Fun Icebreaker Ideas & Activities

Category: Active

Active icebreakers! These games will get people moving, whether it’s running around, jumping, dancing, hiding, dodging, or some other action. You’ll probably get a little bit of a workout after playing these kinds of icebreaker games! Some of these games may burn some serious calories. Either way, you are sure to have a great deal of fun!

  • Giants, Wizards, Elves Game

    Giants, Wizards, and Elves is an icebreaker that is similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors — except more hilarious!  It’s also a versatile game — it works in groups of all sizes, including large groups of 50 or above. 

    This icebreaker game involves to teams and requires no special materials to play.  It works both indoors and outdoors, so go ahead and have fun!

    Setup for Giants, Wizards, and Elves

    This game involves two teams who will act as one of 3 characters: giants, wizards, and elves. When a player acts out a character, he or she does the specific hand motions and also makes the noise associated with the character.

    • Giants.  Stand on your tippy toes, raise your arms like a giant, and make a menacing growling noise: “Rarrr!”  
    • Wizards.  Crouch slightly, as wizards are a bit shorter.  Wave your fingers as though you’re casting a magical spell, and make a magical noise: “Shaazaam!”
    • Elves.  Crouch down very low, cup your hands around your ears, and make a high pitched elf noise: “Eeeee!”

    Make sure everyone knows the motions and sounds.  Feel free to practice until everyone knows how to become each character.  Split everyone into two teams and divide them into separate sides of the room. For each round, both teams huddle and choose to become a giant, wizard, or elf.  When ready, both teams then line up and stand facing each other, about five or six feet apart.  At the start of each round, the leader says “Three, two, one, go!!”

    At this point, each team acts out the character they chose (giant, wizard, or elf).  As soon as they do this, the winner tries to grab the loser — as many people over to their side as they can.  The loser tries to retreat back to their own side to be safe for that round.  If captured, a person now belongs to the other team.  The following determines who beats who:

    Giants beat elves, because giants are able to “squash” elves.  Elves beat wizards because they outsmart them.  Elves chew at their legs.  Wizards beat giants because they are able to zap them with a magic spell.  If both teams show the same character, no one wins.  Rounds keep repeating until one team wins (the other team is completely captured).

  • Bigger and Better Game

    Bigger and Better is a team building activity in which teams compete by trading ordinary objects. The winner is the team that ends up with the biggest and best items when time expires.

    This active teambuilding exercise requires six people at minimum, and can support very large groups if the teams are divided evenly. Teams should be about three to six people in size. This game involves interacting with lots of strangers in a public place such as a school campus. Props required include small objects such as paper clips or pens (one for each team). Recommended age is 18 and up. This game can be played with adults and even in corporate settings. When playing with younger people, please be sure to provide proper supervision when necessary.

    Setup for Bigger and Better

    To prepare for Bigger and Better, get several paper clips or some small objects that are low in value. Be sure to have enough to provide one per team.

    Playing Bigger and Better

    Explain the rules to everyone: You will give each team a small object, and their job is to keep trading and upgrading their team’s object to obtain the largest and most valuable item possible. They may not offer anything other than the item they have, and they must stick together as a group. Set a time limit, such as one or two hours, and tell everyone that they must be back in time or else they will be disqualified. Announce that each team’s item will be judged in three categories: size, value, and creativity.

    Divide the group into teams of three to six. Pass out the paper clip (or other small object) to the each group and send them off. When time expires, the judging process begins. Each team presents their item before the entire group. They explain why their item is biggest and best. At the end, choose winners for each of the three categories, or judge the items in any other way you wish. This activity involves good teamwork and creativity as each team coordinates their efforts and decides what strategies they will approach when playing. Camaraderie will be built, and surprises will come out of the activity. Who knows, a group might be able to turn a paper clip into a car! Well, maybe a toy car.

    Be sure to visit our online store for various useful supplies, such as paper clips and items for the Bigger and Better activity.

  • Telephone Charades

    Telephone Charades (also known as Charades Down the Line) is a hilarious icebreaker in which a person acts out a charade only for the next person in the line, who in turn acts out for the next person.  The last person standing in line attempts to guess what the original clue was.

    This is in active icebreaker that works best with a group of five or six people.  It can also be implemented for larger groups by taking five or six volunteers per round.   This game is best played indoors.  No special materials are required other than sheets of paper with the clues written on them.  Telephone Charades is for people age 10 and up.

    Setup for Telephone Charades

    Telephone Charades or “Charades Down the Line” is an active icebreaker that combines charades with the “telephone down the line” game.   To prepare for the game, write a list of humorous actions to be acted out.  Some examples are:

    • a pantomime
    • a nerd’s first date
    • a cat bathing itself
    • going skydiving
    • fishing and catching a huge fish

    Instructions for How to Play

    Choose five or six people (or ask for volunteers) and ask them to line up in a row, facing the left side of the room.  Ask the first person to turn around to see the first clue to be acted out.  Reveal the clue to the person, and display the clue to the audience as well.

    The first person turns around and taps the next person in line on the shoulder.  He or she then acts out the clue using classic charades rules (no talking or noises permitted).  The second person then taps the third person and acts out his or her understanding of what was acted out.  This process continues until it reaches the last person in line, who must guess what the action is.

    This game is funny because the acting tends to warp and get distorted based upon each person’s interpretation of what is going on.

    Variation

    A good variation to try is to have two teams line up and act out the same clue simultaneously.  The teams that guess the clue correctly (or most correctly) wins the round.

  • Trust Walk Teambuilding Activity

    The Trust Walk is a popular teambuilding activity that helps people practice trusting each other.  A leader guides his or her blindfolded partner around obstacles using verbal or nonverbal instructions.

    This activity is an active teambuilding activity that requires a great deal of space.  An outdoor setting with some obstacles (but nothing too dangerous!) is ideal.  The recommended group size is: small, medium, or large.  Participants will form pairs.  Materials required include blindfolds and any props that you can set up as minor obstacles.  This activity is for ages 14 and up.

    Instructions for the Trust Walk Teambuilding Activity

    The Trust Walk Activity is an effective team building activity involving leadership and building trust, as blindfolded participants must rely on instructions given to them in order to avoid various obstacles.

    As the faciliator of the Trust Walk Teambuilding Activity, be sure to scout out a safe area in advance.  Safety comes first!  Large fields or the woods may be good places to try.  Minor obstacles (trees, branches, small hills) are okay, but do not play this game in a dangerous environment (for example, anywhere with very steep ledges or sharp protruding objects).  Once you have found a safe, large area, you can prepare additional obstacles if desired (cardboard boxes, balloons, etc.).

    Start in a nearby location.  Ask participants to arrange themselves into pairs.  Instruct one partner to be the guide (navigator) and the other to be blindfolded.  Once the blindfolded partner is ready, slowly spin the person around a few times so that they are unsure which direction they are headed.   Guide the participants to the field with obstacles.  From this point on, the guide should not touch the partner at all, but rely solely on verbal cues (e.g. “In approximately five steps ahead, there will be a tree branch.  Go ahead and step over it slowly.”)

    Remember that the guide is solely responsible for his or her partner’s safety.  He or she try their best to steer their partner away from obstacles.  Valuable lessons can be learned to teamwork and unity.  For example, the guide will learn about the challenge and responsibility of caring for another individual’s well being, while the blindfolded partner learns to trust and rely on another person.

    Reflection of the Trust Walk Activity 

    If desired, ask participants to reflect and share what they learned from this experience.  The following are some sample questions to ask following the Trust Walk team building activity:

    • What was it like to be the “guide,” being fully responsible for the safety of your partner?
    • What do you think was the purpose of this team building activity?
    • Did you have any difficulty trusting your partner while blindfolded? Why or why not?
    • Why is trusting your teammates important?
    • Afterwards, how did it feel when you and your teammate successfully trusted each other to accomplish something challenging?
    • How does this relate to _______ (here you can fill in the blank with the current scenario of the participants, such as class, a sports team, employees working together on a project, etc.)?

  • Frozen T-Shirt Race

    The Frozen T-Shirt Race is an ideal icebreaker game to be played outside on a hot summer day, and is a hit amongst younger players. It’s a true ice-breaker game, as the players will work together to literally break the ice on the t-shirt. The game’s objective is simple—you must thaw out, unfold, and wear a frozen t-shirt. Even though this game might sound easy, it’s a challenge to complete. The Frozen T-shirt Game can be played in groups or each player can receive their own shirt. Setting some restrictions on how the t-shirt can be thawed will make the game more competitive, and then you can really see players getting into it!

    Materials

    • Water
    • Freezer
    • Gallon freezer bags
    • Large t-shirts—the amount depending on the number of players
    • Cooler and ice (optional)

    Set-Up

    • Place each t-shirt in water—about two cups—and then wring it out. Too much water will prevent the t-shirt from thawing in a reasonable amount of time.
    • After the t-shirt has been wrung out, fold it neatly into a square, so that it fits inside the freezer bag. Once the shirt is folded flat, press it to squeeze out the remaining water.
    • Place the shirt in the bag, seal it, and lay the bag flatly into the freezer.
    • If you are playing the game at different location, then use a cooler filled with ice to keep them frozen.

    How to the Frozen T-shirt Game

    • Don’t reveal the game to the players’ prior, so that they will have to come up with the ideas on the spot, without getting an unfair advantage.
    • Assign the teams or individuals and pass out the frozen t-shirts. You don’t want more than 4 or 5 players on one team, as it will get too crowded.
    • The goal is for each player or team to use whatever he or she can to thaw a t-shirt enough to wear it.
    • Whoever gets their t-shirt on first wins! Their body must be completely in the t-shirt including head and arms, so that it’s worn normally.

    Variations

    Set some rules to make the game more challenging, such as:

    • All players must stay in the game area—the game area can be marked off with tape or other marking lines prior to starting.
    • No water or other liquids can be used to thaw out the t-shirt.
    • No machines such as a microwave, heater, dryer, etc. can be used to melt the ice on the t-shirt.
    • No sharp objects can be used on the t-shirt.
    • The t-shirt must remain intact and not destroyed in anyway—no holes, tears, etc.

  • React and Act Game

    React and Act! is a funny icebreaker in which players randomly select a sheet of paper that has an occurrence on it (for example, winning a million dollars in the lottery) and they must react to the occurrence using animated expressions, gestures, and words.  After a set amount of time, other players try to guess what happened that caused those reactions and actions.

    React and Act is an active icebreaker game that can work with a variety of group sizes.  It can work for small groups of five people, or adapted for very large groups by selecting volunteers.  This game is best played indoors.  Materials required include paper, pens, and a bag.  React and Act works with all ages, including adults.

    Setup for React and Act

    React and Act involves some preparation; however, this is part of the fun!  Pass out sheets of paper and pens to the players.  Have each person write an event.  Tell them to be creative!  Examples of events can include:

    • Being surprised by a large, aggressive bear in the woods
    • You just won the lottery
    • You have just been proposed for marriage with an engagement ring
    • You just got fired by an incompetent boss
    • Making the game winning pass to win the Superbowl
    • You just fell in love

    Once everyone writes an event, fold the paper once and place it into the bag.  Divide the group into two teams (or select five volunteers if it is a very large group).

    Instructions for How to Play

    Ask five people on each team to randomly select an event from the bag.  Instruct them to react to this event, without explicitly giving away what the event is.  Choose a time limit (usually 30 seconds to a minute works well) and when you say “Go!”, have all five people to simultaneously react to their event using exaggerated gestures, facial expressions, and their voice.

    For example, the person who has just won the lottery could raise his or her arms and scream excitedly, jumping up and down.  The person who has just confronted a bear might make a terrified look, shake in fear, and call for help.  And so on.  Each of the five actors can interact with each other, but they must stay “in character” and continue reacting and acting based upon what their sheet said.

    After time expires, the other members of the team try to guess what happened for each person.  If you wish to keep score, each team gets a point for each correct guess.  This game is a great way to break the ice, while watching people act out silly (and usually hilarious) things.

    Variations to Try

    There are many variations to React and Act that changes the way the game is played.  Try experimenting with these and see whether you like them.

    • No talking allowed, but noises are okay.  This increases the difficulty of the game by a lot, but it can be more hilarious.
    • Narrator explains the event before each person acts.

  • Sardines (Reverse Hide and Go Seek)

    Sardines is an active game that is played like hide and go seek — only in reverse!  One person hides, and everyone else searches for the hidden person.  Whenever a person finds the hidden person, they quietly join them in their hiding spot.  Soon, the hidden group starts to look like a bunch of sardines!

    This game should be played in a large indoor area.  Be sure it is safe and that you are allowed to play in the area.  The ideal group size is 8-15 people.  This game is for ages 12 and up.  No special materials are required to play.

    Instructions for Sardines (also known as Reverse Hide and Seek)

    Gather everyone together and explain the rules and boundaries of the game.  Be sure to keep everyone safe and ensure no one wanders into areas that they aren’t supposed to be in.  When everyone understands the rules and boundaries, ask for a volunteer to be the first person to hide.  Give the person a set amount of time (e.g. a few minutes) to hide, while everyone else closes their eyes or sits in a neutral spot away from the playing area.

    When time is up, everyone splits up and tries to find the hidden person.  When someone finds the hidden person, the game is not over!  He or she quietly hides alongside the hidden person.  Over time, several people will be hidden together, resembling a bunch of sardines.

    The last person to find the hidden party loses that round.  He or she is the next person to hide.  Alternatively, you can reward the first person to find the hidden person by allowing that person to hide if he or she wants to.

    Variations 

    There are other variations to this game, such as playing it in pairs.  This adds a little more teamwork to the game.

  • 3 Active Games That Use Pedometers

    If you have a few pedometers or activity trackers, try these games. They will give you an intense workout while they gives the audience an intense laugh.

    1. Bobble Head

    Players of this game are trying to cheat some ultra-high scores out of their pedometers while the pedometer is attached to their forehead. How do they get the pedometer to register points? They shake and nod their head like crazy!

    You will need

    • A pedometer for each player
      A way to attach the pedometer to the player’s head. Finding a sweat band for each player, and tying or taping the pedometer to it, is a good solution.
    • A timer.

    Rules

    Make sure all pedometers are rest to zero. Attach them to all players heads.

    On the signal given, start the timer and have all players shake and bob their heads as quickly as possible.

    After one minute has passed, all players must stop moving immediately. Each player removes the pedometer from their head, careful not to jiggle it and influence their score. The player with the highest number on the display wins!

     

    2. Temper Tantrum

     

    This game uses the same idea as above. This time players will have a pedometer on each ankle, but they must try and get the best score possible while lying on their backs. To everyone else, it will look like they are madly shaking their feet and gritting their teeth in a fit of childlike rage.

    You will need

    • 2 pedometers for each player.
    • A way to attach the pedometer to the ankles of the players. Some pedometers come with wrist straps already. If not, you may be able to put the pedometer in a player’s shoes or socks, or simply tape the device directly onto each of the player’s shoes.
    • A timer.

    • Rules

      Make sure all pedometers are rest to zero. Attach one to both ankles of every player.

      On the signal given, start the timer and have all players shakes their legs in whatever style seems practical.

      After one minute has passed, all players must stop moving immediately. Now all players can check their pedometers, adding up the score for each ankle The player with the highest total wins!

    3. Nervous Nelly

    This game requires the most pedometers — a pedometer on each ankle AND each wrist — but is probably also the funniest AND the most exhausting.

    You will need

    • Four pedometers for each player
    • A way to attach the pedometers to the player’s wrists and ankles.
    • A timer

    Rules

    As usual, make sure all pedometers are rest to zero. Attach a pedometer to both wrists and both ankles of each player. If you don’t have enough pedometers, play this game in turns and record each player’s score.

    On the signal, start the countdown. All players are trying to get the highest score on ALL pedometers simultaneously, by whatever method possible. That means lightning fast tiny steps on the spot while shaking your arms like they’re covered in spiders.

    After a minute is up, all players must stop immediately (and, if they’ve been playing this game correctly, they will certainly want to). The player will the highest combined total on all four pedometers is the winner!

  • Rubber Chicken Game

    The Rubber Chicken Game is an active and fast paced game that is simple to play in any scenario. All the game requires is a rubber chicken—or any other object—and players! It’s great for those who are competitive and speedy. It requires all players to be attentive and ready to move at any given moment. The Rubber Chicken Game is best played outside or in large open areas, so that players can run around safely without crashing into anything. Groups of all sizes can play, but teams are better with between 5-10 players. Larger groups can play, but the overall game will take longer. Players are also able to steal the rubber chicken back from one another, but limits should be set to prevent injuries or excessive force.

    Set-Up and Materials

    • If the game is played outside, then check for any objects or holes that could cause injuries.
    • Assign one person to be the judge and give them a rubber chicken.
    • Take your players and split them into two even groups.
    • Set the groups parallel to each other and line each of them up.
    • Each line of players should be seated on the ground.

    How to Play the Rubber Chicken Game

    • Line each team up and have all of the players seated and facing the judge.
    • The judge will throw the rubber chicken wherever they choose behind all of the players.
    • On the judge’s command or whistle, the first seated player from each team will stand up and race to the chicken.
    • The players will then run back to their lines—the player with the rubber chicken should be protecting themselves, while the other player can try and steal the chicken back.
    • The player with the chicken will reach the line and toss the rubber chicken back strategically, so the next player on their team will have the advantage.
    • The next players from each team will run down again and race to the rubber chicken.
    • Both players will run back and sit down at the end of the line.
    • The game will continue until the whole line has run to retrieve the chicken.
    • Game Variations
    • The rubber chicken can be substituted for a ball, flag, doll, or any other object.
    • To make the game more challenging, you can set up obstacles that the players have to go through to retrieve the rubber chicken or to return back to their line—you can use a dizzy bat, hoops to jump through, cones to zigzag through, or other fun commands.
    • For additional challenges, you can also have players only use one arm to pick up the rubber chicken.
    • If the players are highly competitive or more physical, then they can use light force to take the rubber chicken from their opponent.
    • Boundaries can be set with paint or cones to keep the game area organized.
    • There can be more than two groups to increase the competition or groups can pair up with one another and battle each other.

  • Team Architect

    Team Architect is a game that requires both speed and precision. It’s a great way for players to unleash their creativity and work together towards a common goal. Team Architect is often played for team building or icebreaker purposes, but is entertaining enough to be played in any scenario. It’s best played with smaller groups, but there can be more than two groups playing at a time to increase the competition. Players of all ages will love this hands-on game.

    Team Architect simply requires each team to build something with a small amount of random materials. These materials aren’t usually useful and it’s not always clear how they can be used, which is why players have to get creative. For example, each team could be given Popsicle sticks and duct tape with the requirement to build a bridge that would hold a heavy book. Another example is giving each team string and newspaper, so they can make an egg support. The team’s creation must be able to support an egg when dropped from a specific height.

     

    Set-Up and Materials

    • Choose a designated area to play—inside or outside.
    • A timer—cell phone, egg timer, clock— is required and one person should be the designated timer to set reminders and countdowns.
    • Decide on the materials to be used in the game. They can be preselected or the players can just make use out of what objects are in the room.
    • For example, if you are playing this in an office, teams can use paper clips, tape, staplers, or any other objects found nearby.

     

    How to Play Team Architect

    • Sort out your groups—you can either have two small to medium-sized groups or multiple—three or four—small groups.
    • Assign a designated timer and the amount of time for the teams to craft their design.
    • Decide what each team will be building and what materials they can use.
      • For example, you will be building a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks.
    • Set the timer and let the teams begin!
    • The first team who finishes or who has the better design that will be tested after the game can either determine the ending.
    • If testing the design, such as the egg drop example mentioned above, then the team who successfully protects the egg during the drop would win.
    • If there’s a tie, you can have a sudden death round where teams must add onto their creation or build a completely new object in a shorter amount of time.

     

    Game Variations

    • The overall goal can be adjusted, so teams can build a certain object—like a fort, build something functional—like a chair, or simply build the tallest building.
    • If playing outside, players can use natural objects like branches, leaves, or sand to build their creations.
    • Provide a shorter amount of time to increase competitiveness.
    • Teams could also be blindfolded during play for a real challenge while building or perhaps only use one hand each for building.
    • Teams can be in plain view of each other or hidden, so as not to copy the other team’s ideas.