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Make space for a first conversation
Icebreaker worksheets.
Simple write-and-share activities, with space to think before anyone speaks. Bring a pen and a willing partner.
Write down an everyday object you use often. Tell a partner about a use for it they might not have thought of.
Read every prompt below, or download the free cards. Interactive play is available with JavaScript enabled.
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Easy to start. Easy to make your own.
A worksheet with a real plan
These worksheets give people a small task before introducing a conversation. Choose a prompt, write or sketch privately, then share only what you want. The PDF includes a four-prompt response sheet as well as a complete set of activity cards.
- Choose a 5, 10, or 15-minute plan below. Give everyone paper and a pen.
- Read one prompt. Allow a minute for private writing, drawing, or thinking.
- Invite pairs to compare. Finish with an optional shared idea, without collecting personal sheets.
5 minutes: 1-minute introduction, 1 minute of thinking, 2 minutes in pairs, 1-minute close. 10 minutes: use two prompts, with 3 minutes per pair round and a 2-minute close. 15 minutes: use three prompts, with a 3-minute final reflection. These are host plans; actual group timings have not been tested.
Have a look before you play
32 original prompts. All right here.
Read, play, or print. The PDF contains this complete set; online rounds can be shorter and filtered by setting.
- Write down an everyday object you use often. Tell a partner about a use for it they might not have thought of.F05-001 · REV 2
- List three things that would make a waiting room more pleasant. Compare lists with a partner and circle one idea you both like.F05-002 · REV 2
- Sketch a simple symbol for your ideal break. Invite a partner to ask one question about it.F05-003 · REV 2
- Name a hobby you would like to try for an hour. With a partner, compare what you would each need to get started.F05-004 · REV 2
- List two ways to spend ten free minutes. Find a choice that would suit both of you.F05-005 · REV 2
- Write down a sound that reminds you of a place. Tell a partner about the connection, or keep the place private.F05-006 · REV 2
- Design a welcome sign for an imaginary community space. Explain one design choice to a partner.F05-007 · REV 2
- Name a dish you would like to learn to make. Ask a partner what they would serve with it.F05-008 · REV 2
Read the other 24 prompts
- List three items for an imaginary picnic. Combine your lists into one five-item plan.F05-009 · REV 2
- Write down something small you noticed on your way here. Ask a partner what caught their eye.F05-010 · REV 2
- Choose a season and write down an activity you enjoy at that time of year. Compare ideas with a partner.F05-011 · REV 2
- Name a simple skill you could demonstrate in a minute. Invite a partner to describe one of theirs.F05-012 · REV 2
- List two places in a fictional town. With a partner, add a place that connects them.F05-013 · REV 2
- Write a title for an imaginary community workshop. Together, add a one-sentence description.F05-014 · REV 2
- Draw a tiny invention that solves a minor inconvenience. Ask a partner to give it a name.F05-015 · REV 2
- Write a question you would ask a local tour guide. Compare questions with a partner: where might each answer take you?F05-016 · REV 2
- List three qualities of a useful instruction sheet. Choose one to apply to this activity.F05-017 · REV 2
- Write down one thing that helps you feel comfortable in a new group. Share a practical tip if you want to.F05-018 · REV 2
- Sketch a small shared workspace. With a partner, add one item that helps people feel welcome.F05-019 · REV 2
- Describe how you like to learn a simple task. Ask a partner how they would teach it.F05-020 · REV 2
- List two good ways to end a meeting. Combine one idea from each person into a closing line.F05-021 · REV 2
- Write a friendly reminder for an imaginary group trip. Make it clearer together in fewer words.F05-022 · REV 2
- Choose an everyday tool. Write a three-word description and see how a partner describes it.F05-023 · REV 2
- Write down one detail that makes a plan easier to follow. Compare with a partner and find an idea you both value.F05-024 · REV 2
- List two activities that need no equipment. Together, choose one for a five-minute break.F05-025 · REV 2
- Create a short menu for an imaginary pop-up cafe. Ask a partner to add its signature dish or drink.F05-026 · REV 2
- Write a title for a photo you have not taken yet. Describe the imagined scene to a partner.F05-027 · REV 2
- List three items for a rainy afternoon indoors. Pick one shared activity from your lists.F05-028 · REV 2
- Write a one-sentence welcome for a new teammate. Compare with a partner and suggest one improvement to each version.F05-029 · REV 2
- List two useful features for a shared noticeboard. Agree on where each feature would go.F05-030 · REV 2
- Sketch an icon for asking a question. Explain how someone would know what it means.F05-031 · REV 2
- Write down one practical detail a host should explain before a game. Work with a partner to turn it into a short opening line.F05-032 · REV 2