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Icebreaker

The Boat Is Sinking

Also called Boat Is Sinking, Group Yourselves, Lifeboats

The host shouts “The boat is sinking — group yourselves into five!” and anyone not in a group of exactly that size is out.

people
15–200
time
10 min
energy
Chaos
materials
No materials
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
How to play4

Before you start

Clear a big open space. Everyone walks around in a loose crowd. Explain that groups are formed by standing together with hands raised — no grabbing.

  1. 1Players walk around the space, sometimes to music.
  2. 2The host shouts: “The boat is sinking! Group yourselves into four!”
  3. 3Players rush to form groups of exactly that number and raise their hands.
  4. 4Anyone left out, or in a group of the wrong size, is out. Repeat with different numbers until a handful remain.
Cards for this game25

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

25 cards
  • Groups of 2!
  • Groups of 3!
  • Groups of 4!
  • Groups of 5!
  • Groups of 6!
  • Groups of 7!
  • Groups of 8!
  • Groups of 1!
  • Group by birth month!
  • Group by shirt color!
  • Group by first letter of your name!
  • Everyone in one big group!
  • Groups of 2, and hold hands!
  • Groups of 3, back to back!
  • Groups of 4, sit on the floor!
  • Groups of 5, and hop together!
  • Pairs, and stand on one leg!
  • Groups of 3, one person kneels!
  • Groups of 6, make a circle!
  • Groups of 4, make a square!
  • Group by who has the same shoe color!
  • Groups of 2, say your names!
  • Groups of 5, wave and cheer!
  • Groups equal to the number of vowels in your name!
  • Groups of 3, link elbows!
What to say3
  1. 1“Walk around, walk around… the sea is calm…”
  2. 2“THE BOAT IS SINKING! Group yourselves into… SIX!”
  3. 3“Count your group — anyone with seven? Out you go!”
Host tips3
  • People grab and pull each other into groups and someone gets yanked. Make hands-up-and-stand-close the rule and disqualify anyone who drags a person in.
  • Groups sneak an extra person in. Count the suspicious groups out loud yourself — it is also the funniest moment.
  • Avoid group calls based on gender or body (“boys and girls”, “by height”) at an office or church event; use clothing colours or birth months.
Variants2

  • With a condition

    Add a rule to the call: “groups of three, all wearing different colours” or “groups of five, all born in different months”.

  • Team maker

    End the last round on the number you need for the next game. The final groups become the teams.

Safety1
  • The rush to group causes collisions — clear furniture and avoid with seniors, small children mixed with adults, or slippery floors.
Good for

Occasions

Team buildingSchoolRetreatChristmasFiestaBirthday

Venues

Indoor, largeOutdoorChurch hallOffice