The perfect warm-up for engaging large workshop groups

A fun icebreaker to kick off your workshop with energy and ease.

Looking for a warm-up that’s actually useful, loads of fun, and perfect for a large group?

Well, I finally found it! Introducing… the Zombie Apocalypse! 🧟‍♀️

Most of my favorite icebreakers work great in smaller workshops, but they often don’t scale well for big groups—they take too long or don’t help groups connect.

But now I’ve got the perfect solution.

If you’re running a workshop with a big crowd, this icebreaker not only gets everyone engaged, but also sets the stage for better, more inclusive discussions.

It’s quick, high-energy, and guaranteed to get everyone smiling and ready to dive in.

The best part? This activity is more than just fun, it subtly introduces key workshop principles, highlighting some of the common challenges and constraints that come with group work.

Here’s how you can run it in your own workshops!

Step 1: Setting the apocalyptic scene

Start by introducing that you will begin with a quick icebreaker to set a fun, collaborative tone.

Explain that in 20 minutes, a zombie apocalypse will strike! Each group has just 7 minutes to choose 3 items from a shopping mall that will help them survive.

Divide participants into smaller groups of 3 to 6 people (depending of the group size) and make sure each group appoints someone to present their survival strategy. 

Pro tip #1: Set the scene with a few extra details—imagine we’re in Los Angeles with access to a Walmart! This way, participants have a clear setting, a wide range of items to choose from, and fewer questions like “Where are we?” or “Can we pick weapons?” These little touches make the activity more immersive and smooth from the start.

Pro Tip #2: Move around the groups to observe how people interact. Look out for typical challenges of collaboration. In some groups, you might see lively debates over the best items, while in others, certain participants might stay quiet or struggle to meet the time limit. These observations will be valuable later on, helping to highlight why the workshop principles are essential for fostering a more inclusive and productive collaboration.

Step 2: Time to unveil the survival strategies

Alright, now that each group has chosen their items, let’s hear from each spokesperson! Ask them to present their 3 survival items and explain how they plan to outlast the zombies.

Let’s see who’s truly ready for the undead!

Feel free to crack some jokes about their item choices to keep things light and fun, it’ll make this moment even more enjoyable.

Step 3: Transition to workshop principles

Now, move on to the workshop principles, aka the rules they’ll need to follow.

Perfect timing since they’ve just experienced some of the classical challenges of working together.

Use the things you observed while they had no guideline on how to collaborate to illustrates why we need these principles. The fact that they experienced these things will help everyone stick to them.

Step 4: Let’s Get to Work!

Now that you’ve kicked things off with a fun activity, it’s time to dive into the first main task.

The group is more energized and ready to get things done, so use that energy to focus on the goals of the session. Your job now is to guide them and make sure they’re working toward the main purpose of the workshop.

Let me know how it goes when you give it a try: enjoy!

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