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Lost on a Deserted Island

Each person names one object they'd bring to a desert island — then small groups combine everyone's picks into a single plan for surviving there. It works because building the plan forces the group to actually use what people just said, not just listen to it.

30–60 min1–99 peopleEasyNo materialsIn personClassroom ✓
By Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker · Last updated February 19, 2024

What is Lost on a Deserted Island?

Lost on a Deserted Island runs in two acts. First, everyone names one object they'd bring after a shipwreck — something that represents them or something they enjoy — and explains why. Then the room splits into smaller groups and combines every object that got mentioned into one plan for surviving on the island.

It works because the second act forces the group to actually use what people said in the first one. Naming an object is easy; working every single one — the sketchbook, the guitar, the extra socks — into one coherent plan is real collaborative problem-solving.

It's built for a group with the room to run both acts — 30 to 60 minutes, and small enough teams that the combining phase gets real discussion instead of a shrug. For a five-minute agenda slot or a pair of people with nobody to split into groups, stop after the introductions — the survival-planning half needs a crowd.

The rules

  1. Everyone's stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck — each person can bring one object that represents them or something they enjoy.
  2. Each person introduces their object to the room and explains why they chose it.
  3. Creativity is encouraged — the more unconventional the object, the better.
  4. After every introduction, split into smaller groups.
  5. Each group combines every object mentioned into one plan for surviving the island.
  6. "Optional: award the most creative group a small prize."

Before you start

  • Group size: 1–99, best run in groups of 10–15. Small groups of 5–9 and large ones of 16+ both work — for a very large room, break into subgroups before you start so the introductions stay tight.
  • A quiet indoor space with seating for everyone. Arrange chairs in a circle or semicircle — it keeps eye contact and active listening automatic through both halves.
  • Explain both halves before anyone goes. One object each, explained to the room, then small groups combine every object into a survival plan. Write it on a whiteboard or flip chart so nobody loses the thread partway through.
  • Set a time limit: 2–3 minutes per introduction. That keeps the round moving and holds everyone's attention for the group phase that follows.
  • Optional prize, ready before you start. A gift card or a small trophy works fine — the goal is acknowledgment, not the prize itself.

How to run it

  1. Set the scene 1–2 min

    Explain the premise: everyone's stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck, and each person gets to bring one object that represents them or something they enjoy.

  2. Go around and introduce objects 2–3 min each

    Each person names their object and explains why, in any order — ask for a volunteer to start, or go alphabetically if nobody bites. Acknowledge the funny or unconventional picks; it keeps the room loose for whoever goes next.

  3. Divide into smaller groups 1–2 min

    Once everyone's introduced their object, split into the smaller groups you set up in advance.

  4. Combine objects into a survival plan 10–15 min

    Each group works out how to use every object that got mentioned to improve its chances of surviving the island — every item has to earn a spot in the plan.

  5. Present the plans 2–3 min each

    Each group shares its plan with the room. Let people ask questions about the more creative combinations before moving on.

  6. Optionally, award the most creative group 1–2 min

    Hand out the prize if you prepared one, and call out what made the winning plan work.

← 2–3 minutes each. the combining round is where it earns its keep.

Facilitator tips

Let the object be abstractObjects don't have to be physical — a memory, a skill, or an intangible works just as well. Opening it up keeps the exercise accessible to different abilities and backgrounds.
Reward the weird pickWhen someone brings something unconventional or funny, acknowledge it out loud. That's the moment that sets the tone for how honest the rest of the room gets.
Offer more than one way to shareSome people would rather draw or write their object and reason than say it out loud — build in that option before you start.
Watch for cultural blind spotsAn object or reference that reads as universal to you can be unfamiliar to someone else in the room — keep descriptions plain and skip assumptions.

Why it works

One object, no small talkChoosing a single item and explaining why turns a self-introduction into a story instead of a job title.
Every object has to work twiceCombining the group's items into one survival plan means people actually use what they just heard, not just nod along to it.
The pitch is the practiceExplaining your reasoning out loud, even briefly, is a low-stakes rep at presenting an idea to a group.
Listening has a payoffFinding a use for someone else's object means holding onto what they said well enough to build on it later.
HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"This is the one I reach for when I want get-to-know-you and team building in the same session. Choosing an object does the self-expression work; combining everyone's picks into one survival plan is where the actual collaboration starts — and it needs nothing but a room and some imagination."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

For teams and classrooms that want the debrief — these turn the survival plans into an actual conversation.

  1. What object did you choose to bring, and why?Reflects personal values and interests — the object is a small window into who someone is.
  2. How did your group use your object to improve your chances of survival?Names the moment individual contributions became a collective plan.
  3. Which group's combination of objects stood out to you, and why?Builds appreciation for other groups' creativity and keeps everyone listening through the presentations.
  4. How does the object you brought reflect your personality or values?A second pass at the same question — the answer usually goes deeper the second time around.
  5. What surprised you about the objects other people chose, and why?Surfaces the values and experiences a normal introduction would never reveal.
  6. How can you apply what you learned here to working together as a team?Bridges the game back to the actual work it warmed the room up for.

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Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started IcebreakerSpot because I believe strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. This site exists to make it easy to find and share the icebreakers and team-building activities that build trust, spark collaboration, and help groups do great things together.

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