# Icebreaker Joke Exchange

Participants receive slips with funny product warning labels or short jokes, pair up to read them aloud, and note what makes communication clear or unintentionally absurd.

**Time:** 10 minutes. UWT suggested 10-minute session based on the source 5 to 15 minute band
**People:** 4 to 24. Pairs, with one trio if numbers are odd; followed by whole-room sharing

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Give participants a low-stakes verbal warm-up by reading and reacting to humorous text prompts in pairs.
**Use it when:** Use at the start of a meeting or workshop when people need a quick vocal warm-up without disclosing personal stories.
**Skip it when:** Skip during somber planning sessions, formal conflict mediation, or when the group culture prefers direct work over humor.

## Materials and tools

- Printed and cut slips from the Joke and Label Prompt Sheet (24 unique slips provided, one per participant)
- One countdown timer
- Digital chat tool or shared digital document (for remote or hybrid sessions)
- Video conferencing platform with breakout rooms (for remote or hybrid sessions)

## Before participants arrive

1. Print enough copies of the Joke and Label Prompt Sheet so each in-person participant receives a unique slip (up to 24).
2. Cut the slips apart and place them face down on a central table.
3. For remote or hybrid delivery, copy the 24 numbered prompts into a shared document or prepare them to paste into the meeting chat.

## Say this to open

We are going to do a quick warm-up with real product warning labels and short jokes. Grab one slip from the table. You will pair up with a neighbor and read your slip out loud.

## How to run it

### 1. Select slips and form pairs (2 minutes)

Invite each person to pick up one prompt slip from the table. Ask participants to turn to someone next to them to form pairs. If there is an odd number of people, form one trio.

### 2. Read prompts in pairs (4 minutes)

Start the timer for four minutes. Partner A reads their slip out loud, along with the printed commentary, and both partners react. At roughly two minutes, call out a halfway reminder for Partner B to read. In a trio, prompt speakers to rotate roughly every 80 seconds.

### 3. Regroup and hear sample readings (2 minutes)

Bring the room back together. Ask for two or three volunteers to read their slip aloud to the full room. Do not force anyone who prefers to listen.

### 4. Reflect and transition (2 minutes)

Facilitate a brief reflection on how everyday phrasing can create unintended meanings. Move into the next agenda item when the timer rings.


## Debrief questions

- Which slip sounded the most absurd, and what made the wording fail?
- What is one tip from these examples for keeping our own workplace messages direct and unambiguous?

**Finished output:** Every pair completes reading their selected slips, producing shared laughter and an observation about clear communication.

## Remote

Paste the 24 numbered prompts into a shared digital document. Send a private chat message to each remote attendee with an assigned prompt number from 1 to 24 so each person has a unique slip. Place participants into breakout pairs for four minutes. Instruct pairs that the person whose first name comes first alphabetically reads first, switching roles when the facilitator sends a two-minute broadcast announcement. In a trio, instruct them to rotate every 80 seconds using alphabetical order. Return to the main room for two volunteer readings.

## Hybrid

In-person attendees draw physical slips from the table numbered 1 to 12. Remote attendees receive private chat messages assigning prompt numbers from 13 to 24 from the same pool. In-person attendees pair with room neighbors. Remote attendees work in virtual breakout rooms using the remote procedure. During whole-room sharing, alternate between one volunteer from the physical room and one volunteer unmuting from the virtual room.

## Access and participation choices

- Offer large-print text slips for participants with visual strain.
- Allow participants to pass on reading aloud and instead let their partner read both slips or simply listen.

## If the session gets stuck

**A participant dislikes humor exercises or feels uncomfortable reading jokes.**

Remind them they can read the text deadpan or ask their partner to read the slip while they act as listener.

**An odd number of participants leaves one person without a partner.**

Form one group of three and allocate roughly 80 seconds per speaker during the 4-minute exchange.


## Terms used here

- Deadpan: Delivering humorous or absurd words with a flat, serious facial expression and tone.

## Participant material: Joke and Label Prompt Sheet

Cut along the lines to create 24 individual slips:

1. On a hair dryer: "Do not use while sleeping." (Gee, that is the only time I have to work on my hair.)
2. On a package of peanuts: "Warning: contains nuts." (Talk about a news flash!)
3. On packaging for a flat iron: "Do not iron clothes on body." (But this would save me more time!)
4. On frozen bread pudding: "Product will be hot after heating." (As night follows day!)
5. On a liquid sleep aid: "Warning: May cause drowsiness." (One would hope so.)
6. On most brands of Christmas lights: "For indoor or outdoor use only." (As opposed to what?)
7. On a bar of antibacterial soap: "Directions: Use like regular soap." (And that would be how?)
8. On some frozen dinners: "Serving suggestion: Defrost." (Nevertheless, it is just a suggestion.)
9. On a bag of corn chips: "You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside." (The shoplifter special!)
10. On frozen tiramisu dessert printed on bottom: "Do not turn upside down." (Too late!)
11. On a child's superman costume: "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly." (I do not blame the company. I blame parents for this one.)
12. On a food processor: "Not to be used for the other use." (I have to admit, I am curious.)
13. On a chainsaw: "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals." (Was there a lot of this happening somewhere?)
14. On an airline packet of nuts: "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts." (Step 3: Fly another airline.)
15. On a bottle of cough medicine for children: "Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication." (We could do a lot to reduce accidents if we could just get those 5-year-olds off the forklifts.)
16. Joke: How can you get four suits for a dollar? Buy a deck of cards.
17. Joke: What did one elevator say to the other? I think I am coming down with something!
18. Joke: How do you make a hot dog stand? Steal its chair.
19. Joke: What did the right eye say to the left eye? In between us, something smells!
20. Joke: What did the rug say to the floor? Do not move! I have got you covered!
21. Joke: What do you call a country where everyone has to drive a pink car? A pink car-nation.
22. Joke: What happens when frogs park illegally? They get toad.
23. Joke: Why was the math book sad? Because it has many problems.
24. Joke: Why did the tomato blush? It is because he saw the salad dressing!

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Icebreaker Ideas (article by Susan Box Mann, March 27, 2019).

Retained the product warning labels and joke texts compiled by Susan Box Mann in Icebreaker Ideas. Structured the standalone text collection into an interactive paired exchange and debrief rather than passive speech filler. Expanded prompt items to 24 distinct slips to avoid duplicate readings up to group_max. Added explicit remote and hybrid logistics, including digital breakout management and numbered ranges to guarantee slip uniqueness.

[Icebreaker Ideas](https://icebreakerideas.com/ice-breaker-jokes)

[Icebreaker Ideas](https://icebreakerideas.com/ice-breaker-jokes/)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/91-good-icebreaker-jokes-icebreakerideas/