Active Intros

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Energize a group physically while reviewing names through simultaneous movement and gesture.

Use it when: Use at the start of a meeting or after long seated work when people need a fast physical break.

Skip it when: Skip when participants require low-stimulus environments, prefer not to move physically, or when space is too tight for arm movements.

Group arrangement: Whole group working simultaneously, standing or seated with personal space.

Timing: Playmeo lists 1 to 2 minutes for the spelling round. UWT allocates 5 minutes to allow setup, seated options, execution, and a brief 2-minute debrief.

Materials and tools

• 1 display slide or printed chart showing letters A through Z with assigned actions

Before participants arrive

1. Display the alphabet movement key on a screen or large poster where everyone can see it clearly.
2. Check that each person has at least arm's length of clear space around them.

Say this to open

Take a look at the alphabet key on the screen. Each letter has an assigned action or sound. When I say go, spell your preferred first name by doing the movements for each letter in order. Everyone will do this at the same time. You can move standing or seated, adapt any gesture to suit your body, or simply tap out the rhythm if you prefer.

How to run it

1. Introduce movement key 1 minutes

   Display the alphabet chart. Demonstrate two example letters (such as A: clap hands overhead, and B: touch toes or touch knees). Remind people that they can adjust, seat, or substitute any movement.

2. Spell names in parallel 1 minutes

   Call start. Everyone spells their first name simultaneously using the movements on the chart. Allow roughly 30 to 45 seconds until all participants have finished their name.

3. Partner check or optional second round 1 minutes

   Invite participants to turn to a neighbor and spell just their initials or their partner's first name using the chart movements.

4. Whole-group debrief 2 minutes

   Bring the group back together. Ask 2 or 3 volunteers to comment on the shift in room energy or note an interesting movement.

Debrief questions

• Which letters turned out to be the most surprising or energetic to perform?
• How did shifting from sitting to movement alter your readiness for today's work?

Finished output: Completion of personal name movement sequence across the room without recorded work products.

Remote

Display the alphabet chart on screen share. Ask attendees to turn cameras on if comfortable. Run the 30-second spelling round simultaneously with microphones muted to prevent audio clipping, then invite verbal reactions.

Hybrid

Display the alphabet chart both on the room screen and screen share. Remote and in-person participants execute their movements at the same time. Take one debrief comment from in-room and one from online.

Access and participation choices

• Seated variations provided for all movements (e.g., shoulder rolls instead of jumping, desk taps instead of foot stomps).
• Participants may choose a shorter nickname, initials, or opt to observe without physical action.

If the session gets stuck

Participants feel awkward or self-conscious doing physical movements.

Emphasize that everyone acts at the same exact time, meaning nobody is isolated or under observation.

A participant has limited mobility or injury.

State before starting that any movement can be replaced by small finger gestures, gentle nodding, or simply calling out the sounds.

Terms used here

• Alphabet movement key: A reference chart pairing each letter from A to Z with a specific gesture, posture, or sound.