Food, Friends and Fireworks

Name and Purpose

• Food, Friends and Fireworks is a quick, joyful ice breaker that builds connection through laughter and movement.
• Players practise reading social cues and celebrating shared choices.

a.k.a.

• Match Up, Triple Choice

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-40 players (pairs) | 5-10 minutes | Any open area where players can stand and turn around

Materials

• None

Quick-Run Card

1. Teach 3 motions: Food (rub belly, say “mmmmm”), Friends (arms wide, say “heeeeyyyy”), Fireworks (clap overhead, say “shhhhhh” while lowering arms).
2. Players find a partner and stand back to back.
3. On “Go!” both turn and perform their chosen motion.
4. If they match, celebrate with a “Yes!” and fist pump.
5. Find a new partner and try again.

Setup and Boundaries

• Clear enough space for pairs to turn around without bumping into others
• Signal: facilitator counts “3, 2, 1, Go!” for each round
• 1 whistle = freeze, find a new partner; 2 whistles = gather up
• No setup time needed

How to Play

1. Teach the three motions to the whole group. Practise each one together.
2. Each player finds a partner. They stand back to back.
3. No talking or planning. Each player silently picks one of the three motions.
4. The facilitator counts “3, 2, 1, Go!” Both players turn around and perform their chosen motion with the sound.
5. If the pair matches, they celebrate with a “Yes!” and a fist pump.
6. If they don’t match, they laugh it off and try again, or find a new partner.
7. Play 5-8 rounds with different partners.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Full participation, finding new partners each round
• S (Support): Help demonstrate the motions, cheer for matched pairs
• Q (Quiet): Participate with a consistent partner rather than switching each round
• O (Observer): Watch and count how many matches happen across the group, join when ready

Inclusion Adaptations

• Seated version: all three motions work while seated
• Sound-optional version: players can do the motion without the sound for those who prefer quieter participation

Stewardship Moment

• No materials used. “We just proved you can have a blast with zero supplies.”
• If played outdoors: quick scan of the area before leaving

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game is about matching a silly motion with a partner. There’s no wrong answer and no losing. For those who’d rather watch and count matches, that’s a great role too.”
• For those not comfortable with any part of this activity, sitting out or joining as an observer is another option.
• Mid-game check: After 3 rounds, pause. “How’s the energy? Want to keep going or wrap up?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Step to the side any time. Jump back in any round.

Risks and Mitigation

• Bumping into another pair while turning: space pairs out before each round
• Feeling singled out if no one matches: reframe as “the goal is fun, not matching. Mismatches are hilarious.”
• Pressure to find a partner: facilitator pairs up anyone without a partner, or plays as the odd-one-out’s partner

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Practise each motion as a group 2-3 times
• “Mirror Me”: pairs face each other and copy each other’s movements for 30 seconds

Debrief Questions

• What? “How many matches did you get? What was your go-to motion?”
• So What? “What did it feel like when you matched? When you didn’t?”
• Now What? “How do we celebrate things we have in common with people we just met?”

Cleanup and Reset

• No materials to collect
• Quick space check if outdoors