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Icebreaker

Common Ground

Also called Things in Common, Ten Things in Common

Small groups race to find as many things that all members share as they can — the more unusual, the better.

people
6–100
time
12 min
energy
Calm
materials
Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
What you need1
How to play4

Before you start

Split everyone into groups of 4–5, mixing departments, families or friend groups. Give each group paper and a pen.

  1. 1Groups have five minutes to list things that every member of the group has in common.
  2. 2Obvious things do not count: “we all work here”, “we all have hair”, “we all like food”.
  3. 3When time is up, each group reads out its best three.
  4. 4The group with the most valid items wins, with a bonus for the most surprising one.
Cards for this game25

Edit them now. Host mode deals them one at a time, big enough for the room.

25 cards
  • Foods you all ate this week
  • Places you have all visited
  • Things you all did as kids
  • Things in your bags or pockets right now
  • Songs you all know
  • Hobbies you all have tried
  • Jobs you all had before this one
  • Holiday traditions you share
  • Movies you all have watched
  • Languages or words you all know
  • Fears or dislikes you all share
  • Ways you all relax
  • Apps you all use
  • Things you all want to learn
  • Childhood games you all played
  • Foods you all dislike
  • Pets you all have had
  • Things you all did this morning
  • Ways you all get to work or school
  • Places in your hometowns that you share
  • Role models you all admire
  • Favorite street foods you all love
  • Things you all are grateful for
  • Dreams you all have for next year
  • Skills you all have
What to say3
  1. 1“Five minutes. Find what ALL of you share — and no boring ones!”
  2. 2“Two minutes left! Have you checked favourite ulam? Birth order? Worst fear?”
  3. 3“Pens down! Group one, give us your weirdest one!”
Host tips3
  • Groups get stuck on generic answers. Shout out prompt categories halfway (siblings, first job, pets, food you hate) and the lists double.
  • If people pick their own groups, cliques sit together and already know everything. Use the team tool to mix them.
  • Reading every group's full list takes forever. Limit each group to its best three when reporting back.
Variants2

  • Uncommon ground

    After the shared list, each person must also find one thing about themselves nobody else in the group shares.

  • Online

    Use breakout rooms and a shared document per group; read the best ones back in the main room.

Good for

Occasions

Team buildingRetreatSchoolChristmasReunion

Venues

Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hallOnline
If this one dies early6