Candy Toss
Do you have just a few minutes to break the ice with a group that could benefit from getting to know one another? Candy Toss could be the perfect activity! Combining personal facts with sweet treats, this is a quick and effective way for participants to learn unique qualities about their peers and stay engaged in the discussion.
Time Needed: 10 minutes
Group Size: 5-10 participants
Materials: 5-10 pieces of wrapped candy for each participant (everyone should begin with the same number)
Directions: Have participants sit in a circle. Give each person five pieces of wrapped candy. Tell them they may not eat any of the candy yet. Ask for a volunteer who would like to go first. They will share with the group something unique about themselves. This can be about a talent or hobby they have, an important accomplishment or an experience they’ve had (i.e., “I’ve visited all 50 U.S. states” or “Last year I won an award for being the best rugby player in my league”). After a participant shares his/her accomplishment or experience, others in the group who have not done the same thing will hand a piece of their candy to that person. Ask the person who went first if they would like to hear from the person on their right or left. Continue in this manner around the circle until everyone has had a turn. You can do this for as many rounds as you have time for. Because we all have unique qualities and experiences, you should see that candy is “tossed” quite frequently, and once everyone has had a chance to share, it should be dispersed fairly evenly. Have participants give the candy back to you. They’ll have an opportunity to eat the candy at the end of the session!
Debrief Questions:
- What is one thing you learned about from someone else in your group?
- Why is it important that we get to know those with whom we are working?
- How can we continue building relationships with each other? People in our schools? People in our community?