Description
Participants write down three topics on an index card that they would be glad to talk about. Moving around to meet others in the room, they show their index cards and their partner chooses 1 of the 3 topics to ask about.
When and Why
Back to topA good activity for a group that knows each other a little, but not deeply, as it helps people move beyond surface-level interactions. It provides each person with choice about what they share, so it is flexible for groups with varying comfort levels.
How to Facilitate
Back to top- Reflect on the current context, the demographics of participants, and the purpose of this engagement. Provide enough 3×5 index cards for each person to have one.
- Ask participants to write down at least three topics they would be happy to talk about. Consider setting guidelines such as “at least one should be work-related/class-related” if you feel the need to do so.
- Ask participants to find a partner who they haven’t spoken with yet today (or use another more random partner-finding strategy, such as “find someone who is wearing a similar color shirt”). They’ll exchange cards.
- Each person chooses one topic from their partner’s card, and says “Tell me about _______.” For 1-2 minutes, they talk about that topic, asking follow up questions as needed. At the facilitator’s signal, they switch and the other partner shares about one of their topics.
- Participants take their own card back, and as time allows they can repeat the exercise with new partners.
- To debrief the activity, ask participants to reflect on something they now know about a colleague or classmate that they didn’t know before and how they might check back in with that person in the future. This is an opportune moment to transition by explaining why you chose this activity, and how knowing each other beyond “surface-level” is beneficial to the group’s overall purpose.