Ice Breakers Science Education Warm-ups & Exercises Robin Bacon EDAE

Ice Breaker #1 Opinions

Ice Breakers are Multi-layered  An ice breaker must be effective and take no more than minutes for colleges classes & 5-15 minutes for seminars.  The activity must be woven into the main content of the class.  A way for the instructor to learn about the student.  Could help to build the framework for students to develop synergies for group assignments later in the semester.

Ice Breaker #1 - Opinions 1) Formal introductions take place & each classmate is asked: Are you organic or conventional? 2) The instructor encourages the class to break up into a circle around the room. 3) The instructor announces the names of the exercise: Opinions. 4) Place a poster sheet next to each person – paste it somewhere in the room, preferably on a wall or easel. 5) The instructor hands out markers & asks each person to number their page, 1-5.

Ice Breaker #1 - Opinions 5) 5 statements will be made & the person will be asked to form an opinion. 6) Write the words “Agree," “Disagree," “Strongly Agree" and “Strongly Disagree" on large pieces of paper. 7) Each person needs to form an opinion about each agricultural Issue that is presented for opinion.

Ice Breaker #1 - Opinions The five “ Opinion ” statements: a) Organic food is void of all toxins. b) Conventional food is not safe. c) Drought is an agricultural issue. d) Drought is a human issue. e) Manure pollution effects drinking water.

Ice Breaker #1 - Opinions 8) These agricultural Issues are part of the syllabus and core content for a group assignment. 9) Then make a statement such as “Agree”. 10) The instructor has everybody move to the part of the room that matches their interest in by agricultural topic on the whiteboard/poster paper.

Ice Breaker #1 - Opinions 10) There are 5 agricultural topics to choose from. 11) Encourage everyone to make introductions & form small groups around that topic that interests them the most. 12) Water Policy, Organics, Ag Pollution etc…

Ice Breaker #1 - Opinions 13) Have each student identify with their group and exchange information. 14) Begin with the Syllabus review & class guidelines. End

Ice Breaker #2 Line Up

Ice Breaker #2 – Line Up 1) This Ice breaker can be used in an Agricultural Extension Seminar. 2) As people enter your meeting hand each one a piece of paper with a different number written on it. 3) Ask the group to arrange themselves in numeric order without using their voices, hands, or showing their number.

Ice Breaker #2 – Line Up 4) This helps the team to think of other ways to communicate with each other and to work together to achieve a common goal. 5) Have each participant: a) Make introductions. b) Educational background. c) Career background.

Ice Breaker #2 – Line Up 6) Begin the Seminar overview & review the goals of the seminar at the mid-point. End