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Speed Breaking

This is a fun and energetic activity used for speeding up the process of getting to know each other - inspired by the speed dating technique. You can use the cards in multiple ways, but the most common is that pairs are seated facing each other. Depending on the instructions of the card they pick, they perform an action or answer a question. After a set time, the pair rotates to get to know another person.
4-any
8-30 min

High

Preparation

  1. Get the Speed breaking cards.(Contact Playify)
  2. Arrange tables to make two rows, facing each other.
  3. Put one deck out per pair on the table, with the instructions facing down.
  4. Provide paper and pens for each pair.

 

Steps

  1. Once they are seated, give them the instructions:
  2. Pick a card, one person reads it out loud and both of them answer the question or do the activity described on the card.
  3. Once they are both done, they pick the next card. Note; they will at times a question they answered before, but with a new person.
  4. They will have 2 minutes per person.
  5. Let them know when there are only 30 seconds left, as well as when time is up.
  6. Ask the people on one side to stay seated, while the people on the other side move one seat to the right.
  7. Start off the next 2 minutes.
  8. Continue until the first pairs are back to face each other, or time-box it. Try to run it in less than 20 min, as it otherwise can start to feel repetitive.

Note: There is a ‘Wild Card” in each deck which encourages the pair to come up with their own activity or question. You can mention this in the instructions, but it can be even more interesting to observe what the pairs choose to do without knowing the purpose of the card.

Debrief

You may want to opt-out of a debrief to continue the session on an ‘energy high’. But you can also ask questions about what they shared and learned, or around creativity and the level of comfort for playfulness.

  • What was the easiest vs hardest activity or question?
  • What did you use the Wild Card card for? Did you hesitate? Did you do the same thing the next time you got a Wild Card? Who came up with the most creative or fun way to use it?
  • Did you deliberately skip any card? If so, why?
  • What was the most surprising thing you learned about someone you pair up with?
  • Did you learn anything new or unexpected about yourself?

Bonus tip

You can also use one deck for the whole group. For example as an energiser to start off a weekly meeting by picking one card, and the whole group answering and performing the activity.

If you have a large group, and in particular if this is over a drink, it can get rather noisy and be hard to get heard. You can use a loud instrument to let them know when time is up. For example a gong or bell.

You can also use the cards to self organize into groups. Ask everyone to stand up and hand out one card to each participant. Then ask them to group find a pair or group by finding someone/others with the same colour and symbol on their card.

What you need

  • Speed breaking cards (Contact Playify)
  • Paper
  • Pens
  • Timing device

Creator

Playify

Back to Activities

Examples

Icebreaker game Speed breaker
P speed breaker1