Tag Archives: word games

Acrostic Icebreaker (Enhanced)

Youth introduce themselves to each other by creating acrostics of their own names.

Description
Youth use acrostics to introduce themselves. An acrostic is an arrangement of words in which certain letters in each line, when taken in order, spell out a word or motto

Resources
None

Preparation
None

What to Do

  1. Give youth a few examples of acrostics:
    GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
    DIANE = Dynamic, Independent, Able, No-nonsense, Enthusiastic.
    TODD = Tried and true, Oh boy, a boy!, Diamond in the rough, Destined for glory.
  2. Give the youth a few minutes to think of an acrostic for their own name (or nickname) using words or phrases that describe themselves.
  3. Once everyone has thought of something, ask the group members to introduce themselves to each other by using the acrostics

Variations

  • When creating the acrostic, have kids mix up the order of the letters in their names (Example: Ken = New Education King or NEK). Then have the rest of the group attempt to figure out each name.
  • Instead of an acrostic, ask youth to create actions for each syllable in their name… (Example: Diane might act as if she will “Die” and hold up her “hand” – Die-Hand = Diane)
  • If the group can be trusted to be encouraging and already knows each other to some degree, then you can ask the group to create acrostics for the names of each other.

Taking it to the Next Level

  • Was there any truth in the words and phrases you chose to represent your name in an acrostic?
  • If you didn’t have to use the letters in your name, what words and phrases might your friends use to describe you?
  • At the end of your LONG life, what words and phrases would you want people would use to describe you?

Action Point
What are some things you can start doing now to start building the type of reputation that you want?

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This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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One Word

Materials
None

Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker / crowdbreaker, youth will communicate things about themselves using single words..

Preparation
Prepare a list of questions or topics for discussion. Some examples:

  • a favorite food
  • a favorite sports team
  • a favorite song
  • a dream
  • a goal
  • a fear
  • a dream
  • a recent accomplishment
  • a recently solved problem
  • a strength
  • a weakness

ETC.

Icebreaker Activity

  1. Form pairs.
  2. Have pairs sit on the floor and talk to each other by speaking one-word messages back and forth.
  3. Suggest one of the above topics for their one-word-at-a-time discussions.
  4. Optional: Change pairs and repeat the process.

Optional Debrief

  • What does this activity tell you about communication?
  • How did you communicate without words?
  • Read John 1:1-9. How did God communicate to us through Jesus Christ?

Conclusion
A single work can communicate a lot. A lifestyle can communicate even more. Jesus is the Word become flesh. God communicates to us through the scriptures, but Christ is God with us, the living word.

Application
What words might people use to describe your life?
What can you do this week to become more like Christ, to reveal God to the world more clearly?

Scripture
John 1:1-9

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Rhyme Time

Materials
None

Icebreaker Description
Youth will ask and answer questions in rhyme

Preparation
None

Icebreaker Activity

  1. Seat the youth in a circle.
  2. Ask someone to ask the person on his/her right a question. He might ask, for example, ‘What color is my shoe”
  3. The youth questioned must answer with a response that rhymes with the question. He might say, for example, “It’s any color but blue.”
  4. He/she then turns to the person to his/her right and asks a question which must again be answered in rhyme.
  5. Do this until every person in the circle has answered.

Optional Debrief
Has it ever seemed that your questions in life go unanswered or that the answers don’t really make sense?
What are some of the questions you would like to ask God?

Conclusion
Everyone has questions and doubts. Doubts alone are not a cause for concern. Its what we do with our doubts that makes a difference. Even though we may not understand the reasons for things, we must take our doubts to God and place them in his hands. Thomas had doubts about the resurrection of Christ, but Jesus did not condemn him for them. In fact he gave Thomas the evidence he needed to remove his doubts and live by faith.

Application
What are some of your doubts that you need to place in God’s hands?

Scripture
John 20:24-29

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!