--- title: "Curiosity Ping Pong" description: "Participants post brief responses to a curious prompt on a shared board, then take turns calling out notes they want to hear more about, passing storytelling turns from person to person." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/what-s-a-good-icebreaker-for-building-trust/" --- # Curiosity Ping Pong Participants post brief responses to a curious prompt on a shared board, then take turns calling out notes they want to hear more about, passing storytelling turns from person to person. **Time:** 15 minutes. UWT planned duration for a group of up to 20 people based on Playmeo brief icebreaker format. **People:** 4 to 20. Whole group gathering around a wall, table, or shared digital board. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Establish light conversational safety in a group through brief, self-directed personal storytelling. **Use it when:** Use at the start of a multi-hour workshop, sprint, or team kickoff to help participants speak out loud without mandatory high-stakes disclosure. **Skip it when:** Skip when the group already works together closely every day or when time permits only a quick logistics check-in. ## Materials and tools - 1 pad of 3x3 inch sticky notes per 5 participants - 1 felt-tip marker per participant - Wall space, whiteboard, or tabletop large enough to display all notes - Timer ## Before participants arrive 1. Clear a wall section or table where everyone can view posted notes. 2. Write the starter question clearly at the top: 'What is something strange or funny you believed as a child?' 3. Place markers and sticky notes within reach of participants. ## Say this to open We are going to play Curiosity Ping Pong. Take one sticky note and write a short phrase answering this question: What is something strange or funny you believed as a child? Write just three to five words so it sparks curiosity without giving away the whole story. You decide how much you want to share, and you can pass on speaking if you prefer. ## How to run it ### 1. Write teaser notes (3 minutes) Distribute sticky notes and markers. Ask each participant to write a 3 to 5 word phrase summarizing an odd belief or misconception from childhood. Give a neutral example: 'Swallowed seeds grow trees' or 'Elderly people run out of words'. Have everyone post their note anonymously or signed on the central display board. ### 2. Browse the board (2 minutes) Invite everyone to step up to the board or view the shared space. Give two minutes for silent reading so people can spot answers that catch their attention. ### 3. Ping pong storytelling (8 minutes) Ask for one initial volunteer. That volunteer points to a note they are curious about and asks, 'Who wrote this, and what is the story?' The author shares the story in 45 to 60 seconds. When finished, that storyteller picks a different note on the board, invites that author to share, and the process repeats across 6 to 8 turns. If an author chooses to pass, the selector picks a different note immediately. ### 4. Reflect and transition (2 minutes) Gather the group back to their seats. Ask 1 or 2 reflective debrief questions to bridge from childhood memories into working together for the day. ## Debrief questions - What made a particular note jump out to you across the board? - How did choosing your own level of disclosure affect your comfort in sharing? **Finished output:** A board populated with childhood belief notes and 6 to 8 shared personal stories heard by the room. ## Remote Use a virtual whiteboard tool such as Miro, Mural, or Google Jamboard. Post the prompt on a central frame. Give 3 minutes for participants to add digital sticky notes. During ping pong, the active speaker reads a sticky note aloud, and the author comes off mute or types the backstory into chat. That author then tags the next person in chat or names the next sticky note. ## Hybrid In-room participants post physical sticky notes to a wall; a designated scribe types them simultaneously into a shared online board. Remote participants type digital sticky notes. When a physical or remote note is chosen, the camera frames the speaker or the remote participant speaks through the room speakers so both audiences hear the story. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may post a light, impersonal example or choose to keep their note anonymous. - When called on, any participant may say 'I will pass to the next note' without explanation, and the room selects another note immediately. ## If the session gets stuck **One storyteller speaks for too long and uses up group time.** Intervene gently at the 60-second mark: 'Thank you for that piece of the story! Who are you curious to hear from next?' **A participant cannot recall a childhood belief.** Offer an alternative prompt option on the board, such as 'A strange rumor you believed about your hometown or school'. ## Terms used here - Ping Pong: A peer-to-peer nomination structure where the current speaker selects the next speaker based on interest in their posted response. ## Sources and adaptation Observed on Playmeo in an article by Mark Collard titled 'What’s a Good Icebreaker for Building Trust?' (published February 2025), which highlights Curiosity Ping Pong alongside three other trust-building activities. Retained the specific 'Curiosity Ping Pong' mechanic and childhood belief prompt detailed by Mark Collard on Playmeo. UWT added structured time bounds (3-2-8-2 minutes), explicit group caps, clear pass options, hybrid accommodation rules, and reflection questions. [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/whats-a-good-icebreaker-for-building-trust/) [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/whats-a-good-icebreaker-for-building-trust) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/what-s-a-good-icebreaker-for-building-trust/