Line Ups

Name and Purpose

• Line Ups is a quick group-sorting icebreaker that builds connections while getting players moving and communicating.
• It works well as a transition activity or a gentle way to form pairs or small groups for the next activity.

a.k.a.

• Sorting Line, Human Spectrum

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-40 players | 10-20 minutes | Any open space with enough room for a single line the length of the group; indoors or outdoors

Materials

• No materials required
• Optional: index cards with sorting categories written on them (one per round)
• Optional: cones or tape to mark the two endpoints of the line

Quick-Run Card

1. Announce the sorting category (e.g., birthday month and date, tallest to shortest).
2. Players arrange themselves into one line based on the category.
3. For the silent variation, no talking; gestures and signals only.
4. Once the line is set, check it together from one end to the other.
5. The two players at opposite ends become partners; pair from the outside in.

Setup and Boundaries

• Mark the two endpoints of the line with cones or tape so players know where the line begins and ends
• Signal: staff raises a hand for quiet; clap twice to start each round
• Keep the line in a clear space away from walls and furniture

How to Play

1. Staff announces a sorting category. Examples: oldest to youngest; tallest to shortest; alphabetically by first name; chronologically by birthday (month and day only).
2. Players move and talk (or gesture silently) to find their correct place in the line.
3. Once everyone feels they are in position, staff or a volunteer calls “Check!” and the group reads the line aloud from one end, confirming order.
4. If the silent variation is used, players gesture their information (hold up fingers for birth month, use hand height for size, etc.).
5. After checking, pair up: the two players at opposite ends of the line pair together, then the next two, and so on.
6. These pairs or small groups move directly into the next activity.
7. Play 2-3 rounds with different categories to form new groupings.

I-OPt Options

• Start
  • A (Active): Move quickly to your estimated place in the line and help others find theirs
  • S (Support): Stand in the middle and help players on either side sort themselves
  • Q (Quiet): Move to your spot calmly without rushing; let others come to you
  • O (Observer): Watch the first round before joining the second
• Mid
  • A (Active): Negotiate your exact position with players near you
  • S (Support): Help players who are not sure of their category detail (e.g., “What month is your birthday?”)
  • Q (Quiet): Use gestures rather than words even in the talking variation
  • O (Observer): Watch for places in the line where the sorting is unclear and point it out gently
• Late
  • A (Active): Call “Check!” and help read the line from one end
  • S (Support): Confirm each player’s detail as the line is read aloud
  • Q (Quiet): Listen as the line is checked and For those who prefer a different role, stepping into observer mode is another option.
  • O (Observer): Announce the final pairs to the group
• End
  • A (Active): Suggest a category for the next round
  • S (Support): Help staff note which categories worked best for this group
  • Q (Quiet): Move into your pairing when called
  • O (Observer): Watch the pairs form and note who seems energised versus who needs a warm welcome

Inclusion Adaptations

• Categories should not require players to share personal information they may not want to disclose (e.g., avoid weight or family details); stick to neutral facts like birthday month or first name
• For the silent variation, players who use alternative communication can use cards, devices, or hand signals established before the round starts

Stewardship Moment

• No materials are used or discarded in this activity; note that as a strength
• Reflection: “This whole activity needed nothing but you and each other. What other activities at camp could we run with no materials at all?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “We’re going to sort ourselves into a line based on a category I’ll give you. You only need to share the detail that relates to the category, nothing personal. For those who’d rather not share a particular detail, raising your hand and saying ‘I’ll go somewhere in the middle’ is a perfectly fine option.”
• Mid-game check: After the first round, glance around to confirm everyone engaged comfortably.
• Opt-out/re-entry: A player can place themselves anywhere in the line without explaining. If they prefer not to pair up for the next activity, a small group role is always available.

Risks and Mitigation

• Players crowding and bumping while repositioning: remind everyone to move at a walking pace and use gentle voices
• A player embarrassed about their category answer (e.g., not knowing their exact birthday): all categories can be approximate; reassure players that close enough is fine
• Pairs feeling uneven or left out in groups with odd numbers: add a trio rather than leaving anyone without a partner

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Find Someone Who”: players mingle and find someone who shares their birth month before Line Ups begins
• “Two Truths”: before sorting, each player shares two facts about themselves (one must match the sorting category)

Debrief Questions

• What? “How did you figure out where you belonged in the line? What information did you need from others?”
• So What? “What made the silent round harder or easier? What did you learn about the people near you?”
• Now What? “How do you usually figure out where you fit in a new group? What helps you feel like you belong?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect any cones or index cards used
• No other cleanup required