Submitted by Heather

Idea posted November 29, 2001

Here is a great game I found to fill a class period or to use as a class community builder. It was originally called meaningful musical chairs, but one of my 5th graders appropriately named it "conversational musical chairs." Here's the instructions copied straight from Dave's ESL Cafe:

A fun way for students to mingle and learn about each other the first day of class is to play this version of musical chairs. Arrange chairs in scattered pairs, semi-facing each other. Play some upbeat music. Instruct the students that they are to mingle around the room to the music. When the music stops they must find a chair. Beforehand, a poster has been displayed listing by number 12 topics for introductory discussion, i.e. Home Life, Jobs, Hobbies, Favorite Person, Favorite Food etc. Now, the teacher rolls the dice and whatever subject the number corresponds to dictates what topic each pair will discuss (they must introduce themselves to their partner before discussing). When the music begins again, they know to get up and mingle, waiting for the music to stop and the next round of discussion with someone new to begin.

I made a rule that you cannot sit with someone two times in a class period. Also, here are my 12 discussion ideas:

  1. Hobbies
  2. Family
  3. Pets you have or wish you had
  4. Favorite food
  5. Favorite famous person
  6. Your house
  7. Favorite thing to do at recess
  8. Best friend
  9. Favorite subject
  10. Something new you've learned this year
  11. Favorite music
  12. Favorite thing about you

I made an overhead of these for the students to see. I hope someone can use this! My 4-6th graders had a great time with it!