Chapter 2. Ice-breaker activities

Start by introducing yourself and welcoming everyone. Explain that we will first play an ice-breaker game called scissors, paper, rock. People form pairs and move to an open space where they can move around. They play the game with their partner for a couple of minutes.

We can then invite people to return to their chairs and participate in an introduction activity. For example, they could turn to the person next to them and introduce themselves, telling the person something that they are proud of. Once this is finished, everyone will take turns introducing their partner to the group.

Start by introducing everyone. The teachers in the group can share their names, what class they teach and how many children they have in their class. This introduction ensures we know each person’s connection to the topic. As part of this introduction, the social work group facilitator explains that they need the teachers’ help to fulfil their social work role in working together to make the school a safer environment.

Start with people sitting or standing in a circle with a ball. Explain that the ball is a hot potato, and they are to quickly and gently pass the hot potato to different members of the group. When the ball comes to them, they are to say quickly, in one or two words, something about the task they are about to do. For example, if discussing group work, they can use a word associated with the theory such as forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning, mourning.

It is common for people to feel nervous or anxious about participating in a group. Setting up a well-being sensory space that respects cultural diversity and individuality as a group activity can help reassure and relax people. A well-being space is a small area in a room where people can go when they need a break from what is happening in the group.

This activity starts before the group begins. An email is sent to all stakeholders in the activity explaining the well-being space, including the reason for having one. The email invites people to participate in this optional group activity.

Here is an example of an email:

For those interested, would you like a well-being sensory space in our group room? If so, would you be willing to help set up a well-being table, please?

How this simple optional activity works is: the first few volunteers to arrive on the day set up a table in the foyer near our meeting room. People participating bring one or two small non-breakable items to place on the table for sharing and/or touching. The items are to encourage holistic and positive mental health and well-being. For example, an old football, a cricket bat, a gardening hat, leaves from a gum tree, a coloured flower in a small plastic pot, homemade biscuits or lemonade, rocks from your garden, lavender or other scented flower, a coloured pencil, chai tea or peppermint tea bags. When someone needs a minute’s rest from the group, they can go to the table, touch, smell or look at things and be encouraged knowing that we are all journeying this group together and cheering for each other.

Our well-being space is based on a pedagogy and theology of kindness, which is the idea that people teach, learn and grow in environments that are holistically and mutually pastorally caring. This table is a safe space symbolising that we are all from different backgrounds, can pastorally care for each other and can experience transformational teaching and learning moments together. (Please avoid placing political or contentious items or statements on the well-being table.)

Thanks for considering this. I look forward to our meeting.

People will start arriving and placing their things on the table. At the beginning of the group, the well-being space is introduced again and discussed, and people are encouraged to look at what is there. For example, in our intensive workshop, we had a well-being table with stuffed toys – including Kermit the frog, food and drinks from different cultures–including Indian Chai tea and Lebanese zaatar bread, lavender, pamphlets from people’s workplaces, inspirational words, etc. The table was a living space for us and was regularly changed.

Photograph 3:

Our well-being sensory space, which changed each day. Photograph by Monica Short CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0)