Human Bingo
Description
People Bingo is a great getting-to-know-you game that can foster communication in a newly formed group.
Team Size
Human Bingo Zoom
Human bingo is a bingo game without using numbers but words. The boxes on the bingo card contain interesting facts of the subject. So those who play bingo will be interested to tell the relationship of bingo with him. Called human bingo because the content on the bingo card gives a more human feel nuance. Human Bingo: A people-watching game. Isaac Lyman Simulation. Add to Wishlist. It's bingo, but for noticing all the diverse and delightful people that pass you by on an ordinary day. Go somewhere with a lot of foot traffic (like a mall), then generate a bingo card with squares like 'Eating on the go,' 'Mismatched socks,'.
More than 15 people
Materials Required
- Paper with 5×5 panels filled with descriptions (will explain below). You are required to do some homework preparing these pieces of paper.
- Pens enough for all the participants
Time Required
About 10 minutes
Instructions
1. Everyone will receive a paper with the boxes of descriptions. The descriptions will include certain general characteristics of a person. Some examples:
a. Is an only child
b. Ate Macdonald’s at least twice this week
c. Drives a car
d. Has moved their house/apartment at least four times in his/her life
e. Practices martial arts
2. Those are some suggestions. We recommend you tune these descriptions according to your participants.
For example, if you are playing with a group of youth, descriptions like ‘has three kids’ don’t make sense.
Now go and create your own customized 5×5 panel for your participants.
3. When the game starts, participants should mingle to find someone who might fit one of the descriptions.
4. When they meet, participants should introduce themselves and then sign a box with a description that fits them.
5. Each person they meet can only sign on one box (or two boxes, depending on the number of participants).
6. The winner will be the one who completes one (or two) straight lines and then he/she has to shout “Bingo!” and bring his 5×5 sheet to the facilitator to verify.
7. The game ends when three winners are announced.
Debriefing Notes
- What was one surprising thing you found out about another participant?
- What has this short exercise taught you about how much you know another person?
You can use this short team building activity to talk about not pre-judging people:
While we often have a certain first impression of people, we must not jump to conclusions because as we know more about the person, we might find that everything that we thought about another person was untrue.
The better way is always to adopt a non-judgmental approach when you meet new people. You just might be pleasantly surprised.
Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed under CC BY 3.0
List of Leadership Icebreakers
Make a Shape
This game Make a Shape is a game about communication between individuals using different kinds of communication modes all the way from speech to gestures.
Hosts and Guests
Hosts and Guests is a game about taking the initiative. It tests individuals in their ability to take lead in any relationship in a casual or business setting.
Alphabetic Introductions
Alphabetic Introductions is a simple game you can play for strangers in a room to get acquainted with one another.
Balloon Fight
Balloon Fight is a physical leadership icebreaker game that can be used to break the ice for a group of strangers or used for observing group dynamics of a team in a competitive setting.
Blow Wind, Blow!
“Blow Wind, Blow!” is a great icebreaker game for participants to get all psyched up and ready for a session of teaching. It helps build the atmosphere of a session and fosters bonding through fun.
Master Architects
Master Architects demonstrate the importance of planning, teamwork, problem solving and it is a great exercise to observe any team’s group dynamics.
Newspaper Hop
Newspaper Hop is a game of teamwork to explain the importance of planning, collaboration and communication in the workplace.
Truth or Lie
Truth or lie is another simple icebreaker that you can play for the participants to get to know each other better with ‘wow’ facts about themselves.
Who am I?
Who Am I is a simple icebreaker that you can play to get the participants to do quick self-introductions with each other. It’s used in groups where participants are generally strangers.
Word Scramble
Word scramble’s purpose is to demonstrate the importance of cooperation in the team, and is useful for you to observe you team’s group dynamics as they work together in to solve a problem.
Whacko!
Whacko! is a classic team building game that helps new strangers to get to know each other’s names and also to have a lot of fun at the same time.
Charades
Charades is a classic game for participants of all ages, whether you’re 5 or 50, it’s a fun filled game that can engage the players fully and bring them closer together through lots of acting and drama fun!
Money Machine
Money Machine is a interactive group game that requires a lot of moving around with lots of shouts and laughter that will help your team bond or help your participants ice break!
Cat and Mouse
Cat and Mouse is a fast-paced, exciting team bonding game that will bring your participants closer together through lots of laughter, screams and protests as the ‘Cat’ chases the ‘Mouse’!
River Crossing
River Crossing is a competitive fast-paced game of cooperation that requires teamwork, coordination and speed. It is a great leadership icebreaker that will help to cultivate the team dynamics within a group.
Pull the Tail!
Pull the Tail is a free for all frenzy that brings down a lot of chaos, fun and laughter in the crowd! It’s a great physical team bonding exercise that will bring your participants closer together.
Indian Poker
Indian Poker is a team building game for new friends to know each other or just for old friends to have a good time together. It is a simple, easy-to-understand game for everyone to have a good time together.
MORE LEADERSHIP ICEBREAKERS
Human Bingo
People Bingo is a game that can fosters communication and great for getting a group of new friends to know each other deeper after going through the game.
Name Grid
Name Grid is a game where it fosters communication between the groups in a quick reaction and fast thinking game. This game will take only a short time but will bring out excitement and passion as the participants compete in a fast paced word game.
Line Up
Line Up is an icebreaking game where everyone has to communicate without speaking and line up in a straight line according to a pre-determined characteristic. It is game that will illustrate the power of communication and at the same time, have a group of new friends have a lot of fun together.
Pass the Objects
Pass the Objects is an icebreaking game where objects have to be passed down a line of people holding spoons with their mouth! It is a game of communication, teamwork and strategy that will be sure to bring out lots of energy and laughter from the participants.
Entangle
Entangle is an icebreaker where participants’ hands are all entangled up in the center and they have to communicate in an attempt to disentangle themselves.
Toilet Paper Game
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Blindfold Maze
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Human Scissors Paper Stone
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Ping Pong Knockout
Ping Pong Knockout is a fun icebreaker that will guarantee lots of laughter as a few unlucky participants will have to attempt to knock down cups by swinging their bodies.
Human Checkers
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Shrinking Island
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Ha-ha-ha Game
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Animal Farm
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Body Water Relay
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Hula Hoop Chain
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Captain on Deck
Captain on Deck is an icebreaker game for a big group. It’s a game that requires each participant to form groups according to the captain’s commands and it is bound to create much joy, laughter, and bring the participants closer together.
Human Bingo Questions Update Sat Aug 29, 2020: Back to School 2020 is very different this year. We can’t teach the same way we always have. These Human Bingo Cards are still a great activity for the first days of school – but talking through a mask and keeping our physical distance will very quickly point out we need to change and adapt our program. Now is the time to focus on perseverance, empower a GROWTH MINDSET in your students and to teach life skills through our curriculum. We need to get ready to handle the uncertain challenges of a COVID school year.
This “find someone who” ice breaker bingo activity is good for both teachers and for corporate training.
Whether you’re looking for a quick Human Bingo for Students PDF or Human Bingo questions for work, this post is for you!
- You can modify the human bingo cards handout to fit your situation or just print the no-prep PDF.
- There are no graphics on this handout, so this ice breaker bingo works in a grade 4 classroom or a high school classroom.
- (This human bingo icebreaker activity also works in a workplace, but you might want to get rid of the name and class lines at the top of the handout. Actually, on second thought, keep it in. It’s funnier that way.)
Lots of teachers, principals, and even corporate managers have used a human bingo graphic organizer as an icebreaker and a quick way to get new groups of people interacting with each other.
- Each square on the bingo card has a different question.
- Students write their name in the free space in the middle of the board.
- Then, they go around the classroom introducing themselves and they try to find someone who has done one of the questions in the boxes.
The basic idea is to meet your classmates and learn something about them.
For example, find someone who likes to sing. Find someone who can dance. Find someone who stayed at home this summer vacation. Find someone who left the city this summer vacation
You get the idea. The fantastic thing about this lesson is that you can modify it for any grade.
But the Human Bingo Get-to-know-you icebreaker can be more than simply an icebreaker to use at the start of the school year.
You can also use it as a verbal communication mini lesson.
FREE Back to School Activity: Human Bingo (Communication Mini-Lesson) TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Before you begin the Human Bingo Back to School icebreaker…
Oral communication is more than just public speaking.
Human Bingo Questions For Youth
Being able to make small talk with new people is an important skill for us to have:
- whether we’re chatting with potential business clients,
- making small talk with the person interviewing us for a job, or
- just chitchatting with people at the holiday party.
Or, in kid-speak:
- chatting with new people in your class,
- chatting with friends of your friends that you just met, or
- chatting with other people in the group that your teacher assigns to you.
Or, in teacher-example:
- chatting with other teachers before the staff meeting begins,
- chatting with parents before the parent-teacher interview starts,
- chatting with your new principal to get to know them.
You get the idea…
Communication is a process.
We can use strategies to communicate more effectively in this process…
The sender can send a message, but it’s also important for the receiver to give feedback that shows they’re paying attention. You can watch the YouTube video or just check out the image below.
Some of us love small talk and some of us hate it. Either way, we can all use strategies to get better at it.
Even though Back to School icebreakers can be fun ways for your students to get to know each other, it can also be your first opportunity to build a growth mindset and collaborative classroom!
Before you begin the Human Bingo Back to School icebreaker…
Brainstorm some strategies with your students to communicate more effectively.
Back to School 2020 means teaching students how to communicate differently while keeping physical distance?
- Do we try to speak quieter so the class environment doesn’t get too loud? But, then it’s hard to hear the other person through a mask.
- Do we try to speak louder, but move to a different spot so we don’t disturb everybody? But, our classrooms are small enough as they are.
- Do we just don’t do any activities which involve group work? But, we need to learn how to communicate and work in groups because we’re going to be communicating in groups for our whole lives – whether it’s on the yard with friends (or frenemies) or at a job with co-workers and our boss. Group work is essential in today’s modern world.
- Do we use our devices to chat with each other? Even if we’re 2 feet apart?
- Do write notes on whiteboards and hold them up?
- Now is the time to think about how do we communicate in small groups? Let’s start by trying to figure out how to adapt these human bingo cards to our Covid-modified classrooms…
Minds on:
- The goal of playing Human Bingo is to meet people, but also to be friendly and to create a friendly class space.
- This is an opportunity for us to explore the communication process and to try to communicate effectively (which in this case means being friendly!)
Teacher Tip: You know your class and grade best. Modify the following suggestions to meet your needs!
Teacher prompt: When we’re chatting with someone…
- What can we do to make the other person feel comfortable in chatting with us?
- What are some things that we can do to show the other person that we’re listening?
- What are some strategies we can try to be friendly?
- What are some strategies we can use to make people like us?
Sometimes when we’re brainstorming ideas, one strategy to try is to ask the opposite question to generate ideas. And then whatever you come up with, do the opposite.
So for example,
- What can we do in a conversation to make the other person not like us or feel uncomfortable?
- What would our body language look like if we don’t care about what the person is saying?
- What would our voice sound like if we were bored in the conversation?
How to play Human Bingo (as a communication mini-lesson)
Human Bingo Card
Ice breaker bingo can be more than just an icebreaker. It can be a way to teach communication strategies.
Explicitly teach students a script to use when they’re going up to someone, even if they already know the person. Even if they’ve been besties since kindergarten.
- Person A: Hi my name is Mike, what’s your name?
- Person B: Hi Mike, my name is Hoda. It’s nice to meet you.
- Person A [asks a question from the bingo sheet]: Did you travel outside of the country this summer?
- Person B [answers the question, and then gets to ask a question from their bingo sheet]: No, we had a staycation and stayed around here. Can you play a musical instrument?
- Person A: Yes!
- Person B: Awesome! Can you sign your name here?
Rules for Back-to-school / Corporate Training Ice Breaker Bingo
It’s amazing how well these rules work whether you’re in the classroom or leading a workshop for adults.
- You can’t simply go up to someone and give them your bingo card. Don’t just say, hey, sign something. (and then shove our human bingo cards in their face.) The point is to have small talk. (This is especially true in a Back to School COVID world – we can’t just swap handouts and pencils anymore.)
- You can’t simply sign something if you haven’t done it because we’re going to take it up at the end of class. So if you say that you can recite the alphabet backwards, just make sure that you can. (Pro tip: if the alphabet is written on the board somewhere, it makes it easier to recite the alphabet backwards…)
- Spelling counts, especially when it’s somebody’s name. When you find somebody who has done one of the questions on your bingo card, you can just ask them how to spell their name, or ask them to sign their name in the box.
- You have to introduce yourself. Even if you already know the person’s name. The point is just to practice small talk.
- When you finish and get blackout – which means that you have a name for every card, then you say bingo… and then help other people finish their bingo cards. You’re not allowed to tell people the answers (whose name goes with which questions), but you could give them hints like, oh you should speak to Becky.
Depending on the number of students in your class, you’ll have to make a rule about whether or not you can use the same person’s name more than once.
After a certain amount of time, you might want to just end the game.
Depending on how much time you have, you may want to take up some of these answers. It might be neat to see who in the class can roll their tongue, or recite the alphabet backwards.
Communication Strategies to help you play Human Bingo
Here are a few verbal and non-verbal communication strategies you might ask your students to try and different stages of the ice breaker bingo game.
Talking explicitly about strategies helps students to realize people aren’t born gifted communicators. It’s a skill.
- Strong communicators like communicating.
- So, they do it more.
- So, they have more opportunities to get better at communicating.
- So, they make mistakes, but also have more chances to learn from their mistakes…
- And then they get better at communicating.
- Lather, rinse, repeat.
Communication Strategy: Mirror the other person
Most of us naturally do this, but one strategy to try to put the other person at ease is to mirror their body language. So for example…
- if they’re sitting down, then you sit down.
- If they are leaning on a table, you lean on a table.
- If they are leaning in with their body, you can also lean in.
Of course, try to do this naturally.
Communication Strategy: Keep an open body posture.
Closing your arms can make you seem cold or unapproachable or grumpy.
Communication Strategy: Smile.
Seem friendly. Be friendly.
Communication Strategy: Nod your head.
Nodding your head is a simple way for the listener to show that they’re listening.
(Or, to explain it in terms of the communication process, it’s a way for the receiver of the message to give feedback to the sender that they got the message!)
Communication Strategy: Paraphrase the other person
When you repeat back what you heard, it lets the sender of the message know that you understood. (Or, what you understood, so they can fix their message if there was any misunderstanding.)
“Oh, you had a staycation and stayed at home? How was that?”
Communication Strategy: Use the person’s name in the conversation.
Some of us are fantastic at remembering people’s names.
I’m not one of those people.
So one strategy I use is I try to use the other person’s name in conversation.
- It could be when we are ending the conversation: “Okay, see you later Mike!”
- It could be when I’m asking a question: “Oh, that’s interesting Mike, what do raw slugs taste like?”
Communication Strategy: be aware of people’s personal space.
Different people are comfortable in different ways.
Everyone has a personal bubble around them and if you get too close or inside of that personal bubble, it can make people feel uncomfortable. And that’s the opposite of trying to create a friendly comfortable space.
Be aware that different cultures might have larger or smaller personal bubbles than what you are used to.
If you use the mirroring strategy, then chances are, if they’re backing up from you, then you might make them more at ease if you back up a little as well. Maybe you’re too close and in their personal space…
Communication Strategy: Keep the conversation going with follow-up questions
It can be hard to meet people, so when you find something that they have done on your human bingo cards, ask a follow-up question or two. (Especially as they’re signing your human bingo card!)
Sometimes awkward silences are, well, awkward. So, if you ask questions, it helps to fill in the silence.
Communication Strategy: Make eye contact.
In North American culture, we usually consider eye contact as a sign of respect and as a way to provide feedback that shows the other person that you’re listening.
But be aware, that in other cultures, eye contact might be seen as a sign of disrespect. Something to think about.
Human Bingo Template
Download the Human Bingo ice breaker activity
Human Bingo Pdf
Click here to download a zipped file that contains the human bingo cards
- a Word Document (.DOCx) to modify and
- a PDF version to print
NOTE: If you are going to use the Word Document, you may need to install the comic book font (BANGERS) that we use in our documents. Instructions and the free font are included in the zipped file!