Line Up Game

How to Play

Setup

1. Choose a clear, open space long enough for a single-file line. For very large groups (50+), use a hallway or open room and mark the two ends with signs (e.g., "Low" and "High").
2. Explain the core challenge: participants must arrange themselves in a single line according to a criterion (e.g., birthday by month/day, years at the company, number of siblings, alphabetically by middle name, or height) without speaking, whispering, writing, or using phones.
3. Set expectations: 5–10 minutes per round, quick verification at the end, and respectful, safe movement. Encourage big, clear gestures for accessibility.
4. Prepare 4–6 criteria of increasing difficulty. Start easy to build confidence, then escalate.

How to Play

1. Announce the first criterion and indicate which end is the low/early/small end versus the high/late/large end. Clarify ties (e.g., same birthday: sort by time of day or first letter of first name).
2. Say "Go!" Participants move and communicate silently using gestures, miming, finger numbers, height comparisons, or improvised signals. They should collaborate to establish anchors (extremes) and fill in the middle.
3. Encourage participants to self-organize: form quick sub-groups, compare values, and insert themselves into the evolving line. Silent leaders may emerge to coordinate traffic.
4. When the group believes they are correct, they signal completion by raising hands or freezing in place.
5. Verify: starting from one end, have each person briefly speak (now allowed) to announce their value. Correct any errors by quickly resequencing. Celebrate, debrief learnings in 30–60 seconds, then move to the next round with a new criterion.

Rules

1. No speaking, whispering, writing, or typing during the arranging phase. Only gestures and nonverbal signals.
2. Respect personal space; ask for consent before any physical contact. Move carefully and avoid blocking exits.
3. Stay in a single-file line; keep the orientation consistent (low-to-high or A-to-Z as declared).
4. Participation choice: if a criterion feels sensitive, participants may quietly step aside or substitute a neutral placeholder (facilitator provides an alternative like favorite color length A–Z).
5. Time cap: 5–10 minutes per round to maintain energy.

Tips

• Start simple (height, birth month), then increase complexity (middle name alphabet, years of experience).
• Use clear end markers and repeat the direction ("January here → December there").
• Suggest silent strategies: show numbers with fingers, draw invisible letters in the air, stand tall/low, or create mini huddles that merge into the main line.
• For large groups, designate 2–3 silent "traffic coordinators" who point and wave people into position.
• Debrief quickly: What nonverbal strategies worked? Who coordinated? How did the team handle ambiguity?

Variations

• Reverse Order Twist: Midway, flip the order on the facilitator’s signal without speaking.
• Double Criteria: Sort by primary criterion, then sub-sort ties by a second (e.g., birthday, then alphabetical by first name).
• Timed Tournament: Run multiple short rounds, aiming to beat the previous verification time.
• Cross-Team Heat: Small teams line up separately, then merge silently into one master line.
• Accessibility Adaptation: Allow simple props like colored cards or number tokens (still no text) to enhance clarity without breaking the no-talking rule.