BLENDER DIRECTORY
Blender Events (BEs) are simple, low cost activities that create pattern interrupts and/or build relationships to increase a sense of community within a culture. Blender Events
What is a “blender event”?
Blender Events (BEs) are simple, low cost activities that create pattern interrupts and/or build relationships to increase a sense of community within a culture. Are there rules? There are four basic rules that guide all Blender Events:
- Bring It To Them – BEs work best when they are done in busy areas on campus
- Positive Reaction – Use BEs that foster positive emotions (make them smile).
- Connect The Dots – BEs should be used in between your bigger events.
- It’s Cheap – BEs should never cost a lot of money.
A-Z LIST
>>> Chalk Maze
- Much like the hopscotch, draw lines all over a sidewalk in a maze formation.
- Have students attempt at getting through your giant maze
>>> Encouraging note balloons
- Have students write encouraging notes
- Put them inside of balloons and blow them up
- Have student choose a balloon later on in the day
- Let them pop them to get their note
>>> First day of school: red carpet and photographer >>> Game Zone
- Set up games in a lounge or open area
- Games can include things like Rock, Paper, Scissors, board games, twister etc
>>> Giant hopscotch
- Draw squares all along a known sidewalk on campus, just like hopscotch
- Have students jump through the hopscotch on their way to class
- Set up a table at the end with treats for completing it
>>> Hand out popsicles for finals week >>> Hand Print Wall
- Set up a large piece of paper and paper plates with paint
- Have people dip their hands in the paint, leave a print and sign their name
- Hang up the paper when dry in a popular place on campus
>>> Inspirational quotes in library books
- Write a bunch of quotes down and hide them in different books in the library
>>> Lava Ground
- Set up furniture and encourage people to try not touching the floor
>>> A Love Letter to the World
- Start with a few pieces of paper, and write the instructions on top in colorful markers
- Write what was positive about your day below
- Fold the paper and put it in an envelope
- Choose a person to pass it on to and let the world see all the positive things!
>>> Music in the elevators
- Bring a small stereo and a bowl of treats and stand in the elevator
- Ride the elevator with the students and offer treats and good music
- (Check with the school’s handbook for rules and guidelines)
>>> Note Balloons
- Buy a bunch of balloons
- Tell students to write their biggest worry or goal for college and fold it up
- Have them put the note in the balloons and blow them up
- Release out in an open space
>>> Picture Wall
- Buy a disposable camera
- Allow students to take the camera, take photos and pass it around school, but keep a place for it to be returned every night
- When the camera is full, develop the photos and add them to a photo wall
>>> Reverse trick or treat
- This will work best in a dorm. Buy some candy.
- Have a student knock on doors and hand out candy
>>> Rules to Walk the Hall
- You must run/jump/skip/dance the hallway (you can set up a sign in the middle of the hall to explain the rules)
>>> Secret Handshake
- Find a stranger (or set up pairs during an event).
- Have them create a secret handshake.
- Challenge them to use the secret handshake anytime they see each other on campus.
>>> Simon Says
- Get a speaker and a microphone
- Have students gather around the person on the mic
- Play Simon Says and have people be accountable for the people around them
- Let students come up and play Simon themselves
>>> “Sit with us” signs for cafeteria >>> Surprise clapping when people walk by >>> Teacher vs student activities
- This could be anything: Dodgeball, capture the flag, minute to win it games etc
>>> Ticket lunch
- Buy colored tickets
- Have someone stand in the doorway of the cafeteria
- Hand students the ticket and ask them to buy their food and sit with those that have the same color
>>> Timeline wall
- Create a wall space where people can use tape or push pins (be careful about putting holes in walls)
- Tell people to put positive things on the wall- good grades, photos of them with friends, memorabilia of sport events they went to or anything like that
>>> Water Balloon fight on campus >>> “What’s one thing you’d change about the world?”
- Put a large piece of paper up and write the question on the top in big letters
- Hand out markers and pens so everyone can write their answer
- Hang the paper in a popular place on campus
>>> Where’s Waldo/Selfie with Waldo
- Have someone dress up as Waldo and roam around campus taking photos with people who find the person
- Have them go to popular places and try and blend in as much as possible to make it a little harder
>>> White t-shirt graffiti night
- Everyone wears white t-shirts
- Have options for coloring the shirt (markers, spray paint etc)
>>> iSpy
- Find something small, like a stuffed animal mascot for your school, or something similar
- Hide it in a weird place (in a cabinet, next to the printer etc)
- Tell students to find it, take a photo and post it on social media
- The student should then hide the object again