Ice Breaker Games Ice Breaker Games
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#25 Easy

Find Something in Common

Get a list of classmates to talk to and find one thing you share with each person - but you can't reuse the same commonality. Forces deeper conversations when surface stuff runs out.

classroom teens adults mingling conversation low-prep engaging

Group Size:

10-30 people

Duration:

10-15 minutes

Difficulty:

Easy

How to Play:

Find Something in Common - How to Play
  1. 1

    Give each student a list of 5-8 names of other students in the room

  2. 2

    Students walk around and talk to each person on their list

  3. 3

    Find one thing they have in common with that person and write it down

  4. 4

    The catch: You can't use the same commonality twice. If you both love pizza, you can only use that once

  5. 5

    First person to complete their list wins, or set a 10-minute timer and see who gets the most

Find Something in Common

A mingling game that forces students to dig deeper than surface-level small talk. The rule about not reusing commonalities is genius - by person number five, students are having real conversations.

Works great when you want students to form new connections or break out of their usual social circles. Plus, you’ll discover all sorts of interesting things about your group.

Best For:

First day of class, team building, helping students discover unexpected connections, breaking up cliques

Pro Tips

  • Make the lists random so students talk to people they don't usually hang out with

  • Give examples of what counts: hobbies, favorite foods, number of siblings, travel experiences

  • Encourage students to go beyond the obvious. 'We both go to this school' doesn't count

  • Walk around and eavesdrop - you'll learn so much about your students

  • For large groups, give shorter lists of 3-5 names so it doesn't take forever

Variations

  • Speed version: Give everyone 2 minutes per person, then rotate

  • Bingo card: Instead of a list, create a bingo card with commonalities to find

  • Three things: Find three things in common with each person, ranging from obvious to unique

  • Remote version: Use breakout rooms and a shared doc where pairs write their commonalities

FAQ

What if two people can't find anything in common?
Keep digging. Everyone shares something - favorite season, number of siblings, food preferences. The struggle often leads to the best discoveries.
How do I create the name lists?
Randomly assign names to ensure students talk to people outside their usual friend groups. Mix grade levels, backgrounds, and social circles.
Can I use this with adults in the workplace?
Absolutely. This works great for team building and helps break down departmental silos in corporate settings.

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