Freeze Frame Storytime - Ice Breaker Game
π― Quick Summary
Participants tell story snippets, freeze dramatically, and pass to the next person who continues from the frozen pose.
β Why This Ice Breaker Game Works
- β’This ice breaker has been used by 1,133 teams worldwide
- β’Rated 4.3/5.0 by 67 facilitators who used this icebreaker game
- β’Perfect ice breaker for: Creative, Fun
π How to Play Freeze Frame Storytime Ice Breaker (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Setup & First Storyteller
5 min㪠Say This:
"Welcome to Freeze Frame Storytime! Here's how it works: one person will start telling a story - any story - and after about 30 seconds, they'll freeze in a dramatic pose that represents what's happening in their story. The next person will look at that frozen pose and continue the story from there, then freeze in their own dramatic pose. Ready? Let's begin!"
π What to Do:
- 1.Have participants sit or stand in a circle so everyone can see each other
- 2.Explain the rules: tell story for 30-60 seconds, freeze dramatically, next person continues
- 3.Emphasize: the freeze pose should represent the action or emotion in your part of the story
- 4.First volunteer begins the story with any opening they choose
- 5.After 30-60 seconds, call 'Freeze!' - the storyteller freezes mid-action
- 6.Optional: take a photo of each frozen pose for later review
- 7.For virtual teams, turn on cameras and use 'spotlight' feature to focus on the frozen person
π‘ Pro Tips:
- β’Encourage dramatic, exaggerated poses - the sillier, the better!
- β’Suggest story starters if needed: 'Once upon a time...', 'It was a dark and stormy night...', 'I woke up one day and discovered...'
- β’Set a visible timer so storytellers know when to wrap up and freeze
- β’Remind them: there's no 'right' story direction - embrace the chaos!
- β’For shy participants, allow them to sit and use hand gestures instead of full-body freezes
Step 2: Continue the Story Chain
15 min㪠Say This:
"Alright, [next person's name], look at that frozen pose! What's happening in the story? Continue from here and add your own twist. You have about a minute, then freeze in your own dramatic pose. Go!"
π What to Do:
- 1.Next person studies the frozen pose and interprets what's happening
- 2.They continue the story, building on the previous person's narrative
- 3.After 30-60 seconds, call 'Freeze!' and that person strikes their dramatic pose
- 4.Optional: take a photo before moving to the next person
- 5.Continue around the circle until everyone has contributed (or time runs out)
- 6.The last person should try to bring the story to a satisfying (or absurd) conclusion
- 7.After the story ends, review all the frozen poses together and laugh at the journey
π‘ Pro Tips:
- β’Encourage wild interpretations: 'That person looks like they're fighting a dragon!' even if they meant something else
- β’If someone's stuck, give prompts: 'Where is the character? Who are they with? What happens next?'
- β’Watch for storytellers who dominate - gently interrupt at the 60-second mark
- β’Some stories will make sense, others will be wonderfully absurd - both are great!
- β’If the group is large (15+), consider splitting into two simultaneous circles
- β’Virtual tip: use breakout rooms for smaller groups, then share story summaries in the main room
Step 3: Reflection & Retell
5 min㪠Say This:
"What a wild story! Let's look back at all the frozen poses. Can someone retell the whole story from start to finish? What surprised you most about where the story went? What was your favorite frozen moment?"
π What to Do:
- 1.If you took photos, display them in sequence
- 2.Ask volunteers to retell the entire story from memory
- 3.Discuss: 'How did the story evolve differently than you expected?'
- 4.Ask: 'Which frozen pose was most creative/dramatic/funny?'
- 5.Invite reflection: 'What was challenging about building on someone else's idea?'
- 6.Optional: play another round with a new story theme or genre (horror, sci-fi, romance, etc.)
π‘ Pro Tips:
- β’The retelling is often hilarious because people remember different details
- β’Point out how collaboration created something no single person would have invented
- β’Ask: 'Did the story go in a direction you never expected? How did you adapt?'
- β’Connect to real work: 'How is this like building on each other's ideas in projects?'
- β’If you have time, try a themed round: 'This time, make it a mystery story!'
- β’Virtual bonus: create a shared slideshow of all the frozen poses with captions
β οΈ Common Questions (Avoid Problems)
Q: What if someone freezes in a pose that's hard to interpret or doesn't make sense?
A: That's part of the fun! Encourage the next storyteller to make a wild guess and run with it. If the frozen person looks confused, they clearly just discovered something shocking in the story! Ambiguous poses lead to the most creative continuations. Remind participants: 'There are no wrong interpretations - only surprising plot twists!'
Q: Can we play this remotely with video calls?
A: Yes! It works surprisingly well virtually. Use 'spotlight' or 'pin' features to focus on the frozen person so everyone can see their pose clearly. You might lose some of the physical comedy due to camera angles, but the storytelling is just as fun. Consider using breakout rooms for smaller groups (4-6 people) for more intimate storytelling, then share highlights in the main room.
Q: What if the story goes off the rails and stops making sense?
A: Embrace the chaos! Some of the best Freeze Frame stories are completely nonsensical. If coherence matters for your group, add a rule: 'You must reference at least one thing from the previous person's story section.' But honestly, the absurd, disjointed stories are often more memorable and hilarious than the logical ones. Let go of control and enjoy the ride!
π Free Tools for This Game
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PDF Handout
Print-ready participant guide + host notes
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Editable slides with rules & examples
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Smart Timer
Auto-paced with sound alerts
β Step-by-step timing
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