Icebreakers that get people moving (for both small and large groups)
Icebreakers to ease tension are used in many schools and workplaces, right? Among those, the ones that get people moving seem even more effective at dispelling nervousness and anxiety, don’t they? Here, we introduce icebreakers that involve physical movement.
We cover activities that don’t require much space, ones suitable for small groups, and ones that can be done in teams for larger groups.
Try using them during sluggish morning briefings or before afternoon meetings.
- A collection of icebreakers you can enjoy with a small group
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- [In a Short Time] Icebreakers and Fun Games That Shine at Morning Meetings
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Icebreaker Ideas and Games Collection
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- [Self-Introduction & Games] Icebreaker Ideas Collection
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- Recreation Ideas That Truly Excite High School Students! A Fun Collection of Activities
- Recreation popularity rankings for junior high school students
- A roundup of recommended icebreakers for college students
[For Small and Large Groups] Active Icebreakers (11–20)
Catch Ring Toss
This is a two-person icebreaker called “Catch Ring Toss.” Prepare a stick made by rolling up newspaper or similar material, along with several rings.
Decide who will throw the rings and who will catch them with the stick.
At the start signal, throw the rings one after another.
The pair that catches the most rings wins.
Using rings of various sizes changes the difficulty and makes it more fun! The thrower should consider an easy height and angle for the catcher.
Making eye contact can help you nail the timing of each throw!
Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash
This is an active icebreaker called “Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash,” where the first person to touch the cone wins.
Two players face each other, with one cone placed on each side a short distance away.
They play rock-paper-scissors: the winner goes to the right, the loser goes to the left—meaning both aim for the same cone.
The result isn’t decided by rock-paper-scissors itself; the winner is whoever touches the designated cone first! If you’re confident in your reflexes and explosiveness, you’ll have an advantage.
It’s fun as a king-of-the-hill format or a team competition.
Try it in a setup that fits your group size!
Marshmallow Challenge
The team that builds the tallest tower using pasta, marshmallows, tape, string, and more wins the Marshmallow Challenge! First, discuss as a team what kind of tower you’ll make and how you’ll build it.
By setting a time limit, you’ll naturally divide tasks smoothly, check progress, and spark conversations—creating chances to help one another.
Because there’s a clear goal—building a tower—it’s easy to do even with people you’re meeting for the first time.
By the way, the world record for the Marshmallow Challenge is 99 centimeters!
Rock, paper (game of choosing ‘rock’ or ‘paper’)
An icebreaker called “Goo-Paa” lets you move your body and use your voice, and you’ll likely feel refreshed afterward.
Participants follow the leader’s cue—“Ready, go!”—by extending a hand showing “paa” (open hand) forward and placing a hand showing “goo” (fist) on their chest.
Each time the cue is called, switch the positions of your left and right hands.
Increasing the speed or reversing which hand shows which shape makes it more challenging.
Also, responding to the leader’s cue by saying your own phrase as you extend your hand builds a sense of unity and makes it surprisingly fun, so it’s highly recommended!
cross clap
This is an icebreaker called “Crossed Claps,” where everyone claps in time with the leader’s cues.
The leader stands where everyone can see, raises their arms overhead, and alternates between crossing and opening their arms.
Participants should clap only when the leader’s arms are crossed.
Start slowly, and once everyone gets the hang of it, gradually speed up for more fun.
The leader can also add feints—pretending to cross but not actually doing it.
You can add a game element, like being out if you’re fooled by the leader’s movements, to increase the tension and excitement!
Musical chairs
It’s a musical chairs–style game, but the rules are the same as “Anything Basket”! Prepare one fewer chair than the number of participants and arrange them in a circle.
One person stands in the center without a chair and asks the participants a question.
Anyone for whom the answer is “yes” stands up and moves to a different chair.
The questions can be anything, like “People who wear glasses” or “People with short hair.” Just make sure that when you move, you sit in a different chair from the one you were in before.
You might also want to come up with a signal, like in Fruit Basket, that makes everyone switch chairs at once!
[For Small and Large Groups] Physical Icebreakers (21–30)
BlindSquare
It seems simple, but “Blind Square” is actually quite challenging.
In this icebreaker, teams of about 4 to 10 people are blindfolded and tasked with turning a rope laid out in a circle into a square.
You may lift the rope, but physical contact among team members is prohibited.
You have to locate each other and form the square using only verbal communication.
Teams also compete on time, so both speed and accuracy are required.
Be sure to play in a spacious, safe area and check that there’s nothing around you could trip over before you start!