The following section includes games and activities that can be used in getting to know one another. Some of these can be played without any preparation, while others need some advance planning before the meeting.
“FIND THAT PERSON”
This game can be adapted to fit the specific types of students in your group. Make sure everyone has a pen or pencil to play. The next two pages are choices of lists that could be used. Decide which list you prefer, and choose one of the two variations for variations of organizing this game:
1) Make it a race. The first person to have all the blanks filled wins a prize. He or she should read the answers aloud and have each person confirm them. (This variation works well in large chapters).
2) Play with a time limit. The objective is for people to meet others of similar interest. (This variation works better in smaller groups).
“FIND THAT PERSON”
One person’s name cannot appear more than twice.
1.______________________ jogs regularly.
2.______________________ can ride a skateboard.
3.______________________ likes to draw.
4.______________________ has their own computer.
5.______________________ wears contact lenses.
6.______________________ wore teeth braces for more than 2 years.
7.______________________ played a high school varsity sport.
8.______________________ has regular family reunions.
9.______________________ likes to drink coffee.
10.______________________ drives a car older than a ’78.
11.______________________ collects stamps, dolls, or baseball cards.
12.______________________ has had their own horse.
13.______________________ still has both sets of grandparents.
14.______________________ has been a cheerleader.
15.______________________ played in a high school marching band.
16.______________________ drives more than 4 hours to go home.
17.______________________ is dating someone steadily.
18.______________________ worked at a real job this summer.
19.______________________ has been overseas.
20.______________________ likes black and white movies.
21.______________________ does a lot of hiking and camping.
22.______________________ has at least 5 brothers and sisters.
23.______________________ graduated one of top 5 in high school class.
24.______________________ has drunk goat’s milk.
25.______________________ is called by their middle name.
“FIND THAT PERSON”
Find one person who fits each description and write their name in the blank. One person cannot fit two spots, only one. You can put yourself in one blank.
1. ______________________ has a first name that was named after a relative. (Who was that relative?)
_____________________
2. ______________________ has a middle name that was named after a relative. (Who was that relative?)
___________________
3. ______________________ doesn’t know where their name came from.
4. ______________________ is a freshman.
5. ______________________ is in their third year of college.
6. ______________________ likes ice cream as their favorite dessert.
7. ______________________ played a varsity sport in high school.
8. ______________________ loves winter as their favorite season.
9. ______________________ loves summer as their favorite season.
10.______________________ likes to sing.
11.______________________ likes to ride horses.
12.______________________ plans to major in engineering.
13.______________________ plans to major in education.
14.______________________ hasn’t decided on what in the world to major in….yet.
15.______________________ knows someone here from their own hometown.
“QUESTION ME!”
Use the list below of famous people and write out each name on a label sticker. Place one on each person’s back. The object is to figure out “who” they are. To do this, each one goes up to someone and asks no more than three “yes” or “no” questions about the character on their back. If the person can’t guess after three questions, they move on to another person. The game is over when everyone knows who they are. It’s fun to see others help each other out when they draw blanks on who they could be.
These people are real or fiction or cartoon or famous animals.
Barbara Streisand Billy Graham Noah
John Denver Amy Grant Liz Taylor
Bill Cosby Snoopy Princess Diana
Barbara Walters Garfield Prince Charles
David Letterman Dorothy of Oz Fergie
Joan Collins Joe Theisman Picasso
Norman Rockwell Adam Queen Elizabeth
The Pope Eve Margaret Thatcher
Baryshnikov E.T. Daniel Boone
Mother Theresa Khaddafi Abe Lincoln
Donald Duck Clark Gable George Washington
Bugs Bunny Scarlett O’Hara Tweety Bird
Whoopi Goldberg Giligan Sylvester theCat
Robert Redford Mr. Ed Rocky
Barbie Madonna Rambo
Lionel Richie Tarzan Frankenstein
Michael Jackson Groucho Marx King David
Tom Selleck Carol Burnett Santa Claus
Moses Lucille Ball Jon McEnroe
Mary Lou Retton Charlie Brown Chris Evert
Meryl Streep Paul Newman Martina Navritolova
Grobechev Elvis Presley Ivan Lendl
Sting Steven Speilburg Stefi Graf
Minnie Mouse Robin Williams Jimmy Connors
Ronald Reagan Mickey Mouse Boy George
Popeye Olive Oyl John F. Kennedy
Fred Flintstone Cher Jerry Falwell
Farrah Fawcett Pat Robertson Tom Cruise
George Bush Michael Jackson Larry Crabb
Johnny Carson Michael Dukasis
“GETTING TO KNOW YOU”
A variety of things can be done to pair people up in a fun way. The purpose is simple; to ask each other introductory questions like:
“Where are you from?”
“What’s your favorite ice cream?”
“What’s your mother’s maiden name?”
“Why did you come to school here?”
“How did you get your name?”
“What’s your major?”
“What’s your favorite cartoon?”
“Where do you live on campus?”
Ideas for how to match people:
a) Write numbers on small slips of paper. Make two “2”‘s, two “3”‘s, etc. Have everyone draw a number from a hat, and go around the room to find their match.
b) Have each person draw pieces of paper that have animal names written on them. (There should be two “dog”‘s, two “cat”‘s, two “elephant”‘s, etc.) They then have to find their match by acting like the animal.
c) Pass out stickers, one to each person, with an adjective written on them. With the sticker on either their forehead or on their nametag, they must go around the room to find their opposite. (i.e. “hot““cold”, “black”“white”, “night”-“day”, etc.)
“BIRTHDAY GAME”
Have everyone split into groups according to their birthday month. Form a circle around the room, from January to December in the order of their birthdays. When the semi-circle or circle is complete, start with January and have people “sound off” their birthday (number). Give prizes to people born on the same day.
“ALPHABET MIXER”
This game is a good way to get names of people, and also for people to meet each other. Place posters on the wall around the room with the letters of the alphabet written in big block letters. For example:
Have everyone go to the poster with the first letter of their name (either first or last) and sign it. Then amongst those subgroups have them find out certain things about each other.
NOTE: If you need their adddresses and phone numbers, have them put that on the poster too. Then after the meeting, take them down and copy the information for future use.
This works well in large chapters.
“SCRIPTURE SKITS”
This is great if your speaker doesn’t show. It’s the “Emergency Plan B” alternative. It has been used effectively at both large and small schools. It can create both a fun meeting as well as a chance to learn more about Jesus.
Below are listed passages that contain parables that Jesus told, and the number of people that could act out that parable. Divide the group by choosing people and placing them into skit teams or by taking volunteers. Give them ten or fifteen minutes to prepare a skit to act out for the rest of the group. Bring them back together quickly so each group has a chance to perform.
After each Scripture skit is presented, ask “What is the message Jesus was trying to convey?” and have students answer. Have the emcee be ready to keep the pace flowing.
Passage # of Actors
a) Wicked Tenant Farmers 8-10
Matthew 21:33-41
b) Forgiveness 4-5
Matthew 18:21-35
c) Laborers in the Vineyard 8-10
Matthew 20:1-16
d) The Loving Father 4
Luke 15:11-32
e) Wedding Banquet 5-8
Luke 14:16-24
f) Good Samaritan 4-5
Luke 10:30-37
g) Talents 4
Matthew 25:14-29
Others:
h) Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-8)
i) Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)
j) Landowner’s Son (Matthew 21:33 ff)
k) Lost Sheep (Matthew 14:12 ff)
l) Treasure in Field (Matthew 13:44-46)
