Follow Me Copy Clap Ice-Breaker

Follow Me Copy Clap Ice-Breaker is a simple and engaging infectious activity that will generate lots of energy and is bound to get the attention of everyone in the group. A no set-up activity that requires no props. It doesn’t get much better than that.

To get the game going, start by remaining completely silent. Try to gain the attention of a few people in the group around you, and suddenly begin with a very convincing single simple clap. You will need to ensure that it is very loud, so everybody can heat it.

As soon as the group, become aware of your non-verbal cues, they will begin to respond and will join in with a clap.

Now, continue and clap twice, the group should soon follow suit. Then clap three times and wait for the same result. Clearly, the group has now cottoned on to your game.  At this stage, you can start by making it more interesting by performing a series of more complicated gestures. For example, slap your left hand on your right arm, or slap your feet or your thighs. Continue on like this until the group is unable to keep up with you due to their laughter.

You can end the exercise with a series of claps that transform into applause from the group. You now have the group’s undivided attention, with a smile on their faces and, of course, very keen to find out what you have planned next.

Useful Framing Ideas for this Group Activity

Make use of this game when you need to grab a group’s attention, but you don’t want to make any verbal cues (refer to the Variations below). 

This is an excellent exercise to use when you want to open an event. The activity is perfect when the room is full of people, just waiting with anticipation for the games to begin.  

Follow Me Copy Clap Step-by-Step Instructions

• Get the attention of a few people who are in your immediate vicinity and begin with a very convincing single clap.
• A number of people around you, seeing what you are doing without any verbal cues, will also respond with one single clap.
• Continue and clap twice, watch to see if more people in the group have cottoned on and joined in.
• Start introducing some more complex cues, such as slapping your hand onto other parts of your body. Encouraging the group to imitate your actions.
• You can now end the exercise with a series of claps that transform into applause from the group.

Debriefing Follow Me Copy Clap Activity

This is a perfect exercise to use when you have a fairly large group who are very noisy, and you need to get their attention. Once you try it, you will find it works like a charm. 

This very short game is always fun to play, but it also has some lessons. You can learn things like leadership, observation skills, and listening etc. 

Remember that this exercise is done without any introduction or display and needs no planning up front. However, you need to be careful with your group, as well as the timing, you need to make sure your group is ready for this type of activity. So, if your group is ready and waiting to be entertained, they will automatically follow you as you lead them along. In other cases, such as a younger teenage group, you might find them far less responsive, unless they feel your actions are worth it.

Reflection Questions to ask

Here are some questions to ask the group, which will help them to process their experience of playing the ice-breaker game of  ‘Copy Claps’:

• Right at the beginning, what were your thoughts?
• Did it take you long to work out what was going on?
• Did you see anyone that was not willing to participating?
• What did it feel like to be copying the leader’s cues?
• How would it feel if your group was able to participate in a similar gesture?

Popular Variations of Follow Me Copy Clap Ice-Breaker

• Cacophony of Sounds: In this game, you have no limits; you can use various sounds, shouting, slaps, whatever increases the fun and laughter.
• Attention Grabber: Ask the group if they can hear the one clap (clap), then make it two claps (clap, clap) and then three (clap, clap, and clap) and so on. It won’t take very long before your group catches on and you have their attention.