Content
Energizers! contains 88 energizers for children. The motto of the book is “To learn well, children need to move!” The idea behind the book is that children learn better when the exercise and let their energy out. In Energizers! you will find energizers that are easy to teach and learn. There are energizers for every age and include suggestions and variations to make sure that the fit the group. The activities are labeled by grade level. The energizers can help to calm the children down but also to stimulate them. And they can be done anywhere, Inside and Outside, in a circle, or waiting in line.
Appearance
Energizers! starts with 12 tips on how to use the energizer which is very convenient. Roser explains the energizers very good. On the side of the page is helpful information such as the pronounciation of certain words or for which grade the activity is suitable. The pictures in the book look really nice and match with the philosophy of the book. Energizers! uses music and rhythm to get the children engaged. A lot of the energizers involve singing or clapping. The writer has a lot of experience with chilren and learning and combines this with a love for piano.
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Content
201 Icebreakers is great for trainers, speakers and group facilitators. The book contains many activities that cost little time and preparation. Most activities can be done in less than five minutes. This makes it perfect at the beginning of a meeting to break the ice, or in the middle to get everyone excited and going again. With the games, quizzes, energizers, and brainteasers, this book has to offer. You will have a great atmosphere in no time!
An energizer which immediately gives you energy and joy and can be finished within 2 minutes without a lot of explanation. icebreaker
How it works:
A fun energizer in which there is a lot of physical contact and people can laugh a lot is ‘The Knot’.
Give this instruction:
Stand shoulder to shoulder in a small circle.
Close the eyes, put the hands in front at the height of the shoulders.
Look with closed eyes for the hands of other people and grab them. When everyone has found two hands the eyes can be opened again.
Now the knot has to be untied WITHOUT releasing the hands!
Here is another old-fashioned active game which was invented for children but is very fun to do with adults.
Required materials
None
Arrangement
Arrange the children in a group, standing or sitting.
Concept
Tell the group that it’s important to put differences and habits aside. There won’t be fixed teams and it can happen that you suddenly belong to the team of the ” opponent”.
How it works:
It can be played multiple times if the group likes it. Make clear that with each new game a different position can be choosen.
Differentiation
Let the group think of two new positions/postures themselves. If those postures can be carried out well will turn out later.
Evaluation
Not needed
Points of interest
Fairplay is important, if you are tapped you belong to the other team.
Security check
Explain how people are supposed to tap, in order to prevent taps that look more like beating and pushing.
This energy-boosting exercise takes very short, is hilarious and can let the cerebral hemispheres work together again.
How it works:
Form couples.
Each couple keeps working together so there is no change.
Then the next phase starts:
Replace the ‘1’ by clapping in the hands. The other says: 2, then 3 and then there has to be clapped again.
Then the next phase starts:
The ’2′ is replaced by stamping with your right foot.
Then the next phase starts:
The ’3′ is replaced by ‘scratching’ at the arm of the other.
A very simple energizer which only takes 2 minutes, which will make everyone gasp (after it) and everyone feels alive again. What gorgeous after dinner!
How it works:
The group starts to stand in a circle. Everyone holds eachother’s hand. You, as the trainer give the go-ahead sign. When you have given the go-ahead sign, the group starts to turn around three times clockwise, stop, and turn around two times counter-clockwise.
It has no meaning or whatsoever…., but it is really fun to do! And… everyone is ready to ‘learn and discover’ again.
Differentation
With a large group you can also turn around only once.
Do this while you are recording the time. After the first time you encourage the group to do it faster the second time.
This method promotes:
The instruction:
Time: 1-10 min
Participants: limited to 4 (Adapt the color areas to the size of the group)
Inside and outside
Required materials
3 ropes (length is dependent on the size of the group starting from 5 meter)
Arrangement:
lay down three ropes parallel to each other (space between the ropes has to be at least 1.5 meter)
The space up to rope 1: red
Space from 1-2: white
Space from 2-3: blue
Space after rope 3: orange
How it works:
Say a color and the participants have to try to stand in the area with this color as fast as possible. The last one which tries to stand in it drops out. If you stand in a wrong area you also drop off.
An alternative way: