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Getting To Know Each Other
ADVISORY CHARADES 2
CARDS OF KNOWLEDGE 3
DO YOU LIKE YOUR NEIGHTBOR 4
GUESSING TO KNOW YOU 5
I LIKE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY WHO 6
MIX IT UP 7
MY STORY 8
NAMETAG MIXER 9
PECULIARITIES 10
PECULIARITIES ACTIVITY SHEET 11
THE DATING GAME 12
THE TALENT SHOW 13
UNIQUELY YOU 14
WRITING NOTES 15
FAMOUS COUPLES 16
THE HOT SEAT 17
MEETING A FRIEND 18
THE NAME GAME 19
NOTE CARD GAME 20
STORY BOXES: YOUR LIFE’S STORY 21
THE WEB OF FRIENDSHIP 22
TIME TO SHARE 23
Advisory Charades
Objective:
To learn about people and build teamwork. Materials:
Slips of paper with the students’ names on them. Procedure:
1. Split the class into two teams.
2. Call up one person from the first team and have them randomly
choose one of the slips of paper. The student must act like the person they chose and their team has to guess it.
Helpful Hints:
Make sure the students know each other well enough. Definitely do later in the year.
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Cards of Knowledge
Objective:
Help students get to know each other. Materials:
Playing cards without face cards and aces. Procedure:
1. Begin in a circle.
2. Each freshman picks a card and an FMP finds out who has the highest number.
3. The student with the highest card says that many facts about him/herself. Card is 8.8 facts.
“Do You Like Your Neighbor?”
Objective:
Help students get to know each other’s names. Materials:
None. Procedure:
1. Begin in a circle with one person in the center.
2. Center person walks up to another person and asks, “their name, do you like your neighbor?” “Katie, do you like your neighbor?”
3. The person replies, “Yes, I like person on left and person on right, but I especially like people (with a certain characteristic.) “Yes, I like Bob and Joe, but I especially like people with blonde hair.”
4. The people with the characteristic switch places. There will be one person without a spot.
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Guessing to Know You
Objective:
To get to know people in the advisory. Materials:
None. Procedure:
1. Mentors make up a list of activities that the freshmen would be interested in.
a. Playing basketball
b. Jumping on the trampoline c. Rollerblading
2. Freshmen receive the list and write down that they think is most interested in each one.
a. Playing basketball: Sarah
b. Jumping on the trampoline: Katie c. Rollerblading: Michelle
3. Each freshman votes on what they think.
4. After the votes are counted, have each freshman reveal their true interests.
“I like everybody, everybody who…”
Objective:
To learn silly, random facts that you have in common with your classmates while “racing” to get to a chair.
Materials: None needed! Procedure:
1. Set up chairs in a circle in the center of the room. There should be one less chair than number of participants.
2. Select a volunteer to be the leader. The leader stands in the center of the circle while everyone else sits.
3. The leader recites, “I like everybody, everybody who…” and finished the phrase with a statement that is true to the leader and relates to other people in the group. For example, “I like everybody, everybody who has been to Hawaii.”
4. Everybody to whom the statement applies must stand up and switch chairs. They cannot move to the chair next to them. The last person standing is the new leader.
Helpful Hints:
Try to make statements that apply to a large number of people and are concrete, for example, “everyone who is wearing jeans” vs. “everyone who likes ice cream” this will get more people to stand up earlier in the game.
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Mix It Up
Objective:
To get to know people in the advisory. Materials:
Polaroid camera, poster board. Procedure:
1. Take everyone’s picture with a Polaroid camera.
2. Have each student write his or her name on the back of the photo and something that distinguishes him/her.
a. Talents
b. Favorite things
c. Activities involved in
3. Recollect the pictures and shuffle. 4. Distribute them at random to students.
5. Students approach 5 people, trading identities by pretending they are the person on the picture. (Hi, I’m Katie, and I like volleyball.) 6. Then present whichever person they are to the class.
7. The next day put the pictures on a poster board for an easy reference to learn the student’s names.
My Story
Objective:
To learn more about someone in advisory by guessing whom the story really applies to.
Materials: None needed! Procedure:
1. Send three people out of the room.
2. The three people must decide on a story of something that has happened to one of them.
3. The one it happened to must tell the full story to the other two, in order to prepare them.
4. The three then come out in front of everyone else.
5. They each stand up, one at a time, and tell the story as if it happened to them.
6. The crowd can quiz each of them about the event.
7. Then the crowd has to vote on whom they think the story really happened to!
Helpful Hints:
The people to whom the story did not happen may not know all the answers to the question: instead, they must give another answer and sell it like it is the truth!
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Name Tag Mixer
Objective:
To learn one another’s names and get freshmen to introduce themselves in advisory.
Materials: Name tags. Procedure:
1. As the freshmen are entering, hand them each a nametag with another freshmen’s name on it. The object of the game is to find your
nametag. Once they find the person with their nametag, instruct them to introduce themselves.
2. Time them to see how long it takes for everyone to get the right nametag! To practice names, mix up the nametags and try to beat your previous time.
Peculiarities
Objective:
To discover peculiarities in advisory. Materials:
Peculiarities Activity Sheet (on the next page), candy Procedure:
1. Ask participants to stand.
2. Explain that the object of the activity is to discover peculiarities in the group.
3. Tell participants that you will read items from a list, one at a time. Ask them to come forward to receive a prize if they have that peculiarity. As a variation pass out the list to participants and ask them to fill it out individually, and then find others in the room that has marked the same categories. Include some categories that you know apply to more than one person.
Tips keep this quick and fun. Add peculiarities to the list relating to
organizational quirks or norms, or add specific peculiarities that you know about people in the group.
Helpful Hints:
Keep this quick and fun. Also, add you own peculiarities based on what you know about your freshmen and advisory!
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PECULIARITIES ACTIVITY SHEET
1. Was born on February 29.
2. Has or had a dog named Spot, Midnight, Lucky, or Shadow.
3. Is wearing an article of clothing that was chosen and purchased by someone else.
4. Is wearing a family heirloom.
5. Drives a car more than five years old.
6. Competes in sporting events such as running, skiing, etc. 7. Likes pizza with anchovies.
8. Volunteers for charity fund drives. 9. Was born in another state.
10. Was born in another country. 11. Has won a prize.
12. Has been to Idaho. 13. Writes songs or poetry.
14. Has an organized, clean desk. 15. Has a twin brother or sister. 16. Has a shoe size of 12 or greater. 17. Has milked a cow.
18. Has been to the top of the Washington Monument. 19. Collects stamps or other collectibles.
20. Remembers sodas for five cents.
21. Has been to a concert in the last month. 22. Have five or more siblings.
23. Prefers winter to summer.
24. Has been on a radio or TV show. 25. Restores old cars or trucks.
The Dating Game
Objective:
Have fun and get to know each other. Materials:
Questions ready. Procedure:
1. There should be three boys sitting in chairs facing away from the bachelorette.
2. Have one student be the host, who will ask some quick questions of the bachelorette and introduce the bachelors.
3. The bachelorette will pull questions from the FMPs and ask them. 4. After a few questions have been asked, ask the class whom they think
she should date, and then let the bachelorette pick. 5. Then switch to a bachelor and 3 bachelorettes. Helpful Hints:
Make sure the questions are appropriate and the kids are comfortable.
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The Talent Show
Objective:
Gain confidence and show a unique talent or ability. Materials:
Calendar to plan out when each student will show his or her talent. Procedure:
1. It’s a lot like “show and tell” for high school.
2. The FMPs should go first to show the class examples. Each talent should be 3-4 minutes. The talent can be anything, from baking real good cookies to winning the spelling bee in 2nd grade.
3. Examples have been, singing the national anthem, how to tie ballet shoes, or bringing in trophies.
Helpful Hints:
Make sure no one is doing the same thing. Make sure you get the faculty advisor involved as well.
Justin Simon Mr. Fritz
Uniquely You
Objective:
To learn things about each other. Materials:
Pieces of paper and a pencil for everyone, and a container to hold the folded-up paper.
Procedure:
1. Each person writes down an interesting and unique fact about
themselves (something that they have done or has happened to them that other people would not know.)
2. Fold up the paper and put it in the container.
3. Pick someone to take out one of the papers and read it out loud and have everyone guess whom it is. When that person is guessed, have them further explain the statement if they would like to.
4. The person who guessed correctly gets a point; each player keeps track of how many points they get.
5. The game is over when everyone’s paper has been read, and everyone will know something unique about each other! The winner is the person who has the most points.
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Writing Notes
Objective:
The following classroom activity not only builds a positive classroom climate, but also demonstrates the importance and consequences of writing within a real context of communication.
Materials:
Cut up a ream of paper (500 sheets) into fourths so that you will have 2,000 sheets of notepad size paper.
Procedure:
1. Give the following instruction to your freshmen at the beginning of the period: “I want you to move to a part of the room where no one else is. Separate yourself from your classmates.”
2. Once the students have moved away from each other, make the
following announcement: “Today their will be no talking in advisory. If you have anything to say to someone, write it down on this sheet. Write down your message, fold the sheet, address it by writing on the outside the recipient’s name and your own name. Then hold up your hand for a messenger to come by, pick up your note and give you another sheet for your next message” (choose two messengers for the game.) FMPs should participate in the note writing as well.
Helpful Hints:
Try to encourage note writing between students who typically don’t interact. For example, if someone writes a note asking a question about what you think, ask him or her to write to another student to ask what he or she thinks. Also, if the amount of notes is too much for two messengers, a third may be needed.
Adapted from “Activities for an Interactive Classroom” by Jeffery N. Golub, National Council of Teachers of English
Famous Couples
Objective:
To find your partner! Materials:
Papers with half of a famous couple such as salt and pepper, Minnie and Mickey, Romeo and Juliet, Ernie and Bert, etc.
Procedure:
1. Put a tag on each student’s back so they can’t see it.
2. They ask each other questions about themselves until they figure out who they are.
3. After they figure out who they are, they find their other half. Helpful Hints:
After they’ve found each other, you could have them find out things that are similar and different between them.
Rachel Kolko ‘02 Michelle Zimbler ‘02
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The Hot Seat
Objective:
To give the freshman a chance to get to know each other better. Materials:
A chair. Procedure:
Select a volunteer to go to the hot seat. While in the hot seat, the rest of advisory has 60 seconds to ask questions. Whoever is in the hot seat can pass on any questions. Everyone should participate!
Helpful Hints:
Make sure the freshmen know what questions are appropriate and those they have the right to pass on any questions. However, great questions go beyond the superficial, such as “what are you looking forward to in high school?” or “Who is someone who changed your life?” Also, the time limit can be extended.
Meeting A Friend
Interview’s Name: ___________________________________________ Subject’s Name: _____________________________________________
1. What are your interests and hobbies:
2. Are you planning to be on any school sports, clubs, activities, etc? Which ones?
3. What Junior High did you come from?
4. Were you looking forward to coming to Stevenson? 5. How did you spend your summer vacation?
6. What are your favorite television shows, movies, and/or books? 7. What’s your prized possession? What makes it so specials? 8. Do you have any heroes? What are they and why do you admire
them?
9. What is your favorite childhood memory?
10. So far, what has been your best experience at Stevenson? 11. So far, what has been your biggest challenge at Stevenson?
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The Name Game
Objective:
Help learn each other’s names. Materials:
None. Procedure:
1. Begin in a circle.
2. One by one, go around the circle and have everyone state their name and something they like that begins with the same letter. (I’m Katie, and I like kites.)
3. For everyone that has gone, they have to state everyone else’s name and interest.
Note Card Game
Objective:
To get to know each other. Materials:
Note cards. Procedure:
1. Fold each note card in half, and then in half again. 2. Label each section 1 through 8.
a. Number 1: What is your favorite ice cream? b. Number 2: Are you right or left handed?
c. Number 3: Rate your athletic ability: good, great, or good spectator?
d. Number 4: Math ability: Great, Good or Bad?
e. Number 5: How many languages do you speak fluently? f. Number 6: Favorite music type?
g. Number 7: Family – Bio Nuclear, one parent, or guardian? h. Number 8: Have a pet: dog, cat, other, or none?
3. Have each freshman go around and find someone with the same interest.
4. Quiz after everyone has found matches.
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Story Boxes: Your Life’s Story
Objective:
To learn more about everyone in advisory. Materials:
One sheet of paper for everyone in advisory. Procedure:
Have everyone in advisory fold their paper hotdog wise, and then into thirds (you should have six boxes.) Make sure that each participant writes their name in the upper right corner of their paper. Have them number their boxes 1-6. Instruct them to draw/write in each box as follows:
1. Box 1: Favorite childhood toy
2. Box 2: The name of a concert you would like to attend and whom you would take to the concert.
3. Box 3: An important role model in your life. 4. Box 4: Two things you are thankful for.
5. Box 5: Draw a picture of yourself in ten years (where are you working? Do you have a family?)
6. Box 6: Write down something unique about yourself.
Collect these sheets at the end of advisory. If there is time, divide your advisory into pairs and have the freshmen share their story boxes, then ask for volunteers to share with advisory.
Helpful Hints:
Look for similarities amongst freshmen – this can help them find things in common. Also, these story boxes are a great way for FMPs to get to know their freshmen more personally.
The Web of Friendship
Objective:
To celebrate the good memories in advisory. Materials:
A spool of yarn and scissors. Procedure:
1. Have everyone sit in a circle in the center of the room.
2. One person starts the weave by holding on to the end of the yarn. He or she then says a nice memory about advisory. When he/she is done, toss the rest of the yarn to someone they did not know or did not know well at the beginning of the year.
3. The next person holds on to a piece of yarn and states their memory, etc.
4. By the end of the game everyone should be holding a section of the long intertwining yarn, thus creating a web effect. Then each of the members of the web cut their section and keeps it.
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Time to Share
Objective:
To create a list of positive affirmations for each person in advisory. Materials:
One piece of paper per person in advisory. Procedure:
1. Have the advisory sit in a circle on the floor.
2. Tell each participant to divide his or her piece of paper into the same number of squares as there are people in the advisory (not including his or herself.) They should write their name in the upper right hand corner.
3. Pass the paper around. Tell everyone that they must write one nice thing about the person whose paper they have in a box. It can be anonymous or they can sign their name.
Your One-Minute Life Story
Objective:
To allow the freshmen to get to know each other better. Materials:
None. Procedure:
1. Pair up the freshmen and have them sit knee to knee around the classroom.
2. The person with shorter hair will have one minute to tell their partner their life story from birth to present. The person with the longer hair will share one interesting fact they learned about their partner’s life with the advisory after the minute is up.
3. Once everyone has shared one fact about their partners, have the freshmen return to their pairs and repeat the process for the longer haired person.
Helpful Hints:
Make sure everyone participates! This is a great way to break the ice during the beginning weeks of advisory. FMPs should get involved too!
