Find Your Sound Partner

Materials

• One sturdy, securely sealed, identical-looking container per person
• Adult-prepared fillings, such as rice or paper, in matching pairs of identical amount and contents
• Hidden matching symbols on container bottoms

How to play

1. An adult makes matching pairs with identical contents and amounts, secures every lid and conceals the answers. Give one container to each player.
2. Gently shake your container and listen. Do not throw or shake forcefully; keep space around you.
3. Meet another player and take turns comparing sounds. Form a provisional pair if they match; otherwise keep searching.
4. Once everyone is paired, the facilitator checks the bottom symbols. Incorrect pairs listen again without exchanging containers.
5. Finish when all correct pairs are together. Collect and redistribute containers for another round if desired.

Ways to adapt

Preschool children: two sound types in four containers, with adults. Younger primary school children: 3–4 types. Older primary school children: try small differences in amounts. Choose a visual task instead if listening is difficult.

Sources and references

• 島根県『アイスブレイク集』No.22 音を使ったグループ分け ↗