Noah's Ark

Purpose. A fun, low-pressure way to split a large group into pairs.

When to use. Early in a session, especially with a group that doesn't know each other well yet.

Best for. Groups of 8 or more, in person.

• Gather: slips of paper naming pairs of matching items (animals work well, or anything that comes in twos), and a bowl or hat to draw from.

Room setup. Open enough floor space for pairs to spread out and hear only their own partner.

Virtual setup. This works best in person. If you must run it virtually, assign matching pairs directly into breakout rooms instead.

Hybrid setup. Assign remote participants into pairs separately, then announce all pairs together.

Materials. Slips of paper, a bowl or hat

1. Before the session, write pairs of matching items on slips of paper (for example, two slips that both say “elephant”), enough pairs for everyone in the room.
2. Have each participant draw one slip blind, without showing anyone.
3. Explain the challenge: without speaking, participants must act out their item to find the person holding the matching slip.
4. Let participants mingle and act out their items until every pair has found each other.
5. Once paired, have each pair introduce themselves to each other.

Learning outcome. Participants leave having found a partner through a playful, wordless challenge.

• Slips with matching pairs written
• A bowl or hat
• Debrief questions ready
• Timer set for 10 min