Mumble Mumble

Engage (What you need to know)

• Ages 

  • 10+

• You will need 

  • A large group of people

  • A loud voice

• Participants 

  • 10+

• Time frame 

  • 5 minutes to whenever folks get bored

• Purpose

  • This game is to serve as an ice breaker for a large group of people that might not know each other to get a little bit more comfortable with one another. It is an easy way to get big groups of people up and moving and interacting with one another as a fast brain break. It is meant to be high energy and loud in order to provide a break or a fun activity to the others around. 

Demonstration / guide 

1. First I gather everyone together into a large group. It is very important that I cover the rules before anything else. The first instruction is that of “Mumble Mumble.” Participants will make pinching hand gestures with both hands and say “Mumble Mumble” at least three times to another participant before having to move on to another person. The goal of the “Mumble mumble” is to keep the group moving and constantly confused. As in, a person should constantly be in a moving position so that they are face to face with a different person constantly. This is when the rest of the actions of “Mumble Mumble” come into play and why it is important that a large group that is constantly moving.

   1.  Here are the five standard call outs I use, however if you are feeling creative you can always add more. 

2. For One Person is mumble Mumble, hands up like a crab. 

3. Two People. “CROWS NEST” One person stands tall, and looks through ‘biniclores’ and the other kneels directly in front. 

4. Three people. “Row the boat!” Two people link arms and a third stands in front of them with both arms collapsed to make the prow of the boat. 

5. Four people. “Captains table!” two people stand face to face, and on their left and right stand another two people to create a square. They then pretend to eat off of the table. 

6. Five person group. “Walk the plank!” Five people stand in a line. If it is over 5 people, or under 5 people, I would eliminate the entire. If someone is not able to find someone or you aren’t able to make the group, that person or set of people is eliminated. I as the runner of the game can pick which callout to do in order to control the game. If I want it to last 10 minutes I’ll try and get more people out, if I want it to last longer I’ll do longer ones. 

Explaining the requirements

• Get the group to be quite 

• Get into large blob

• Explain the 5 separate actions 

• 1. Mumble Mumble 

  • Students repeat “Mumble Mumble, Mumble” to one person and move on to a new person.

• 2. Crows Nest

  • One person kneels, the other looks out. 

• 3. Row the boat

  • Participants link arms and make a boat

• 4. Captains table 

  • 4 participants stand in a square facing inward and pretending to eat

• 5. Walk the Plank 

  • Exactly 5 participants stand in a line

• If someone can’t make a group they are out

• The game ends when everyone but one or two is left.