Icebreakers, games and quizzes can be used to help bring an art group together. They are not compulsory but may help break down or minimise potential learning barriers, which unchecked, may cause certain students to withdraw or feel isolated. Some students may be more willing than others to participate, in which case, the teacher may need to modify the icebreaker activity to suit the group to avoid potential embarrassment or discomfort.
Team Bonding Games for Arts Education
Before embarking upon the activity, the teacher must think about the time factor to ensure it does not impact too much upon the rest of the lesson. The room layout should also be considered: is there enough space for the activity? Does the furniture need to be moved? The simplest and minimal resources are best. Many games require token pens and paper.
Art Icebreakers
The following ideas for class bonding exercises and games may spur inspiration.
Truth or Lie About an Artist
A student writes two truths and a lie about a famous artist. The other students (in teams) must determine the lie and earn points. Each student must take a turn.
Fun with Drawing
A group of students may draw part of a face, body or other subject matter on a piece of paper, then fold it over, revealing only the continuation lines for the next student’s contribution. An example might be to draw the face, fold over, the next student draws the torso and arms, fold over, the next student draws the legs, fold over, and the last student draws the feet. Cartoons, aliens and bizarre representations of the feature are encouraged. Opening out the paper will often exhibit funny and weird creations.
A Question of Art
Write an open question on the whiteboard, such as: “Subject matter I would most like to paint and why …” or “My most disastrous painting …” or “My favourite subject matter is___ and why …” or “Painting you would least see me do is ___ and why …” or “Why I began painting …” Students may pick one question and answer in turn.
Art Charades
Divide the class into two groups. Each student writes the name of an artist or an art related subject and places it into their own group’s hat. Hats are swapped. The paper is redistributed to each opposing team. Each student must mime what is written on the paper within one minute. A point is awarded to the team that gets the mime.
Team Games
Of course the icebreaker game need not have to have an art theme, but one which can bring any group together within any context. The following are popular choices for team building:
Magic Numbers
Break the art group into teams of equal numbers, say, three or four, and ask all members to find a corresponding number of unusual facts they have in common. Ban common themes such as hair colour or birth places.
Guess who’s Fact
Get each student to write an unusual or interesting fact about himself or herself; each piece of paper should be folded and placed into a hat. Mix it up and redistribute. In a circle, the first student may read out a fact and try to guess who the fact belongs to. If the guess is wrong, the piece of paper is passed to the next student and so on until the guess is correct. The next fact is then read by the next student in the circle.
Paper Towers
Using only paper, teams of equal number must try to build the tallest tower within twenty minutes. Various strategies might be used, such as paper folding or bending. No other resources can be used.
Guess the Celebrity
The teacher pins the names of celebrities onto the backs of the students. In pairs, one student must guess who is pinned on his back via five "yes or no" questions before trying the guess.
Art Pictionary
Students must try to convey a subject, person or idea by the use of drawings alone. No symbols or letters are allowed. Each team has alternate goes. Points are scored to the team that guesses the answer in one minute.
Art Activity Ideas for Teachers
There is no shortage of fun games the teacher might conceive, from quizzes to challenges, to help bond an art group. Such icebreakers can be used to help students get to know each other and create a better group dynamic. Consideration must be given to the size of the room, the resources needed, time factor and the students’ needs.
Rachel Shirley - I have written and illustrated several art instruction books entitled Oil Paintings from your Garden and Oil Paintings from the Landscape ...
