What To Do With 150+ People (at the same time)

One of the most common requests for help I receive from subscribers is related to programs for very large groups.

You know, what do I do with 100 students, how do I occupy 200 employees in the same activity, or how do I engage 1,000+ conference attendees all at once?

Thankfully, I have a LOT of experience working with large numbers of people – young people and adults alike. Indeed, I used to work at a summer camp for 800+ children (together with almost 400 staff) so big groups come pretty naturally to me.

Indeed, what I share below comes from a deep well of experience.

Large Group Program Structure

I think there are a few keys to consider when designing a program for large numbers:

1. Start with the whole group, possibly seated, engaged in the same activity at the same time.
2. Move into a series of paired and small group activities that invite lots of interaction, mixing and sharing.
3. Close with the whole group again, possibly focused on a short but useful reflection of their experience together.

Group Games & Activities for Large Groups

playmeo’s activity database is filled with ideas that can accommodate all three program phases I describe above. Here is a short list of possibilities:

1. PDQ Test, Gotcha, Active Intros, Story of Your Name, Icebreaker Question Exchange, etc.
2. So many I could list here, but filter your search to focus on activities for ‘Pairs (2 people)’ and ‘Mini (3-8 people)’ such as Count To Six, Blind Portraits, Clumps, The Splits, One Two Three, Gotcha, Rck Paper Scissors: Five Lives, Spot the Difference, Leaning Tower of Feetza, Pictionary, Be Prepared, etc.
3. Circle Clap, Lap Circle, and then any number of debrief exercises such as Three H Debrief, Journalling, Back to Back and Traffic Light Debrief.

To learn more about any of these activities, simply click the relevant links, or visit playmeo’s activity search engine to browse, filter and sort 100s more activity ideas.

Better still, if you’re a subscriber, you’ll be able to watch a short video of what the activity looks, sounds and feels like, too. Sign up here.

This framework and a few activity ideas will give you a useful starting point in your planning.

Tips for Leading Large Groups

In case you missed them, here are several recent blog posts that will enhance and strengthen your abilities to work with large groups:

Tips for Working with Large Groups Pt 1    Tips for Working with Large Groups Pt 2    How to Work with Large Groups & Survive

Free eBook:
Top Ten Icebreakers & Group Games

Download our free 28-page ebook jam-packed with outrageously fun activity ideas.