Using ice breakers to teach job skills
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EmailIce breakers can be used for more than just getting to know others in a group.
Teaching youth job skills is important and ice breakers can be a powerful and fun way to teach these skills. Job skills can also be referred to as soft skills and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, “employers view ‘soft’ skills as even more important to work readiness”. When used intentionally, ice breakers put people in active, hands-on situations that mimic real workplace situations.
Recently some ninth and tenth graders were taught about basic job skills through ice breakers. Students participated in Blindfolded Paper Maze. Initially, one student was blindfolded and all of the other students had to guide them through a paper maze. The student that was blindfolded found this difficult, due to multiple people talking at once and giving different directions. This situation is similar to many job settings where multiple people are talking or a person may be given different directions.
The students were then paired up. Again, one student was blindfolded and the other had to guide them through a paper maze (there were five different mazes). Students found it easier this time to get through the maze, as they only had to focus on one person. The students providing the directions also found they needed to provide clear directions (as one cannot say "move this direction" and simply point).
The second activity students did was the Group Juggle, also known as Communication Balls. Students were in a circle and had to pass the ball to everyone in the circle, saying the name of the person they were tossing it to and it could not be the person next to them, Everyone in the circle must touch the ball. This task itself caused issue for some of the groups, as you must be strategic to whom you pass the ball. Youth are then told to throw the ball to the same person again and a second ball was added to the group. After they managed this task, other objects of varying sizes were added in, including beach balls, a small foam cow, a stuffed pig and a water ball. This ice breaker taught youth strategy, communication, focus and making adjustments quickly – all things that are important in every jobsite.
After completing the activities, the best part was the students asked to do them again, as they found them to be fun! There are numerous ice breakers that people have used over the years and many can be used to teach job skills. All one has to do is think about the skills that are being taught during the activity and how they apply to careers. The job skills could be communication, problem-solving, teamwork or decision making; there are many skills that ice breakers can teach.
Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to be a part of and contribute to the future workforce.
