Fine Line Playing Card Activity List
created by We!™ in collaboration with Nate Folan
This list is merely intended to spark creative ideas for you to create fun and meaningful
experiences with this creative deck of playing cards. Like most engaging experiences, these activities are
difficult to translate into text. There is no correct way to facilitate these experiences. Play. Explore. And
feel free to make mistakes.
1. Unofficial Start​
- As group members arrive, invite
them to make sense of the pile of cards by sorting
them into categories. As time goes on, you can
introduce additional information as hints toward
the solution (i.e., these cards are a regular deck of
playing cards in pictures and words).
2. Lineups​
- Each person gets one card then give
instructions to get into a specific order based on
(all orders can dependent on group definitions):
a. size of object or concept depicted in card
b. numerical value
c. alphabetical
3. Swapping Lineups​
- Each person gets a random
card. Invite people to get in order as quickly as
possible. Swap out for new cards and aim to beat
that time after re-strategizing a new group process.
4. Communication Organization​
- Offer very simple directions for this activity: get in the correct
order ​
without showing anyone else your card​
. This activity can invite confusion, communication, and
several creative solutions that will create the need for clear decision making.
5. Forehead Find​
- Invite a group to wander around a space until the facilitator calls out “STOP.” This
is everyone’s cue to hold their card up to their forehead. At this point, instructions can be given to
find all the people of the same suit, number, or object size. More creative instructions can also be
suggested to stimulate more interaction like, “pair up with somebody who has a card that has at
least three items in common with you.”
6. Back-to-Back​
or ​
Mirage​
- Think descriptive, partner pictionary. Instruct group to get into pairs and
face back-to-back with their partner. One person describes their image while the other one draws
what they hear the other person saying. After about 5 minutes, partners can show each other their
images, laugh at the discrepancies (or accuracy), and strategize for how to improve communication
in the next round when roles are reversed.
7. Categories/Incorporations​
- For this activity, the facilitator will simply call out a category and
people are required to get into that category based on their card. Sample categories include (e.g.,
number, suit, object color, size, etc.). It is up to the group to decide who belongs in which group
based on their decision making and consensus in the moment.
8. Storytelling​
- In small groups, grab 4-7 cards and cocreate a story that weaves all cards together.
Story can be playful, serious, relevant, meaningful, etc. Stories can also be content and topic
specific to encourage creative connection to material.
9. Invisible Connections​
- This activity is based on the theory that nothing is completely random, and
the idea that there is always a connection between any two things if you can get creative enough.
Instruct people to form a circle and make a cohesive connection between the cards held by the
people to your left and right (and a connection between them, as a person). Depending on the
frame and sequence of this activity, it good be valuable to whip around the circle inviting people to
share the connections that they discovered and created.
10. 52 Card Charades Pick Up​
- This activity is meant to be fast paced and high energy. The group’s
objective: pickup and turnover all 52 cards getting at least one other group member to guess the
image on the other side through acting and gestures only. No verbal communication allowed by
the person holding the card.
11. Fine Line Olympics ​
- This energizer is similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors Olympics or Ubuntu
Olympics. Pairs face off starting with the image side of the card facing the ground. On cue, cards
are flipped over and the person with card representing the highest numerical value wins and earns
their opponent over to their cheering squad. This continues until there are only two final
contestants.
12. Faceoff​
- Split deck in half and form two equal lines behind each. Both people in the front of the
line flip over their top card at the front of the line flipping over card. Whoever has the highest card
wins the other person over to their line. Play while the energy is high or after both lines have fully
merged.
13. Debrief ​
- Invite people to choose image that represents strength, unique perspective, goal,
weakness, past experience, story, etc. Connecting an image to an idea can be a powerful way to
communicate complex understandings in a more digestible, concrete format.