Icebreaker Bingo is the ultimate getting-to-know-you activity for large groups. It is perfect for students at the beginning of a school year or for adult audiences at the beginning of a workshop or conference.
Beyond the classroom, you can play Icebreaker Bingo at the beginning of scout meetings, youth groups, faculty meetings, or any other situation where you want attendees to get to know each other. This activity works particularly well at professional development activities.
The benefit of Icebreaker Bingo is simple yet powerful. The game encourages individuals to connect and discover particular strengths, interests, or experiences. When people find common ground, they are more likely to feel engaged and less likely to feel alone in your class, training, or meeting.
How to play:
Print out an Icebreaker Bingo sheet for each person who will be playing. Each person also needs a pen or pencil.
The Bingo sheet has multiple boxes, each with a statement. The objective is to mingle among the other students and find someone who fits each statement.
When you find a person who fits a particular statement, have them write their name or initials in the corresponding box. For example, if there is a box on your Icebreaker Bingo sheet that says “is left-handed,” you would mingle among your classmates to find a left-handed person who could then sign their name in that box.
This player was able to get eleven classmates to sign their name in a box.
Optional Rules & Ideas:
- You can adjust the length of Icebreaker BINGO based on the size of your group. 15-20 minutes seems to be a good length, with enough time for mingling without overdoing the game.
- If you have enough people, consider setting a rule where a given student can only sign one box per sheet. This will encourage everyone to mingle and meet more people.
- I like to play upbeat music in the background. This sets the tone for a positive and fun activity.
- Consider playing “coverall”, meaning the objective is for students to get a signature in as many squares as possible.
- I don’t like to give a prize to the person who gets their Icebreaker BINGO sheet filled out the fastest. This does not promote meaningful interactions, which is counterproductive to the activity. You could give a small reward to everyone who fills their sheet or you can collect all of the completed sheets and randomly draw a couple for prizes. (Remember, the real prize is the opportunity to make new friends!)
Have fun using Icebreaker BINGO as a way for your audience (student or adult) to get to know one another. Happy teaching!
