Nature-based Classroom Ice Breakers


Who Am I?
For this activity tape or pin the name of a wildlife species on the back of each participant and make sure everyone has paper and a pencil. Each person tries to figure out what animal he or she is by walking up to other participants and getting clues from them. For example, Person A gives clues to Person B by briefly describing what Person B is in one to four words. Person B writes down this description and then briefly describes what Person A is in one to four words. Person A writes down this clue and both people move on to other participants for new clues. Be sure to set a time limit before the group begins the activity. Wrap up by asking for three to five volunteers to guess what they think they are, based on the clues they received.

Guess My Name
Ask the participants to make a list of ten words to describe an animal of their choice on a sheet of paper. They then tape the sheet of paper to themselves and move about the room, reading each other’s lists. They introduce themselves to each other and try to guess what animal each list describes.

Artistic Introductions
Ask participants to draw or model out of clay an animal they feel represents themselves. Divide the participants into groups and have each explain why (s)he chose the animal (s)he did. Or, put pictures of a variety of animals on a large table and have participants choose one they feel represents themselves. Divide into groups and have each participant explain why (s)he chose a particular animal.

Human Knot
Participants stand in a circle and introduce themselves one by one to two other people in the circle. As they introduce themselves, they grasp the hand of the other person and hold on. When everyone has introduced him/herself, each person should be holding hands with two other people. You have now created a human knot. Their task is to untangle the knot without letting anyone in the circle go!

Sound Off
Write out cards with the name of one animal on each. Make two cards for each animal. Hand out a card to each participant, making sure that pairs of animals are distributed. Arrange the participants in a circle. Explain that they are to make the sound of the animal on their card to find the other animal of their species. No talking is allowed. Once they find their partner, they are to stand by them. Participants can also be blind-folded and/or groups of more than two animals can be produced by making more cards for each animal.

Significant Stories
Ask each participant to relate a story about a significant experience involving nature, animals, trees, etc.

Human Scavenger Hunt
Have participants go on a “tree” or “wild” human scavenger hunt using one of the lists included here. The object is to find other students who fit the criteria and have them sign their names on the appropriate line. This is a good way for participants to find out interesting, and often little-known information about others in the group, relating to wildlife and forestry.

“Tree” People
Directions: Try to have at least one person sign their name after each statement. Each person cansign your sheet only once.
1.Has a treehouse___________________________________________________________
2.Has hugged a tree_________________________________________________________
3.Uses live Christmas trees____________________________________________________
4.Likes to sit by a fire________________________________________________________
5.Can name Iowa’s state tree__________________________________________________
6.Lives in a wood house______________________________________________________
7.Recycles paper, plastic and glass_______________________________________________
8.Ate a tree product today_____________________________________________________
9.Has a windbreak on his/her property___________________________________________
10.Can name three (3) kinds of trees that grow in Iowa________________________________
11.Can name three (3) products from Iowa forests__________________________________
12.Has been to a savannah_____________________________________________________
13.Planted a tree in the last year_________________________________________________
14.Has counted the rings on a tree_______________________________________________

“Wild” People
Directions: Try to have at least one person sign their name after each statement. Each person can sign your sheet only once.
1.Has a valid hunting or fishing license__________________________________________
2.Can identify two (2) species endangered in Iowa___________________________________
3.Recycles_________________________________________________________________
4.Has contacted a government official about a wildlife issue_________________________
5.Has held a snake__________________________________________________________
6.Has a bird banding license___________________________________________________
7.Enjoys wildlife photography_________________________________________________
8.Can name a wildlife book they have read_______________________________________
9.Has watched a squirrel conquer a “squirrel proof” bird feeder_______________________
10.Has seen a bald eagle nest___________________________________________________
11.Can identify at least two (2) animals by their tracks_______________________________
12.Has seen a live moose in the wild_____________________________________________
13.Landscapes their yard for wildlife_____________________________________________
14.Has watched a predator catch its prey__________________________________________

WILD or PLT Activities
Activities from the guides also can be modified to serve as ice breakers. The advantage to using an activity from one of the guides is that it gives participants more contact time with the materials. Some possible activities include: WILD - “Animal Charades” WILD Aquatic - “Are You Me?;” “Fashion a Fish” PLT -“Peppermint Beetles;” “We All Need Trees”