Topic or Unit of Study:
3-11, College/University, Adult, Prof. Development
An ice breaker which initially gets people up out of their chairs,
interacting and developing the framework for the task at hand.
In each of the four corners of the room is a large pad of paper
on an easel. Each pad has a specific personality trait written
The words are: meaning, action, relationship and organization.
Participants are to gravitate to the pad bearing the trait that
they feel suits
them the best out of the four.
Once everyone is in their area, the facilitator
will clarify with each group the particular area that they have chosen.
an example that falls within the type of characteristic, as
to help people solidify their choices.
Next the facilitator will
go around the room and have the participants briefly explain why
they identify with that particular term.
Is this something that they definitely know about themselves,
of the four choices?
Participants will next be asked "How
can we now relate this to our business, or what we do as
an organization?" Give examples
of how this plays into how we work and interact with co-workers.
Scenarios are then posed to the group, such as: "If
an action person and a organization person need to work together,
how will that
go? What concessions will need to be made by each to form
an optimal working environment.
This activity is an ice breaker that leads into the larger
unit of creating a shared mission and vision statement
1) There are four posters, each poster goes on a serperate
wall in the room.
2) The posters are entitled "Meaning, Action, Organization,
3) A facilitator asks participants to look at the posters
and walk to only one poster then stay there.
4) Facilitator asks participants (one at a time) Why
did you choose that word you are standing next to? What
mean to you?
How does that word relate to your personality? how does
that word relate to you at work?
5) Every participant gets the opportunity to speak
about their choice. All participants are encouraged to
For ELL participants I would use pictures that represent
the meanings of the words, or use the translation of
to the participants
Students will work individually.
35 Min. per class.
Author's Comments & Reflections:
The facilitator must have a good understanding of group
facilitation and techniques of asking questions
that can build onto other
questions and or clarify the participants meaning.
-4 pieces paper
(preferably poster size paper, but the
exercise can be done on 8.5x11 paper)
-4 colored markers
-A quiet room to have small group instruction in