Ice-Breaker Tuesday: Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament

Creating engaging and interactive ice-breaker activities is key to fostering a sense of community among students, whether in a traditional classroom or an online setting. One fun and energetic activity I recently played at the NASAGA 2024 Conference  was a Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament with a twist. Not only was it a quick way to get everyone moving, but it also created a sense of camaraderie and team spirit that lasted long after the game was over. Let me share how this icebreaker works and how you can adapt it for online learning.

How It Works (In-Person): The game begins with each participant pairing up to play a standard "best two out of three" Rock-Paper-Scissors match. Whoever wins the match raises their hand and moves on to play against another winner from a different team of two. Here’s the twist—once a player loses, they don’t sit out. Instead, they become a part of their opponent’s cheering squad! As the game progresses, the cheering squads grow larger, rooting for the person who defeated them, creating a supportive and lively atmosphere. Eventually, you’re left with just two finalists, each with a full cheering squad behind them, and everyone’s energy is focused on the final match. In the end, one person emerges victorious, but the sense of team spirit and excitement is shared by all.

This activity is not only fun but encourages participation, teamwork, and some healthy competition. It’s also a great way to break the ice, especially with new groups of students.

How to Adapt for an Online Asynchronous Class:

Now, you might be wondering, how can this activity work in an asynchronous, fully online environment? While the structure would have to shift slightly, there are still creative ways to capture the essence of this icebreaker:

1. Random Group Pairing Using Your LMS: Start by using your Learning Management System’s group feature to pair students randomly. Each group will represent a team of two, and they will compete in a Rock-Paper-Scissors match asynchronously. You’ll create a simple Google Form for students to submit their moves in advance—Move 1, Move 2, Move 3—each week.
2. Weekly Round Announcements: Once all the moves are in, you will determine the winner of each group and announce the results in your course. The winners move on to the next round, and the number of groups gets smaller and smaller as the tournament progresses (combine groups weekly). Each week, the remaining winners will submit new moves, while the rest of the class acts as a cheering squad as the competition unfolds.
3. Cheering Squad Multimedia Contributions: As students are eliminated, the class can still stay engaged by contributing to a virtual cheering section. Those who are no longer competing can post gifs, memes, videos, or images to support their former rivals as they compete against new competitors. This creates a sense of involvement for everyone, even if they aren’t part of the matches anymore.
4. Final Showdown: By the end of the activity, you’ll be left with two finalists and you can now move the competition to the main course discussion board. The rest of the class will continue to act as the cheering squad, contributing multimedia content in support of the competitor they are rooting for. This builds excitement and keeps everyone involved up until the final match. The two finalists face off in the final match and a winner is announced later that week and there is a celebration for the class winner!

Building Community Online: No matter how we adapt these in-person activities for the online space, the goal remains the same: to create a sense of connection and belonging. Even in a fully asynchronous course, we can find ways to bring that spirit of camaraderie and interaction to our students.

Ice-breakers, whether in-person or online, don’t have to be elaborate or lengthy to be effective. They just need to get students talking, thinking, and supporting one another. I’d love to hear if you’ve ever used a Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament or something similar in your online classes. How did it go? Share your thoughts and adaptations in The Online Educator Facebook Group! 

Would you like me to spotlight one of your ice-breakers? Share your assignment HERE for an opportunity to be spotlighted in The Online Educator Blog.

Happy Ice-Breaking!