Alliteration - an icebreaker to familiarize participants with each other

What‘s in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.
William Shakespeare (1563–1616)
English poet and playwright

Alliteration means using the same starting letter of words as a rhetorical tool. Here, we use alliterative epithets together with participants’ names, e.g. Ali the Attractive, Laila the Lunatic, or Jim the Jealous.

Alliteration - Stand in the circle and throw the ball to those who didn't have it yet. — Stand in the circle and throw the ball to those who didn’t have it yet.

Objective of Alliteration

Familiarisation with participants’ names.

Alliteration - Speeding up by putting some pressure on the group can lead to more failures and more fun, too. — Speeding up by putting some pressure on the group can lead to more failures and more fun, too.

Resources

A ball.

Time

5 mins.

Task

Everybody who receives the ball has to think of an alliterative epithet to add to his or her own name. The next person to receive the ball repeats the previous name plus an alliterative epithet, and then adds his name and an alliterative epithet. This process continues with each member of the group. The last person will have to remember a long list of names.

You can repeat the list several times and attempt to do it faster.

Phase

Alliteration is a short, concise exercise for early on in the day. As it’s about remembering names it’s recommended as a starter game. However, you can play it any time.

Flashlight

You freeze a current moment of the workshop by doing a quick round of all the participant to know the current emotion or opinion.

Newspaper Interview

Newspaper Interview is an ice-breaker activity to familiarize your participants with each other. Create teams of two participants who interview each other. It’s advisable to mix gender, organisation, and age groups.

Wanted Poster

This is an ice-breaker activity to familiarize participants with each other. The form of the wanted poster reduces information to the relevant and the time needed.Make teams of two who interview each other and draw a Wanted Poster. It’s recommended to mix gender, organisation, and age groups.

Facts of My Life

Often so-called facts are presented to us, which we accept without further questioning. This excellent game teaches people to question further.

Animal

Participants will learn and remember the other participants’ name. It’s also very energising and great fun.Present yourself with name plus animal name, e.g. I am Anita and I am a cat because I love the independence and self-reliance of cats.

Icon – I can

Icons are visual symbols, which are very important in our everyday lives. We are all familiar with symbols for toilets, exits, or restaurant logos etc. But have you ever thought of symbolising yourself in a single sign? Icon - I can!

Invisible Friend

Write the name of each participant on the back of the cards and let each participant pick one. Now, they have to find their ‘invisible friend’, i.e. ask around which person belongs to the name of the card.

Remember my name

There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth...

Treasure Hunt

There is a treasure in each workshop participant. Find it and let find the participants in each other. This game sets a positive atmosphere when everybody is new - and perhaps a little insecure - in the workshop. It builds confidence and relationships.