Ice Breaker Games Mingle Game
Play music while students walk around, then call out a number and they scramble to form groups of that size. Gets energy up and randomly mixes people who wouldn't normally interact.
Group Size:
10-30 people
Duration:
5-10 minutes
Difficulty:
Easy
How to Play:
- 1
Clear space in the room so people can move around freely. Play upbeat music
- 2
Students walk around the room, mingling and making eye contact with different people
- 3
Pause the music and call out a number (3, 5, 7, etc)
- 4
Students quickly form groups of that exact number. Anyone left over sits out that round or joins an existing group
- 5
Play music again, students break apart and mingle. Repeat 5-8 times with different numbers
Mingle Game
Pure energy in game form. There’s something about music + movement + time pressure that wakes everyone up instantly. Students love the chaos of scrambling to form groups, and you love how it randomly mixes people who wouldn’t normally interact.
Perfect for Monday mornings or post-lunch energy dips. Five minutes of this and your class is ready to focus again.
Best For:
Energy boost when class feels sluggish, forming random groups, getting students comfortable with each other, breaking up cliques, transition activity
Pro Tips
-
Call out different numbers each time - mix small (2-3) and larger (5-7) groups
-
For numbers that don't divide evenly, decide ahead whether extras sit out or squeeze into groups
-
Speed it up as you go. Give 10 seconds at first, then 5 seconds later
-
Watch for students who consistently get left out. Jump in and form a group with them
-
End on a number that creates your desired group size for the next activity
Variations
-
Challenge mode: Call two numbers, groups must form that size AND arrange by height/birthday/alphabetically
-
Silent version: No talking allowed while forming groups, only gestures
-
Math twist: Call out equations (3+2, 10-5) instead of straight numbers
-
Once you're in a group, share one thing (name, hobby, favorite food) before music starts again
FAQ
- What if the number doesn't divide evenly?
- Decide beforehand if extras sit out that round or squeeze into existing groups. Both approaches work.
- How do I handle students who always get left out?
- Actively monitor and jump in to form a group with students who struggle. Speed up the calls to reduce selection time.
- Can I use this to form groups for the next activity?
- Yes, end on the exact number you need for your next task. It creates perfect random groupings.
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