Learning about someone's major or hometown is often the first topic of conversation for freshman college students, but it doesn't necessarily reveal much about the person that might spark a mutual interest. To discover and share more engaging information, Northern Illinois University recommends playing "Person Scavenger Hunt Bingo," in which students fill out bingo boards with personal or family attributes, activities, interests or accomplishments. After filling out their card they search for other students who share some of those attributes and interests. Students who share the trait in the square sign their name to count toward a bingo. Other such games could include "guess who," in which you have students guess what traits belong to their classmates, or a game of charades, in which students act out a favorite hobby or activity.
Taking a field trip to a local spot of interest, whether a restaurant, ice cream shop or theme park, can be a good way for students to relate to each other in a casual setting. Instead of forcing interaction in an on-campus setting, such trips provide a comfortable atmosphere for natural discussion and can help students learn about places of interest around campus.
Answering certain questions that you might not normally bring up in a typical first meeting conversation can reveal profound aspects about a person's interests and personality. One question might be, "If you could have any guest at a dinner party, living or dead, who would it be and why?" The discussion that follows can be a jumping-off point for discovering similar interests in a variety of fields. You could also have students interview a partner and then present her to the class, or have each student discuss what he feels is most unique about him.
Allowing students to express themselves in a creative capacity can help them share their personalities in ways other than just speaking. The University of Vermont suggests having students create a "coat of arms" on paper by drawing or writing information including hometown, major, family members, goals and hobbies. Working side-by-side on this activity allows students to interact and share information in a comfortable atmosphere. You can also have students write "one-minute autobiographies" to share or have them each draw a picture representing past experiences or future plans.