Teacher Telepathy Icebreaker
A staff meeting icebreaker where teachers write words to match a colleague.
15-20 min
Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Game: A Staff Icebreaker
A quick warmup at the start of a staff meeting or gathering to get people talking.
Alissa Christensen
The soup, salad, or sandwich game never fails to get staff talking
A fast, funny debate game where small groups decide whether a food counts as a soup, salad, or sandwich, then defend their answer to the room. It works as a quick warmup at the start of a staff meeting or a longer activity with multiple rounds.
Why try it
The best part of the soup, salad, sandwich game? No wrong answers
Spark laughter and easy conversation at the start of a meeting with a debate that has no wrong answer. Staff can jump in, disagree, and joke around without any pressure to perform.
It's a low-prep way to get people talking before diving into the agenda, and it works just as well as a classroom warmup for teachers to use with students.
You can add parameters to this staff activity to fit the environment
Establishing some simple house rules, like soup is mostly liquid and eaten with a spoon or salad is a loose mix of pieces, can help bring structure to the soup, salad sandwich game, without limiting creative thinking.
If you get to a point where there’s a tie and no one can agree, designating a tie-breaker who has the final say can keep things moving along.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Form small groups
Divide staff into groups of 3-4 and have each group choose a spokesperson.
2
Present a food
Show one food card to the room and ask groups to decide whether it's a soup, salad, or sandwich. For example: Pizza: Is it a salad because of the toppings, or a sandwich because of the crust?
3
Discuss and decide
Set a 2-minute timer for groups to debate and land on an answer along with their reasoning.
4
Share and debate
Have each spokesperson share their group's answer and reasoning, then open the floor for other groups to ask questions or offer counterpoints. Repeat with new foods, rotating spokesperson each round.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Whole staff vote
Skip small groups and label three corners of the room soup, salad, and sandwich. Show a food and have everyone walk to the corner that matches their vote.
Classroom edition
Teachers can run the same game with students during a morning meeting or advisory period.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep the timer short
A firm 2-minute limit keeps the debate lively and leaves room for several rounds in one meeting.
Leader Tip #2
Rotate who presents
Let a different group member serve as spokesperson each round so more people get a turn talking.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
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