We started off with an ice-breaker game: Predators and Protectors. Everyone gets inside of a space (about 20 feet square) and picks someone to be their predator and protector (nobody tells anyone who they picked). When the game starts, you have move to keep your protector between you and your predator. Everyone ends up running all over the place. It became obvious that the boys picked just boys and the girls picked just girls. We then played a variant called Predator/Protectee. This time, each person picks two people, but they have to move to stay between the two people. We told them to pick a boy and girl. Try it sometime: there is interesting and different emergent behavior for the two games.
Then we had tables with two chairs facing each other. The girls stayed seated as the boys moved from girl to girl. They had 3-4 minutes to socialize. We rang a bell when it was time to rotate.
It was a competition with prizes (In'N'Out and Menchies Frozen Yogurt gift cards and candy) to help everyone be more motivated. Each was given a score sheet with a list of names and columns for scoring: making eye contact, smiling, listening, showing interest, and "I enjoyed talking to them". The back had a list of sample questions (see below). Scores were 1-5 points. At the end, each person picked their top 3 giving them 3, 2 or 1 point. Scores were tallied and winners got their prizes. We reminded them it wasn't a popularity contest, but on who showed the best social skills.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and lots of smiles were seen (except maybe when brothers and sisters had to socialize). All the boys know all the girls now and all the girls know all the boys.
The Basics
- What are your favorite hobbies/interests?
- Do you have any pets? Siblings? Roommates?
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
For a Little More Insight
- Are you an indoor person or an outdoor person? (Or a city person or a country person?)
- What would your dream vacation be?
- What's your favorite travel destination?
- What would your dream job be?
- What did you do last weekend?
- Are you a night owl or an early riser?
- What was the last book you read?
- What's your favorite Web site to waste time on?
Creative Approaches
- If they made a movie about your life, would it be a drama or a comedy?
- Who was your favorite superhero when you were little?
- Who is your favorite comedian?
- What is your favorite guilty-pleasure food (or music, or movie, or TV show)?
- What's the perfect midnight snack?
- Star Wars or Star Trek? The original Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, or the Johnny Depp remake? Sudoku or Words with Friends? Pirates or ninjas (and why)? Should brownies be made with nuts or without?
- Are you a dog or cat person?
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