How to Host an Icebreaker Bingo Game
When it comes to team building, one of the biggest challenges is breaking down barriers and getting team members to feel comfortable with each other. Icebreaker bingo is a great activity that can help accomplish this goal. Ice breaker bingo games are a great way to get people talking and interacting with each other in a fun and relaxed environment.
What is Icebreaker Bingo?
Icebreaker bingo is a game that involves filling out a bingo card with information about the people in the room. The squares on the card contain prompts or questions related to the people in the group. For example, a square might say "Find someone who has traveled to Europe" or "Find someone who has a pet". The objective of the game is to fill out the entire bingo card by finding people in the group who fit the descriptions on the squares.
How to Play Icebreaker Bingo?
Playing icebreaker bingo is easy! Here are the steps to follow:
Create Bingo cards
Distribute the Bingo cards
Start playing
Get a Bingo!
Debrief
Step 1: Create Bingo Cards
To create icebreaker bingo cards, there are several options available to you. One of the easiest ways to create bingo cards is by using a free online bingo card generator. These generators allow you to input the questions or prompts you would like to include on the bingo cards, and the program will automatically generate the bingo cards for you. Some online generators even allow you to customize the layout and design of the bingo cards to fit your group's needs and interests.
Alternatively, you can create the bingo cards yourself using a word processor or spreadsheet program. This gives you more control over the layout and design of the cards, and allows you to tailor them specifically to your team. To do this, create a grid of squares, with each square containing a different question or prompt. Make sure to include a free space in the center of the card. You can then print out the cards or distribute them electronically to your team.
When creating the squares on the bingo cards, make sure to choose questions or prompts that will encourage your team to get to know each other better. Some ideas include asking about hobbies, interests, favorite foods, travel experiences, or goals. You can also include questions or prompts that relate to your team's work or industry, to help build camaraderie around shared experiences.
Step 2: Distribute the Bingo Cards
Once you have created the icebreaker bingo cards, it's time to distribute them to the members of the group. Depending on the size of your team, you can either distribute the cards individually or place them on tables or chairs around the room for people to pick up. Make sure that everyone has a pen or pencil to fill out the card, and encourage them to get started as soon as possible.
It's important to give clear instructions on how to play the game before the activity begins. Explain that the goal is to complete a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) on the bingo card by finding someone who matches the prompt or question in each square. Once they find someone who matches the prompt or question, they should ask that person to sign or initial the square. The first person to complete a row and shout "bingo" wins the ice breaker bingo game.
To encourage conversation and interaction, you can also add a rule that each person can only sign or initial one square per card. This way, team members will need to talk to several people in order to complete their bingo card, instead of just finding one person who matches all of the prompts.
Step 3: Start Playing
Once everyone has their icebreaker bingo card, it's time to start the game! Before beginning, take a moment to explain the rules and how to play. Emphasize that the goal is to get to know each other better, and that the game is just a fun way to facilitate conversation and interaction. Encourage people to talk to others to find the information they need to fill out their card.
To make the game more engaging, you can also set a time limit for how long people have to complete their bingo card. This will create a sense of urgency and competition, and can help keep people engaged and focused on the game. Depending on the size of your group and the complexity of the prompts or questions, you may want to give people anywhere from 10-30 minutes to complete their card.
As people start filling out their cards, make sure to engage with everyone. Ask questions, provide guidance if needed, and make sure everyone is having fun. This will help create a positive and energetic atmosphere, and can help break down any barriers or hesitation people may have about interacting with others.
Step 4: Get a Bingo
The ultimate goal of an ice breaker bingo game is for someone to fill out their entire bingo card and yell "Bingo!" to declare themselves the winner of the game. However, it's important to make sure that all the information on the card is correct before declaring a winner. This means checking that each square has been initialed or signed by the appropriate person, and that there are no discrepancies or errors.
Once you have verified that the winning card is accurate, make sure to celebrate the winner and their achievement. You can give them a prize or reward, such as a small gift or simply “bragging rights.” This will help create a positive and supportive atmosphere, and can encourage others to continue engaging with their team members even after the game is over.
It's also worth noting that icebreaker bingo doesn't have to be a one-time activity. In fact, it can be a great tool for team building and relationship building over time. By playing the game regularly or incorporating it into other team activities, you can continue to help your team members get to know each other better and build stronger connections.
Step 5: Debrief
After the game is over, it's a good idea to take some time to debrief with the group. This can help solidify the connections and conversations that took place during the game, and give everyone an opportunity to reflect on what they learned about their colleagues.
One way to debrief is to ask people to share some of the interesting things they learned about their colleagues while playing the game. This can be done in a group discussion or in smaller groups, depending on the size of your team. You can also ask people to share any surprises or unexpected connections that they discovered while playing the game.
Encourage everyone to actively listen to each other's stories and insights, and to build on the conversations that were started during the game. This will help continue the momentum of the ice breaker bingo game and create a stronger sense of connection and community within the team.
In addition to discussing the content of the game, you can also ask for feedback on the game itself. Were there any squares that were particularly difficult to fill out? Were there any prompts or questions that could have been improved or changed? This can help you refine the game for future use and ensure that it continues to be an effective team building activity.
Icebreaker Bingo Questions
The squares on the bingo card should be customized to fit the needs and interests of your group. Here are some examples of icebreaker bingo questions that you can use:
Find someone who has a birthday in the same month as you
Find someone who has a tattoo
Find someone who speaks more than one language
Find someone who has run a marathon
Find someone who has a favorite TV show in common with you
Find someone who has a hobby that is different from yours
Find someone who has lived in a different country
Find someone who has a pet
Find someone who can play a musical instrument
Find someone who has a favorite book in common with you
Why Play Icebreaker Bingo?
There are many reasons why icebreaker bingo is a great team building activity. Here are just a few:
Breaks down barriers: Icebreaker bingo helps people get to know each other on a personal level. It creates a relaxed and fun environment that encourages people to open up and share information about themselves.
Encourages teamwork: An ice breaker bingo game requires people to work together to find the information they need. This helps build a sense of teamwork and collaboration within the group.
Boosts morale: Playing ice breaker bingo games (or any game!) is a great way to boost morale and increase engagement. When people are having fun, they are more likely to be happy and productive.
Helps identify commonalities: Icebreaker bingo helps people find commonalities with their colleagues. This can lead to stronger relationships and a more cohesive team.
Promotes communication: Ice breaker bingo games require people to talk to each other and ask questions to learn more about each other. By engaging in conversation, team members can practice active listening, learn how to ask open-ended questions, and develop their communication skills. As they share information and get to know each other better, they are more likely to feel comfortable collaborating on projects and sharing their ideas. This improved communication can lead to a more productive and cohesive team, as well as foster a positive work environment.
Fosters diversity and inclusion: By customizing the questions on the bingo card, you can include a variety of topics and interests that reflect the diversity of your team. This helps to foster a sense of inclusion and shows that everyone's interests and experiences are valued.
Improves networking: Icebreaker bingo is a great way to improve networking skills. As team members talk to each other to find information for their bingo cards, they learn how to make small talk, find common interests, and connect with others.
Energizes the team: Icebreaker bingo is a fun and energetic activity that can help energize your team. This is especially helpful if your team is feeling stuck or burnt out.
Easy to organize: Icebreaker bingo is easy to organize and can be done with minimal preparation. All you need are bingo cards, pens, and a group of people. You can even create and print the bingo cards ahead of time to save time on the day of the activity.
Ice breaker bingo games are a fun and effective team building activity that can help break down barriers, promote teamwork, boost morale, and improve communication. By customizing the questions on the bingo card, you can tailor the activity to the needs and interests of your team, and create an inclusive and engaging ice breaker bingo game. Give icebreaker bingo a try at your next team building event and see the positive impact it can have on your team.
Organize an Icebreakers event with Bar None Games
Icebreaker bingo is a fun game that will help you have a better understanding of your remote team members. It is also an excellent opportunity for all the members of your team to connect with one another in a fun way. We offer different types of games for different group sizes, so whether you are hosting a small meeting or an all-hands event, Bar None Games has the perfect virtual game for you.
