Object Matching

Play on Zoom or other video conferencing

Player 1 holds up an object to the camera and begins to count down from ten (10, 9. 8....). The rest of the group scrambles to find a matching object and hold it to the camera by the time Player 1 reaches zero. 

Player 1 looks at the objects and decides which is the best match and explains in enthusiastic detail why their object is the PERFECT match. Demo this part with true positivity (no sarcasm). Use your improv skills! Then the person they called on chooses a new object and starts the countdown again.

Another variation is for Player1 to call on a few people to explain WHY their object is the best match. This is where the game gets fun because people can use any type of justification to make their case (ie. focus on symbolism, personal story, etc. rather than simple physical match). Demo this using creativity and confidence on the part of the person doing the justification ("this sneaker is the PERFECT match for your stapler because it is also white, it works best when in contact with a hard surface, it and its really frustrating when you can't find it!")

In a large group, in Zoom you can spotlight up to 9 people for the person to choose between. Or they can look at the whole screen. Or demo it in the main session and then send people into small groups of 4-6 people to play so everyone has a turn to be the chooser. 

Other Object Games 

Find something...
Instead of showing an object the facilitator asks people to find something that matches a description. Find something... Blue! / Shiny! / Sticky! / Edible etc.

A way to play in large groups is to have the prompt in the main session (find something blue!), start the countdown, and send people to breakout rooms. The goal for each player is to have something held up to the camera by the time they land in a breakout room. 

If you want to keep people in breakout rooms to talk more with each other you can ask people to tell the story of that object. Even a simple object within reach is going to have some meaning or association attached to it.

The prompt of "Find something you care about" is a great conversation starter for small groups especially. You may want to specify "that is not your phone". If doing this more personal prompt, we often warm people up with descriptive prompts ('find something shiny') to get everyone comfortable with the choosing of objects quickly. 

Perfect Metaphor
Another variation is having people grab an object that fits the prompt (for example, 'something with moveable parts') and then have them explain how that object is the perfect metaphor for whatever you'd like them to connect around (ie. 'the perfect metaphor for your role on this team' or 'the perfect metaphor for how X event went' etc.). Works well in small groups so everyone gets to share.

Note On Large groups

Use the spotlight feature in Zoom to bring up to 9 people into a shared spotlight so everyone on the call can see the objects being compared. All variations of this activity are easily demonstrated in the main session and then you can send people to breakout rooms to play in smaller groups.