Ice Breaker Games Line Up Game
Line up by height, birthday, or name without talking at all. Shows who naturally leads and forces creative nonverbal communication.
Group Size:
8-30 people
Duration:
5-10 minutes
Difficulty:
Easy
How to Play:
- 1
Tell students they need to line up in a specific order - but they cannot speak at all
- 2
Give them the criteria: by height (shortest to tallest), by birthday (January to December), or alphabetically by first name
- 3
Students use hand gestures, pointing, and creative communication to figure it out
- 4
Set a timer for 5 minutes and see if they can do it
- 5
Once they think they're done, go down the line and verify. If anyone is out of order, they start over
Line Up Game
A deceptively simple game that reveals a lot about group dynamics. Students think it’ll be easy - then you tell them they can’t talk, and suddenly it’s a fascinating puzzle.
The beauty is watching students develop their own systems for communicating. Some groups get creative with finger counting for birthdays. Others resort to elaborate charades. The quiet kid might step up and take charge. It’s always interesting.
Best For:
Team building, developing nonverbal communication skills, quick energizer, building focus and cooperation
Pro Tips
-
Birthday order is the hardest because they have to show months and days without talking
-
Height is the easiest - good for younger students or groups just starting out
-
Don't help them. Let them struggle a bit and figure out their own system
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Watch for leaders who naturally emerge and students who hang back
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After the activity, debrief: How did you communicate? Who took charge? What was frustrating?
Variations
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Speed round: Time them and see if they can beat their record on a second try
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Multiple criteria: Line up by birthday, then within each month line up by height
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Remote version: Share screen with a virtual whiteboard, students type numbers to indicate their position
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Blindfolded: Some students close their eyes for an extra challenge (works best with height)
FAQ
- What if students break the no-talking rule?
- Make them start over from the beginning. The consequence reinforces the challenge and importance of nonverbal communication.
- Which criteria is most challenging?
- Birthday order is hardest since people must show months and days without words. Start with height for beginners.
- What should I watch for during this activity?
- Observe who takes leadership, how the group handles confusion, and which students find creative communication solutions.
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