College freshman orientation games

By most measures, Sabrina Vasquez is smart. The Kearny, N. So when the year-old began the summer […]. Following LSU's Title IX scandal, a legislative proposal seeks to increase transparency and tighten sexual violence accountability in colleges statewide. Eastern Michigan is one of many institutions providing forums for discussion on polarizing social issues to help students, the public gain an understanding of the other side. Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password. This search is limited to articles published in the last three years. For a more comprehensive search of every issue, please visit our digital magazine page. Type your search term above. By: Steven Blackburn October 2, Incoming freshmen at Hamilton College begin with a single day of traditional orientation sessions and then break into groups for a travel experience of their choice.

Sometimes they are joined by President David Wippman. Share this article! Click to Copy. Experts weigh in on Colleges must start 'operating more like businesses' January 7, Masks back on: But this time, colleges are demanding KN95 and above January 10, Academic boot camp prepares first-generation college students By most measures, Sabrina Vasquez is smart. Bill would mandate La. How colleges can help get a divided nation talking again Eastern Michigan is one of many institutions providing forums for discussion on polarizing social issues to help students, the public gain an understanding of the other side.

Sign in. This one is pretty simple. Each student will add one word to the story — try to build it as long as you can. Provide each student with a piece of paper and something to write with. Ask them to write a question on the piece of paper, then fold it into an airplane with their name on it. Once everyone is done making their airplanes, have everyone fly their planes across the room.

Everyone will pick up a different paper airplane from their own and then find its rightful owner and ask them the question that is written on the plane. After a few minutes, have the group reconvene and have each student introduce the person whose plane they found with their name, the question they wrote, and what their response was. Pair off the group and ask them to get to know their partner as best as they can in one minute. Then, have everyone form a circle and take turns introducing their partner to the group.

Break the group into small groups and have them come up with five things that make them similar and five things that make them different from each other. Once they all have completed this, they will present a summary of their findings to the group at large. Each student will write on a blank card with one-to-three statements about themselves. Ask each student to write a poem about themselves.

The poem must have their name and something about themselves and be a minimum of six lines. Once everyone is finished, they must present their poems to the group. Pair the group off and give them five minutes to interview each other. Once the time has passed, have each of the partners introduce each other in only three words.

Ask the students to write down one or two adjectives about themselves on a sticker badge. Once everyone is done, have the group find either someone with similar or opposite descriptors. Have the group form a circle and toss a ball around the circle. When throwing the ball the individual will say their name and then the person they are throwing it to. Pair the group off and tell them to stand back to back. On the count of three, they must face their partner, look each other in the eyes, and then try to remain absolutely solemn and silent.

The partner to smile or laugh first must sit down. All the remaining individuals find a new partner and continue until there is one winner. Ask the group to sit in a circle. The first person will say their name and their favorite hobby. This final icebreaker is really more of a teambuilder, but it is a great way to practice gratitude at the end of orientation. You can use it amongst the orientation leaders themselves or have your orientation leaders facilitate this for their group.

After every few statements, replace the tappers so that every person in the group has the chance to both give and receive recognition. Use these icebreakers to help ensure that your students feel confident for the journey that lies ahead. What icebreakers would you add? Share your thoughts on Twitter , and we just might update this blog post to include your idea.

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National Louis University. Utilizing virtual engagement tools to boost student learning and campus connections. Human Knot Have your group form a close circle. Sing-Off Divide the group into teams. Alliterative Name Game Instruct your group to gather in a circle and pick a theme. Beach Ball Use a Sharpie and write on a beach ball with getting-to-know-you questions. Pterodactyl Ask everyone to gather in a circle. Telephone Charades Divide the group into two lines facing in the same direction, so that one line is standing behind the other.

Chainlink One student will start out by introducing themselves to the group i. Supermarket The orientation leader will divide the group into two teams, organized into two parallel lines. Zip, Zap, Zop Have everyone get into a circle and one person will start.

Birthday Boggle The group is instructed to line up according to their birthdays — but in complete silence. Two Truths and a Lie Gather your group and dedicate some time for students to think of their two truths and a lie.

Sentence Completion The orientation leader will prepare a list of sentences. Comic Chaos This icebreaker is played like a competition between multiple orientation groups. Marshmallow challenge Separate your students into groups of Giant Map Ask the students to form a giant map of the world, with each side of the room representing North, South, East, or West. On your marks, get set, go!

Pat on the Back Ask the group to draw an outline of their own hand on a piece of paper. Fill in Their Blank Ask each student to write a fill-in-the-blank sticky note or index cards. Social Bingo This one takes a bit of planning in advance, as a heads-up! Pop a Question The orientation leader will prepare questions on small pieces of paper and put one question inside a balloon. Questions Only The orientation leader will break the group off into two sub-groups and then pick a topic of conversation.

Blindfolded Polygon Ask the students to form a circle and then put on blindfolds. Where Were You When…? Hometown The orientation leader will post a large outline of the state or country on the wall. Body Language The orientation leader will split the group into two teams.

Webs The orientation leader has a large ball of yarn and asks the group to sit in a circle. Find Your Twin Pass out a piece of paper to each student. Three of a Kind Instruct the group to find three different students in the room that they share something in common with. Reverse Hide-and-Seek The group leader will select one student to hide, and everyone else searches for the hidden person — when someone finds them, they secretly join them.

Ha, Ha Begin by having all the players sit in a circle. Picture Scavenger Hunt Prepare a list of 12 to 15 interesting or helpful places or things around campus that can be photographed. Alphabet Freeze Ask all the students to recite the alphabet until you say stop. Dinner Plans Ask the group to form a circle. Have You Met… Break the group off into pairs and give them some time to get to know one another.

Two-Minute Mixer Give everyone two minutes to chat with others in the group. Where in the World… Gather the group and allow them some time to think about three clues that describe where they are from. Hula Hoop Relay Split the group into two teams. Whether your college orientation program is in person or online, find ways to help students connect.

Carve out some time for new students to be social and share more about themselves. You've designed the best college orientation program, but do a practice run to work out any hiccups. Expect the unexpected such as technological complications and plan ahead. There are many barriers that prevent new students from attending college orientation, including a lack of financial resources. Whether your program is in-person or online, ensure those in need can participate.

The gold standard of higher ed marketing is to reach students where they are. The best college orientation programs create social media campaigns to accompany college orientation activities.

Think beyond T-shirts and go for practical prizes like bookstore gift cards. Be sure to broadcast freebies on your higher ed social media accounts to incentivize participation. This orientation activity doubles as a campus tour. Create clues for a dozen must-visit places on campus, then break out into small groups.

Challenge teams to take a selfie at each place and tag themselves on social media. Here are mini-activities to ease awkwardness. Warp speed: As the beach ball gets tossed, each person who catches it says their name.

Every minute or so, beach balls are added until this becomes a flurry of introductions. Pick a question: Use a sharpie to cover the beach ball with questions, then have the person who catches answer the one closest to their left or right hand.

Give incoming students the inside track to campus life from existing students. In addition to a student panel during orientation, create a pdf with upperclassmen tips and tricks like the best study spots, favorite food trucks and book-buying hacks.

Joining a community means becoming part of something larger than yourself. Stoke school spirit by sharing a video of favorite campus moments.

Then have incoming students play school-spirit Jeopardy to test their knowledge of campus traditions. The best college orientation programs take time to break it down. Give your incoming students one-on-one time by passing out marshmallows and toothpicks and challenging small groups to come up with a creative structure. Then step back and watch the magic happen. With a little effort, these college orientation ideas can connect students virtually and foster community both online and on campus.