Can you think of something no one else can? Try it out with this quick, fun and challenging alphabet icebreaker.
Before you begin
- This is a great activity to run during an online session.
- Set up your video call on your chosen platform and send out the invites. Consider having a test call beforehand to make sure everything is working.
You will need
- Scrap paper
- Pens or pencils
- Access to the internet
Play the game
- The person leading the activity should explain how scattergories works: each round will have a list of categories and a letter. Each player will need to come up with a unique answer to each category that begins with the round’s letter. For example, if the category was countries and the letter A, people could say Argentina, Afghanistan, Angola, or any other country that begins with A.
- Everyone should work together to come up with a list of categories to use in the game. They could include countries, sports, and foods for example. You could also use an online version of Scattergories to generate the categories, letters, and timer.
- Everyone should write the list of categories on their piece of paper. The person leading the activity could also put them on their screen.
- One person should choose a random letter for all the answers to start with.
- The person leading the game should start a timer for the round. It’s up to you how long you allow: we think a game with 12 categories takes about two minutes.
- Everyone should try to come up with a unique answer for each category that begins with the chosen letter. The aim of the game is to come up with answers that no one else will think of that still match the category and letter.
- Once the timer finishes, it’s time to score the answers. One person should read out their list. If anyone else has the same answer they should put their hand up – only unique answers score a point.
- The next person should read out any answers they think are unique, and people should put their hands up if they have the same answer. Everyone should keep going until everyone’s checked any answers that appear to be unique.
- Once the round has been scored, someone should choose another letter, and everyone should play again.
- Keep playing until you run out of time (or letters!).
Reflection
This activity is designed as an icebreaker to help everyone get to know each other a little better. Making people feel welcome and comfortable is really important, whether you play a game or have a friendly, inclusive chat.
How could people make others feel welcome and comfortable, especially if they’re new? People could think about making an effort to ask them a question, giving them a turn in a game or a role in an activity, or helping introduce them to everyone else.
Courtesy of Scouts UK.
