In almost all Farmer Field School (FFS) sessions the facilitators will include a Group Dynamics Exercise which will help to create a good atmosphere and develop a closer relationship and trust between farmers and facilitators. Sometimes this will be in the form of a role play which can form a kind of introduction to more technical content. Sometimes it is just an icebreaker to create a relaxed atmosphere.
The following is a list of group dynamics exercises and ice-breakers that are regularly used in Farmer Field Schools on Integrated Crop Management in Bangladesh. Many of these can be used or adapted for use in other Farmer Field Schools or training courses.
- Role play to present the name of the group
- List as many objects as you can
- Working with parts
- Protecting oneself
- Whispering game (message relay)
- The longest line
- Drawing without lifting the pen
- River crossing
- Water brigade
- Puzzles
- Coin throw (targeting) version 1
- Coin throw (targeting) version 2
- Mental map exercise
- Car – Boat – Plane
- Natural defenders, pests and diseases
- Pic – Pac – Boom
- Parasitization
- Tied together
- Tie strings together
- Titanic (The boat is sinking)
- Blindfold exercise
- IPM Story
- Catch the dragon’s tail
- Clapping fours
- Battle of sports
- Silent role plays
- Front or behind?
- Line up
- How many squares?
- Nine dots game
- Rubber band passing
- Cup relay
- Role play on predation
- Finding lost items
- Breaking sticks (The old man with five quarreling sons)
- Role play on healthy seed
- Seven up game
- Role play on pesticide