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Toilet Paper Mummy

Each team gets toilet paper, a roll of tape, and one volunteer to wrap into a mummy before the timer runs out. It works because the tape runs out before the imagination does, and the pitch afterward — explaining why this mummy should win — is where the real laughs land.

15 min4–20 peopleEasyToilet paper & tapeIn personClassroom ✓
By Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker · Last updated February 19, 2024

What is Toilet Paper Mummy?

Toilet Paper Mummy splits the room into teams of 4 or 5, hands each one a roll of toilet paper and a roll of tape, and asks them to wrap one volunteer into a mummy before the timer runs out. Nose and mouth stay clear — that's the one rule that outranks creativity.

It works because the materials run out fast, so the best ideas come from what a team improvises under pressure, not what they were handed. And the wrap isn't actually the finish line: when time's up, each team has to stand up and defend why their mummy should win, which turns a craft project into real practice speaking in front of a room.

It's built for a room where people are comfortable being wrapped by teammates and don't mind the mess a few rolls of toilet paper leave behind. For a group that's touch-sensitive, or a venue that charges you for cleanup, look elsewhere — the wrapping itself needs both.

The rules

  1. Split into teams of 4 or 5, with one volunteer per team as the mummy.
  2. Wrap the volunteer using only the toilet paper, tape, and craft materials you hand out.
  3. Keep the wrap off the nose and mouth — breathing outranks tidiness.
  4. Adults supervise scissors and any other sharp tools.
  5. When the timer ends, wrapping stops. No exceptions.
  6. Each team presents its mummy and argues for why it should win; a judge or the room picks the best one.

Before you start

  • Group size: 4–20 participants. Split into teams of 4 or 5 — enough hands to wrap fast, and one volunteer willing to be wrapped.
  • One workspace per team, with room to move. Clear a spot per team so the wrapping doesn't spill into the next group's territory, and make sure there's nothing to trip over.
  • Toilet paper, tape, and a timer — markers are optional. One roll of toilet paper and a roll of masking tape per team covers it. Markers or other craft materials are extra credit, not required.
  • A plan for scissors, if you're using them. If the craft materials include anything sharp, an adult handles the cutting — especially with younger groups.
  • Ages 6 and up; give younger groups more time. The rules call for 5 to 10 minutes of wrapping — lean toward 10, or longer, for younger kids.

How to run it

  1. Split into teams 1–2 min

    Divide the room into teams of 4 or 5, then hand each team a roll of toilet paper, masking tape, and any extra craft materials you want to allow.

  2. Pick a mummy 1 min

    Each team chooses one volunteer to be wrapped. Say the ground rule now: the wrap can't cover the nose or mouth — breathing beats tidiness every time.

  3. Set the timer and wrap 5–10 min

    Set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes — longer for younger kids — and let teams go. Supervise any scissors or sharp tools yourself, especially with younger groups.

  4. Present and judge 1 min each

    When time's up, each team presents their mummy and makes the case for why it's the best — points for creativity and theme, not just tidiness. Pick a winner, or let the mummies speak for themselves.

← five to ten minutes of wrapping. the pitch decides the winner, not the wrap.

Facilitator tips

Supervise the sharp stuffIf your craft materials include scissors or anything sharp, an adult handles it — especially with younger groups.
Protect the breathing roomSay it before wrapping starts, not after: the nose and mouth stay clear, no matter how good the design looks.
Skip the body commentarySet the tone up front — creativity and teamwork win the round, not what's underneath the paper.
Let more than one person get wrappedIf a team has nobody eager to volunteer, or you want more people involved, wrap two mummies per team instead of one.
Stock a gentler rollKeep a softer, less textured roll on hand for anyone with sensitive skin — nobody should sit out because of what's touching their face.

Variations

Themed rounds

Assign a theme before the timer starts — sports mummies, animal mummies, or a wrap inspired by a real mummification tradition your team researches together.

More, smaller teams

For a bigger group, add teams of 4 or 5 rather than growing any one team — it keeps every set of hands busy and every timer fair.

Why it works

The kit forces creativityToilet paper and tape are limiting on purpose — teams have to get inventive with structure and design instead of spending the budget on more materials.
The pitch is real practice speaking upEvery team stands up and defends its mummy at the end, which is genuine practice talking in front of a room, dressed up as a craft contest.
Wrapping needs real coordinationOne person stands still while the rest of the team wraps, tapes, and times themselves — it's a physical coordination problem, not just a discussion.
HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"This is the one I reach for when a room needs to loosen up fast — wrapping a teammate in toilet paper is silly enough that nobody can stay stiff for long. It breaks down barriers without anyone needing to say a personal thing out loud."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

For groups that want the debrief, these turn the wrap into an actual conversation about how the team worked.

  1. What did you enjoy most about playing Toilet Paper Mummy?Tells you what to lean into next time you run it.
  2. How did your group work together to create your toilet paper mummy?Surfaces who took which role, and whether the collaboration actually worked.
  3. What challenges did you face while playing the game, and how did you overcome them?Gets at the specific obstacle — running out of tape, disagreeing on the theme — and how the team solved it.
  4. If you could play the Toilet Paper Mummy game again, what would you do differently?A low-stakes way to talk about strategy without anyone feeling criticized.
  5. How did playing the Toilet Paper Mummy game help you get to know your fellow participants better?Names the actual point of an icebreaker, in the participants' own words.
  6. What themes or ideas did your group incorporate into your toilet paper mummy, and why did you choose those themes?Gets at the creative reasoning behind the choices, not just the choices themselves.

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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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