Getting to the nuts and bolts

Getting to the Nuts and Bolts

This hands-on icebreaker is great for building quick connections between participants. Each person receives either a small nut or a matching bolt. The challenge? Find the person with the matching piece — and use a conversation prompt to get to know them. It’s a simple way to encourage movement, interaction, and meaningful one-on-one conversation at the start of a session.

What You’ll Need

• Enough nuts and bolts for everyone — make sure each nut fits one bolt (you’ll need half of each)
• A list of conversation prompts or questions

How to Play

1. As participants arrive, hand each person either a nut or a bolt (discreetly, so they don’t pair up too early).
2. Let them know that at some point during the session, they’ll need to find their “matching piece.”
3. Once everyone is present, ask them to walk around, test their pieces, and find their partner.
4. Once paired, they should introduce themselves and answer a conversation prompt together.
5. You can then ask for a few volunteers to share something interesting they learned about their partner.

Sample Prompts

• What’s a skill you’ve learned outside of work that you’re proud of?
• What’s one thing people are often surprised to learn about you?
• If you could switch roles with someone for a day, who would it be and why?
• What do you enjoy most about working in teams?

Trainer Tips

• For large groups, prepare in advance so the nuts and bolts are mixed well and evenly distributed.
• This is a good activity to kick off sessions focused on collaboration, team dynamics, or networking.
• Want a backup version? Use cut-up puzzle pieces or color-coded shapes instead of nuts and bolts.
• If the group is seated, you can turn this into a stand-and-move activity to energize the room.

Similar Interactive Icebreakers

1. Puzzle Partner Match

Before the session, take a few large images or phrases and cut them into two-piece “puzzles.” Distribute one half of each puzzle to each participant as they enter. Once the activity starts, ask everyone to find the person holding the matching piece. When they do, they briefly introduce themselves and answer a fun question like “What’s a hobby you enjoy outside work?” or “What would your ideal weekend look like?”

2. Fact Finder Bingo

Create a simple bingo-style grid with personal facts in each square — for example: “Has traveled to three continents,” “Owns a pet,” “Can cook a signature dish,” etc. Give each participant a copy and ask them to walk around the room, finding people who match the facts. When they find a match, the other person signs the square. First to fill a row or column wins a small prize — or just the group’s applause.

Looking for More Trainer Resources?

Check out all of our free group activities and games, or explore our downloadable training kits with everything you need to run full workshops — slides, handouts, trainer scripts, and more.