young people have to use more than 3 sentences, and character has to be relevant to the story.
Characters & objects: (You could also use characters relevant to what you are studying, so you could use all the characters from Romeo and Juliet and get the young people to re-make the stories).
A house, a car, traffic lights, a kettle, a boy, a man, a dog, a horse, a castle, a dragon, a scientist, a bed, a blanket, a hat, a phone, a cat, a hamster, a school, a court room, a judge, a jacket, an old man, and so on.
This is the top 5, I hope you found some inspiration in these activities. You’ll be hearing a lot from me in 2015. I thought I’d start my first blog with a resource of the top 5 icebreakers that young people wont get sick of- I will be blogging a lot for you so if you would like something specific please let me know on Amerah@beatfreeks.com
Find out all our work and updates athttp://www.beatfreeksconsulting.com/schools
Be nice, with love,
Amerah Saleh