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Chain Reaction Icebreaker

By Grace Fleming, About.com

Study Group Size:

Large group

Materials Needed:

Index cards
pen or pencil

Planning Time:

5-10 minutes

Distribute index cards to each group member. Each student should take 5 or 10 minutes to think of 5 characteristics that are special, but characteristics that he or she might share with others.

Examples:

  • I was born in Ohio
  • My favorite show is American Idol
  • I have two brothers
  • I live in an apartment
  • I have a pet turtle

One group member will stand and read an item from her list and say "Anybody else?" Any other group members who have written down that same characteristic will raise a hand and say “Me too!”

If several group members raise their hands, the speaker will point to one and say "What else makes you so special?" That group member will read something else from his or her list. The objective is to keep the chain going as long as possible, and to include as many group members as possible in the chain.

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