Group Studies - What Do You Want?

Icebreaker: Hear it, Smell it, Taste it, Touch it. Take three people out of the room; then, arrange four paper bags on a table. In the first bag, place a Nalgene of water; the next bag, an onion; the third, something edible; the fourth, a mouse (preferably white). Have the first person come in blindfolded. Explain that this is a race to identify what is in each bag. Each bag requires a different sense. Bag one, you hear; two, smell; three, taste; four, touch. When they understand, tell them, go! As they proceed, they should be successful, but they won’t be expecting a mouse at the end! You should get some hilarious reactions. But here is the kicker...

When the leader goes out for the last contestant, have somebody switch the last two bags so that the mouse is in the taste position. Supposedly the leader doesn’t know. Have the last contestant (who is also in on it) go through the bags. However, when he or she gets to the taste bag, she will reach in and grab a fake mouse (two marshmallows with a string strung through the middle) and stuff it in her mouth! If done right, the joke will be on the crowd! The secret is to double bag the mouse bag (the outer layer contains the fake marshmallow mouse). When the switcher makes the change, he folds over the inside bag, so when the contestant reaches in, she grabs the marshmallow mouse and quickly stuffs it in her mouth. The crowd will go nuts...