Ice Breaker 2.0: Salt and Pepper Activity

Find Your Match with Salt and Pepper: An Icebreaker for Building Connections and Practicing Interviewing

After the energy of Strike a Pose, I like to slow things down just a little with an activity that gets staff mingling in a more conversational way. Yearbook is built on connections—finding out wh at makes people unique, what stories they carry, and what moments bring them joy. That’s why this next icebreaker is one of my favorites: Find Your Match.

It’s not just about fun—it’s about practicing the same questioning and interviewing skills students will use all year long.

How It Works

1. Hand out identity cards. Each student receives a secret identity card with one half of a famous duo, group, or iconic pair. Examples include:

   • Barbie & Ken

   • Peanut Butter & Jelly

   • Scooby & Shaggy

   • Harry Potter & Voldemort

   • Bella, Edward & Jacob (for odd-number groups)

2. Mingle and interview. Students must move around the room asking each other questions to figure out who they are and to find their “other half” (or group). The only rule? They cannot directly ask “Who am I?”

3. Sit with your match. Once students find their second half (or group), they sit together.

4. Spin the conversation wheel. Each pair/group spins a randomizer conversation wheel using a link to the wheel you create (filled with fun questions) and takes turns answering. Flippity.net is a free resource that allows you to create randomizer wheels using Google Spreadsheets, Very easy to work with! Categories might include:

   • This or That (beach or mountains?)

   • Favorites (favorite movie?)

   • and more! 

5. Share with the class. At the end, each student introduces their partner to the group and shares something fun, surprising, or meaningful they learned during the conversation.

Why It Works for Yearbook Staff

• Builds relationships. Students discover what they have in common, making the newsroom feel more connected.

• Practices interviewing. Asking questions, listening, and learning how to draw out details is exactly what yearbook staff will do with sources.

• Encourages curiosity. Staff start to see that everyone has a story waiting to be told.

• Balances the energy. After a loud, silly activity like Strike a Pose, this gives students a chance to laugh while also building real connections.

Get the Resource!

Check out the resource available at my TPT Store ELA-YAY! Creative Classroom