Build Confidence5 min Low None
One Word Whip
Everyone contributes exactly one word — no more, no less.
Lowers the stakes of speaking by making every contribution equal and tiny.
Instructions
Stand or sit in a circle. You're building a sentence together, one word at a time, going around the circle. Each person says one word — no hesitation, no skipping. The sentence doesn't need to make sense. Do 3–4 rounds. Debrief: what made it feel scary? What made it easier?
Classroom timer
5:00
Best used when
Early in a term or when students are reluctant to volunteer answers.
Variation
Build a story instead of a sentence — each word continues a narrative.
Time
5 min
Noise
Low
Prep
None
How did it go?
Quick evaluation — helps you find what works again.