Beginnings and Endings

Activities have more impact when preceded by an opportunity to connect and followed by an opportunity to reflect. Keep that in mind with the presentations, groups, meetings and programs you lead. Your efforts will be rewarded with enhanced participant engagement and retention.

Connections

Warming up is a great idea with all kinds of activities. Consider a connection activity that introduces participants to each other and to the experience. Gain agreement on how participants will treat each other and how they will ‘be” during the experience. Here’s an example to consider:

“To Be” List

Focus: Identify personal expectations for the group

Goal: Participants will identify the characteristics and behaviors that they want to demonstrate during the group.

Program Procedure

Preparation: Prepare and post a list of examples of what participants might want to be during the group. Possibilities include:

• Alert 
• Cooperative                                                                  
• Curious                                                             
• Empathic                                                          
• Engaged                                                            
• Focused
• Organized
• Playful
• Relaxed
• Respectful
• Supportive
• Thoughtful

Introduction: You have probably all come up with a “to do” list! Today we’re going to switch that up by generating a “to be” list. What are you going to be with this group today? Each of you will answer that question and share your answer.

Activity Description: 

1. Encourage participants to come up with a “to be” list specific to their participation with the group today. 
2. Each participant chooses one or two words that identify how they would like to act. They can use the words on the list or come up with their own. 
3. Have them share their responses stating “Today I’m going to be _______ and _______.”  In a large group have them partner with someone else for sharing. With a small group consider having them share with everyone.
4. Let the group know that at the end of the group they will be asked if their “to be’s” were met.

Processing Questions: 

The key one- 

1. Were you successful with your “to be “ list? 

Might also explore-

2. What helped/hindered you in reaching your goals?

Closing: Let’s keep this “to be” idea going. Choose an upcoming meeting, group or situation and identify your “to be’s” for it.

Additional Considerations

Variations: 

• Consider an alternative list of “to be’s” focused on how participants would like to feel in the group. For example:

• Accepted
• Appreciated
• Calm
• Energized
• Helped
• Included
• Listened To
• Respected
• Safe

• Hamlet’s statement- “To be or not to be”- provides an alternative way to frame the activity. Participants can identify either perspective.

•  Consider having participants write down their “to be” list at the beginning of the session, without discussion, then include it with session end processing.

Adaptation: Read the “to be” list aloud.

Adapted from: Littlefield, C. (2025). Icebreakers for small groups. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJce8-ndYL8

Reflections

Sometimes it’s important to process or debrief experiences with depth. For example, the What? So What? Now What? approach where you dig into participants’ perspectives on recapping what happened, what it meant to them and how they might apply it in the future. When less depth is appropriate consider an activity like:

  Didya

Focus: Share and compare outcomes from program participation

Goal: Participants will identify personal outcomes from participation in program activities.

Program Procedure

Preparation: Prepare a short list of outcomes to ask about. For example:

• Did you have some fun during today’s session?
• Did you learn something?
• Did you think of a change you’re going to make based on the session? 

Introduction: Let’s find out what some of the outcomes of today’s session were for you. You’ll answer questions and you’ll also see how others respond to them.

Activity Description: 

1. Tell participants that you’ll be sharing three questions about possible outcomes from today’s session. If their answer to the question is yes they should nod their head.
2. Ask questions regarding outcomes.

Processing Questions:

• What’s your takeaway from today’s group?
• What struck you about the participants in today’s group?

Closing: Thanks for the feedback. Know that your feedback is always welcomed. Your thoughts about what we do and how we can make sessions and the group better are always encouraged. 

Additional Considerations

Variations:

• Rather than head nods have participants answer with thumbs up/down or by holding up number of fingers to match their rating (0-10) of each factor (e.g., fun =10) 

• After the initial three questions, switch to having participants generate and ask the questions.
• This activity is similar to the popular icebreaker “Some of us have…”. Consider using “Some of us…” earlier in the session. In a leisure education group, for example, this could include leisure activities (some of us have played Bingo), destinations (some of us have been to Dollywood) and experiences (some of us have been bored at a party).

Risk Management Consideration: Emphasize a "Challenge by Choice” approach to responding. “Challenge by Choice” means every participant has the choice to participate at a level of their own choosing.

Adapted from: Cavert, C. (2025, May 23) FUNdoing Friday  https://www.fundoing.com/blog

The beginnings and the endings of the programs, meetings, groups and presentations you lead are critical. They are what’s most remembered.  Make them count!