Circle Games - Primary School 123 - Home



ICE BREAKER GAMES

Circle Games

Shoe shuffle:

Each person puts on a blindfold and takes off their shoes. They then throw them into a pile in the middle of the floor. The referee then jumbles them all up and then shouts GO! The first person to find their shoes by touch and smell alone and put them on is the winner.

Ducks and hens:

Circle up in groups of 8-10. Hand one person two random objects. One of these random objects represents a duck, the other represents a hen. The person is a “vendor”. His goal is to sell the foul. To his right, he passes the first item, and says, “Do you want to buy a duck?” The “buyer” says, “Does it quack?” The vendor says, “Yes it quacks.” The duck continues to be passed to the right with the question and answer session going all the way back to the original vendor and back to the current transaction. (B asks A, A answers B, B sells to C, C asks B, B must turn around and ask A, A answers B, B answers C, C sells to D, D asks C, C asks B, B asks A, A answers B, B answers C, C answers D, and so on.) In the meantime, immediately after the duck is sold, the original vendor turns to his left with the hen, and says, “Do you want to buy a hen?” The buyer asks, “Does it cackle?” “Yes it cackles.” Same deal with the hen... the question and answer session goes all the way back to the original vendor. The fun comes when the messages start to cross. It’s hilarious!

I’m going hunting:

You play this game in a circle and your memory counts. One person in the circle will start the game off by saying, I’m going hunting and I’m taking an arrow. The next person will have to repeat what the person next to him said and then add something new from the next letter in the alphabet. I’m going hunting and I’m taking an arrow and a bow. You keep this going around the circle until one person cannot remember what he is taking. That person is out and you see if the next person can complete the phrase. You don’t necessarily have to choose something that you would normally take hunting-it can be funny. You can also modify this game to a specific topic. I’m going to get married and I’m taking... would be a great wedding shower icebreaker. I’m going to have a baby and I’m... would be a starter for a baby shower game. I’m going shopping and I’m buying… would be great for a women’s event. Pick a topic that fits your event, play this game at your next family holiday get-together.

Killer Froggy:

Everyone sits in a circle. One person is chosen to be the detective. He leaves the room or goes to a place where he cannot see or hear what is going on in the circle. Everyone in the circle closes their eyes. An adult or leader walks around the circle and taps someone’s shoulder who now becomes the Killer Frog. But no one knows who the frog is at first. The detective comes back in. The frog sticks its tongue out at random people around the circle, trying not to be noticed by the detective. If the frog sticks its tongue out at you, you just lay down. The detective gets three tries to guess the killer frogs identity. If he succeeds, someone else is chosen for the next round. If he doesn’t, then he is the detective again. It’s okay if other players know who the frog is.

Quick change artist:

Have everyone sit in a circle and choose one person to be the quick change artist. Have the artist go out of sight and change something on him/her self that is visible (ie-put shorts on backwards, change hair, tie/untie shoes...). When the artist is done, have him/her walk into the middle of the circle and turn around slowly to give everyone a chance to see what has been changed. Then go around the circle having each person guess what has been changed. The first person to guess correctly is the next artist.

Shark attack (need parachute)

Select one player to be the shark and one player to be the lifeguard. All other players must sit on the ground while holding the parachute over their legs. The shark must be under the parachute looking for someone to attack. The lifeguard walks around behind players that are sitting, hoping to save any victims of a shark attack. The players will wiggle their legs and shake the parachute keeping it low to the ground. The shark will pick a victim and try to pull them under by the legs. The lifeguard must come around and try to pull them back. If the lifeguard gets there in time, the shark lets go and finds another victim. If a player is pulled under then there are two sharks. The victim cannot kick or use their hands to attack or hurt the shark. They must go with the shark if pulled under; only the lifeguard can save them.

Smile toss:

Players can sit in circle or through out the room as long as everyone can see each other. All players are to keep a straight somber face while one person that is chosen to be the Smile Tosser, smiles. The Smile Tosser will smile a big smile at all players trying to get them to crack a smile or laugh. If anyone smiles or laughs they are out of the game and they must be absolutely quiet while the game goes on. The Smile Tosser can wipe off his smile with his hand and throw it to another player if he wishes. The receiving player will put on the smile and be the new Smile Tosser. You can even set a time limit on how long your Smile Tosser is allowed to keep his role. Smile Toss is a great party game, holiday get together game, icebreaker game and youth group game.

Someone moved:

Have all players sit in a circle and then chose a person to be “it”. The “it” is to leave so that “it” cannot see or hear. Have one to four players move in the circle. When “it” returns he is to figure out who has moved in the circle. Great ice breaker for new groups!

Ice Breakers:

Cheeky cheeky

Depending on the number of participants, you may want to pick a few helpers for this icebreaker game. The helpers will all have a small tube of lipstick in their pocket or hidden in their hands before the game starts. They can pretend at the last minute that they decide to join in the game; this helps them to find the person that they would like to stand next to. Have all participants line up in a straight line, side by side, instruct them that they have to look forward and they can’t turn their heads. Tell them that you’re playing the Cheeky-Cheeky game and everyone is to repeat what you do but must not move. Give them an example by lightly pinching the persons cheek on the right of you and say “Cheeky-Cheeky”. You should be at the beginning of the line. Note to them that that person is to do the same and then the next person all the way down the line until it reaches the end. Once demonstrated start out with Cheeky-Cheeky but this time behind your back you have lipstick that you put on your fingertips. After you’ve done Cheeky-Cheeky and the movement has gone down the line then do nosey, nosey. After that do chiny-chiny, eary-eary, heady-heady and right eary-eary. Each time add more lipstick to your finger tips without them noticing. In the process the person next to you should end up with lipstick all over their face. Pick a person that is a good sport to stand next to. If you’ve planted helpers in the line, a few other people should end up with lipstick on their faces also.

Frozen T’s:

For each team you'll need one T- shirt and one plastic storage bag. T-ShirtPlace one nicely folded T-shirt in each bag then pour in about 2 cups of water and freeze all of them overnight. If this wasn't done where the event is taking place bring the T-shirt in a cooler filled with ice to keep them frozen. Instruct the teams that they'll be playing an Ice Breaker game. Then hand out the bagged T-shirts to each team. On "Go" the teams will have to get their T-shirts thawed out so that one person from their team can put the T-shirt on. Teams will get creative in their attempts to win. They could run the shirts underwater, put them in the microwave and even pounded the ice out of them. The first team to come back with one person in the T-shirt is the winner.

Kint Boe Boe’s ring

From the group select a number of persons that you would like to play this game. Send them outside.

Have some one (preferably a man) that has a very ugly toe, sit on the chair with his foot on the stool. Put some mayonnaise or Vaseline on his thumb. Let him bend the thumb and you put it on the jointed area. You also put some on the big toe that is on the stool.

You then invite one of the persons that have already been blindfolded to come in with his/her hands behind him. It must stay behind him as long as he/she is approaching the king. They are asked to bow before the king in respect (keeping hands behind). Take them very close to the king where they can actually kneel right in front of the toe that has the mayonnaise or Vaseline on it. They bow as to kiss the king ring and the king puts his finger out so that the person kisses the finger instead of the toe. The king then puts his hand behind him leaving the toe as the visible object that has been kissed.

The blindfold is now taken off and the person sees the toe and thinks that he/she has kissed this ugly toe. (Make sure that you keep adding more Vaseline to the finger as it will be kissed off, also make sure that enough is on the toe) Continue with the next person until all have come in. Do not tell the person what has happened but encourage the person to watch and see what has happened. He/she will laugh at himself.

The other players must be locked away so that they have no clue as to what is happening, they will hear the laughs and will be curious and anxious to come in. No one in the room is to tell them anything. The last person usually does not know what is happening. You may tell him or her if you choose to.

Messy twist:

What you need for this game is warm weather, so it can be played outside with no shoes on. It's a game mainly for those youths that like to get messy and enjoy having fun. (It is played like the game of Twister but with a BIG twist.) Fill up 6-10 plates with the same items like oatmeal and then 6-10 plates of another item, try to have at least 5 different items that would give you 30 to 50 plates. If you have a large crowd have them play in shifts. On a sheet of paper make tags, which will be pulled out of two separate containers. One set of tags will name the items in the plates, like chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding, whip cream, applesauce, mashed bananas, oatmeal or other items possibly non-staining items. The other set of tags with will go into another container that will be what they will use, right hand, left hand, right or left foot, head or even bottom. Lay out the plates in rows and have one person draw out a tag from each container. Players are to do what the tags state, example is Vanilla Pudding, Right Foot. The players are to put their right foot in the vanilla pudding and then another tag is pulled. If any player falls or fails to get a plate before some else gets it, they're out of the game. The last standing player is the winner and you can give him rights to hose off other players if necessary. Messy Twist is a great game for the wild Youth Groups, party game or picnic game if you have a lake to wash off in.

Moo Game:

Pick three people to stand outside while the rest of the group gets ready. Form a circle large enough for someone to stand inside. Tell the group that They are going to pick someone from outside to come in and stand inside the circle and when you count to three everyone has to “MOO” as loud as they can. Then tell them on the last time, when the third person comes in to fake a “MOO”. Everyone should look like they are going to “MOO” but don’t. Pick someone from outside and tell them that they are to listen for the person who “MOOed” the loudest. Count to three and everyone “MOOs”. The person in the middle will then pick who “MOOed” the loudest and whomever they pick will be correct. Then tell that person that they have to “MOO” as loud as they can on the next round but to not “MOO” at all on the third round. Now the 2nd person comes in and you "MOO" and they pick who was the loudest and they are of course correct. But don't tell the 2nd person to not “MOO” on the last round. Now the third person comes in and you tell them to pick the loudest “MOO”. You count to three and everyone pretends like they are going to “MOO” except the 2nd person that came in who “MOOs” really loud all by him or herself. It’s really funny. You may have to explain the joke to the third person though.

Scavenger hunt:

Make a list of things for teams to look for through their wallets, purses, and possibly What’s on their bodies. Divide into teams by tables, pairs, individuals or what seems best. Here is a list of ideas of what they can look for but modify the list to your liking. Do not list where they might find these items.

1975 Penny, $2 bill, $100 bill, red ribbon (found in a bible), hologram (usually found on a credit card, don’t tell them this!!!), a bird (usually found on a credit card), pick a few states from the new quarters (Delaware, Michigan, Florida), pearl (earring or ring), black sock, roman numeral (found on a watch), Susan B Anthony dollar, picture of a tree, tic tac, paper clip, measuring tape, ruler, peppermint candy, toothpick, the word Moses (if they have a bible), M&M, Tums, children’s Tylenol, thermometer, white button, pink nail polish, screw driver, nose ring, tweezers, mirror, ankle bracelet, red hair, raisin, triangle, charge slip over $200 and so on.

Make a list and copy off the list for each team. Have them check off which items they have, the team with the most checked off, wins!!!! At the end, tell them where they could have found some of the items.

String toss:

Set up small groups of 8–12 players and have them sit in a circle for this icebreaker. One person is given the ball of yarn and finds the end of it. They will toss the ball of yarn to anyone within the circle while they are still holding the end of the ball of yarn. Now ask the person that caught it one or two questions. If this is a new group that doesn’t know everyone they are to introduce themselves first before answering the questions at the beginning of the game. Here are some ideas as to what questions to ask; What is your favorite color, music group, the person that has influenced you the most, what are you afraid of, your favorite food, time of the year, or any other question to might pertain to this event. That person then holds part of the yarn and then tosses the ball of yarn to anyone that hasn’t received the ball yet. You repeat this until everyone has had the ball of yarn and you will notice that you have created a unique web that has connected all the players together in one way. You can pass the ball again to ask one – two more questions from each player.

Whats in your bag?

This game will take a little bit of work but it's fun for all ages, a great icebreaker.

Ideas for filling bags: (** note for extra points)

Penny ** year

Screw

Birthday candle Ink pen cap

Balloon Night light bulb

Rubber band Crayon ** color

Tea bag Safety pin

Button Bottle cap

Paper clip Peppermint candy

1 p.c. of Lifesaver candy ** flavor Peanut in shell Tooth pick

AA battery

Sewing bobbin

Marble ** color

Key

10 Penny nail

1 - dice

Screw

Make a bag for each item that you have collected. Put each item in it's own bag and number them with corresponding list for correct answers. Example: Felt bag with 1998 penny is marked #1 and a list is started with #1 as 1998 penny. All bags must be sewn completely closed so don't put anything in that you don't want to loose. Make a lot of bags so that you can use this again for your next icebreaker idea. If you have 15 players use #1 bag to #15, just pull out the rest. Have each player go around feeling each other's bag, trying to guess What's in it and listing their guess on paper. The one who guessed the most correct is the winner, for tie, use extra point ** method.

Blind folded four corner:

Here’s a quickie game that can be played in the classroom or wherever. Select one player to wear a blindfold and they are to be placed into the center of the room. Once the player is blindfolded and in position, the other players must stand in one of the four corners. They must do this very quietly (no talking allowed) and within 10 seconds. If a player is not in a corner by the time your done counting, that player is out of the game. The player that is blindfolded will point to one of the corners and all the players in that corner will be out of the game. To be fair you cannot go to one corner, make noises and then quickly move to another corner. If no one is in a selected corner, the players have 5 seconds to get to another corner before a new corner is selected. The one person that was never found will be the new player in the middle.

Coin hit:

Each player will stand behind their own sidewalk section facing each other and place a quarter standing upright in the sidewalk crack between them. The first player will stand behind the line of the next sidewalk section and try to hit the standing quarter by bouncing the ball at it. If they hit the quarter they get one point and if it is knocked out of the crack they get two points. The ball will bounce to the other player from across the crack. The second player will take a turn. The first person to get 21 points is the winner.

Heads up, thumbs down:

Here’s another game for the classroom. Choose 4-7 players in the classroom to be the thumbs down players. The rest of the classroom must put their heads down on their desks, close their eyes and have one arm resting on the desk with their thumb up. The thumbs down players will go throughout the room and each one will select one player to push a thumb down. The selection is very important, so the thumbs down players must make sure that no one is peeking. Once all players have selected one person those players that had their thumb pushed down will try to guess who pushed their thumb down. If they are correct that player will take their place. Try to encourage the thumbs down players to select thumbs that haven’t been pushed down so that all players feel like they are part of the game.

Minor Games

Kick the Can

One person is it, place the ball into the center of a field of flat playing area. Get someone to kick the ball. Everyone runs to a hiding spot except the person who is it has to run and put the ball back into the center of the field or where the ball was kicked from. If the person who is it sees someone, he or she runs to the ball and yells 1 2 3 on whoever s/he sees. If you are not caught and you kick the ball you free everyone who is caught. If everyone is caught the person who was caught first is it.

Hit the snake

Start out with three people to form a snake, having a head, middle section and the tail with players placing hands on waist to stay attached. The remainder of the group is to form a circle around the snake. The object is to try to hit the tail of the snake with the ball. The snake so to move around quickly to prevent this from happening. The group should pass ball round to out smart the snake to get in a shot at the tail. If the tail is hit the person that hit the snake is now the head of the snake. The tail is to take the place of the thrower back into the circle.

Hit and sit

To play you need 3 large soft balls and you put them in the middle of a gym. You need at least 15 people to play and everyone sits on a bench or sideline until someone says go. Everyone goes after the balls and the players that pickup one of the balls throws it at someone. If a player is hit below the shoulders then that player has to sit. If the throwing player throws the ball at someone and that person catches the ball the throwing player is out and sits down. The players are only aloud to take 3 steps before throwing the balls. When a throwing player throws the ball at you, you can dodge it, jump or even do a roll if you're good at gymnastics. If a player is hit above the shoulders it does not count. It's very fun.

Wall volleyball

One team serves against the wall, and the other team must hit the ball back to the wall without catching or dropping it. Hit back and forth until dropped. If the serving team drops the ball, it loses the serve. If the other team drops the ball the serving team receives a point. Play up to fifteen points. Compete against other kids in the neighborhood.

Galaxy ball

Players form a large circle or square. Place 1 to 5 players in the center who try to avoid being hit by thrown balls. Players on the perimeter throw balls trying to hit the inner circle players at the waist or below. The player who hits someone, gets to take his or her place in the center.

Roll the ball

This game is for a small group of 5-8 players. In a line have one small hole for each player and on the backside of the hole, one stick for each player. Instruct the players that they cannot run outside of the designated play area. Pick one player to be the ball roller. That person will roll the ball toward one of the sticks trying not to roll it into the hole. If the ball rolls into the hole the roller will receive one more stick onto his assigned pile. They will add one stick and then pick up the ball and try to hit any player. When it rolls past the holes towards a stick, the player that has been assigned the stick will pick up the ball and try to hit one of the other players that are running around within the designated circle. If they hit a player with their one throw, the player that was hit has to add one more stick to their pile. If the thrower misses they have to add a stick to their own pile. When you have 5 sticks in your pile you are out of the game. Ball throwers are not allowed to move once they pick up the ball and must hit players below the waist. The last player is the winner.

Silent Dynamite

You will need ball that is soft. Choose one person out of the group to be the “Caller”. The caller will give a special command to the group. I usually start with a regular toss and catch. The rest of the people who are spread out around the room then toss and catch the ball to one and another, silently (hence the name, Silent Dynamite.) If a person talks during the game that person has to go in the middle. The caller can change the command at any time. Examples of commands are: Catch with elbows, catch with thumbs, throw with your opposite hand, spin around 3 times before throwing etc. When a person playing cannot complete the task and drops the ball that person stands or sits in the middle. The people in the middle can try to swat down or catch the ball. If a person successfully catches the ball they can get back into the game. The game is over when there is only one person left in the game.

Spud

Players are huddled around as one person throws the ball into the air. The person throwing the ball is to shout out someones name. The person that was called is to get the ball and shout, . freeze!. before the other players run away. The person with the ball is to gently try to hit any player. If a person is hit they are assigned a letter starting with S from the word Spud. If the person throwing the ball misses then they are assigned a letter. The targeted player will be the one to throw the ball. Once a player has been given all the letters to spell SPUD, they are out of the game.

Square off

Mark off a 12 ft by 12 ft play area in the grass for the game or on the floor if playing indoors. Place one 36" Fun Gripper Soccer Ball in the middle of the large squared play area. Divide up players into 4 teams. Each team will be assigned one of the sides of the square and one player from each team will enter the play area. The players will try to push the large ball across the line on their side of the play area. They will do this without their hands so have those hands behind their backs and they are not allowed to kick the ball. They are to only use their shoulders and head to move the ball. The first player to get the ball across their side scores one point for his/her team. The next player in each team will do the same and the team with the most points wins. For older players you can blindfold the players and they will have to rely on their team for directions. You can also vary this game by making the players move the ball while in the crab walk position.

Three man step

You need a large running area. Outside playground, gym, or open classroom works great. You need a soft throwing ball, safe for throwing at children. I occasionally throw in a punch by adding another ball for the challenge. Children ages 5-12 are best for this activity. The game starts when one person throws the ball up. The rest of the children are either running from the direction it is thrown or trying to catch the ball. The object is to eliminate players by hitting them with the ball. (Be sure to hit them in a safe area. My NO zones are the head unless they duck and the private areas.) Okay here we go. One person catches the ball for a serve. He then can only take three steps toward another player and throw the ball at him. If the player is hit they are out and must sit where they were hit by the ball. They can tag others that run by them but they must be sitting flat on their bottom while tagging. They can also throw the ball if it comes close enough to them without moving. If the opposing player takes more than three steps we do not count it out, it was an area of argument too many times trying to prove who was right? The game continues in this manner until two players remain at which time the play area is made smaller until the game is done with one victorious.

Blanket Volleyball

You can use a volleyball net if you prefer, but not necessary. Set up teams and each team should have four people on it, so that there will be one person holding each corner of the blanket. Have one team serve the volleyball by placing the volleyball in the middle of the blanket. They are to lower the blanket and then raise it quickly as a team, to allow the ball to become air borne. The opposing team must catch the volleyball in their blanket and toss it back again.

Bridge ball

Players are in circle formation, facing in. Each is in wide straddle step with the side of the foot against the neighbors. The hands are on the knees.

Two balls are used. The object of the game is to throw one of the balls between the legs of any player before they can get their hands down and stop it. Each time the ball goes between the legs of an individual, a point is scored against that individual. The players having the least points against them are the winners.

Be sure the players catch and roll the ball rather than bat it. Players must keep their hands on their knees until a ball is thrown at them.

Once mastered, a variation can be played. Variation: Player is in the center with a ball and is it. The other players are in the same formation as above. One ball is used. The center player tries to roll the ball through the legs of any player he or she chooses. They should fake their intent, using feints and changes of direction. Any player that allows the ball to go through their legs becomes it. All players start with hands on knees until the ball is thrown.

Cats in the corner

Mark off square play area. The ball thrower will be in the center of the square. There are safe zones at each of the corners where all the players called Cats will be. When the thrower calls "Cats In The Corner", the Cats have to run from one corner to another without getting hit by the ball. They can go any direction including diagonal as long as they do not get hit. Any player hit by the ball is out. If you have a large group you can have several balls and a couple throwers.

Chinese soccer

For the center players, it is *very* physically demanding, so they should rotate out every three to five minutes. An older person is normally needed as a referee/timekeeper. This game requires a *large* group of kids and has the advantage of keeping them all in play at once, as well as requiring two forms of teamwork. Suitable for an entire PhysEd class or large youth group to play in a gymnasium.

Two teams form along opposite walls in a gym. All members join hands, preferably double-grip in which each player grabs the wrist of the player to each side. They defend the goal, which is the entire wall behind them, or as much wall as they can cover while all holding hands and standing in one location.

Five players from each team come to center court. Their aim is to make the ball hit the wall behind the guards of the opposite team.

Rules:

1. The guard team along the wall must continue to hold hands as they defend their wall against the oncoming ball. They defend by kicking the ball away while still holding hands.

2. A goal is scored against them if the ball hits the wall behind the defenders *at knee level or below*, or if the defenders must break their grip on each other in order to kick the ball away. If ball hits wall at higher than knee level, there is no score and no penalty for breaking grip. (Thus the defenders’ best tactic is to stay back near the wall.)

3. The center players can bat the ball with their fists, and (as in soccer) stop it with any part of their bodies. They cannot pick it up, nor can they dribble or bounce it higher in order to give it a good swat. In other words, "play the ball where it lies," which is usually close to the floor! To score a goal, the center players must bat it (with fists only) past the knees or lower legs of the defenders of the opposite wall.

4. Body-contact is limited (as in basketball). The referee may wish to impose free shots on goal as the penalty for rough play or personal fouls.

These rules mean that the center players spend much of their time bent over at the waist as they stoop to swat the ball. They tire within minutes, whereupon the referee calls "change". They join one end of the defending line and the next five players from the other end of the defending line come to the center.

David and Goliath Dodgeball:

David & Goliath Twist: Prior to each round of play, each team designates a Goliath for their team and tells only the referee(s). At any time the "Goliath" is put out, either by being hit or by having a thrown ball caught,the whole team goes down. This makes for quick rounds and adds a twist to regular dodge ball.

Fitness Mania:

For this activity the players will perform a variety of fitness activities in “Fitness Mania” in order to improve their own levels of physical fitness. (muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, flexibility and cardio respiratory endurance).

Dividing into two teams. Each team will line up single file on opposite side of the card and activity slip piles. The first person on each team will run towards the middle and pick up a card and an activity slip. Each card represents a number. Jack = 11, etc... Ace = 14 Note: If a player picks up an activity that their team has already done, then they must pick another activity slip. Players will run back towards their group then read and perform the activity as a group.(ex: Do ____ curl-ups). The next person in line then goes and the game continues until all of the cards or activity slips are gone. The team that finishes first wins.

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