Equipment / Materials Needed
None
This game needs no materials. Just a group of players and a space where everyone can move safely.
Setup Instructions
- Choose a leader to run the game.
- Gather all players in one open area.
- Make sure everyone can hear the leader.
- Remind players they will be moving and talking in small groups.
Game Play Instructions
- The leader explains the goal: to form small groups and find something everyone in the group has in common.
- The leader calls out a number between 3 and 6. That is the size of group players must form.
- Players quickly move and form groups of the correct size.
- Each group has 15 seconds to find one thing they all have in common. It must be clear and true. Examples: “We all have glasses” or “We all like pizza.”
- When the 15 seconds are up, there is no more talking. Groups must stay silent until it’s time to share.
- One at a time, each group shares its common trait.
- To earn a point, a group must:
- Have the correct number of people
- Stay silent after time is up
- Share a common trait that is not repeated by other groups
- Choose a clear and real commonality
- Have every group member agree and fit the commonality
- Play several rounds with the leader calling out different group sizes.
- To keep things fun, the leader can sometimes call a silly number, like 7 or 4½.
- At the end, the player or team with the most points wins.
Extra Tips and Variations
- For large groups, add a rule that players can’t be in a group with someone they were with in the last round.
- To add a challenge, set the timer for only 10 seconds.
- For fun, let the group with the most creative commonality win a bonus point.
- Always make sure the space is safe to move around. No running or pushing.
- This game works best when everyone plays with kindness and includes others.
See https://young-catholics.com/2095/common-denominator-icebreaker/ for more information.