What is Animal Sounds?

Animal Sounds is a partner-matching game for kids 6 and up: every player gets a secret animal, then finds their identical match using nothing but the sound they're both making — no looking, no talking. It's built for 10 to 30 players, in even numbers, indoors or outdoors, with nothing but slips of paper and a pen.

It works because it strips away the two senses kids usually lean on. Eyes closed or blindfolded, and forbidden to talk, the only tool left is listening for one sound in a room full of them — which turns a simple matching game into a genuine focus exercise, and gives the quietest kid the same volume as everyone else.

Skip it in shared or quiet spaces — a room full of children making animal noises does not stay contained, and it isn't the activity for a group that needs to stay hushed. It also asks kids to be blindfolded and loud in front of peers, so hold off if your group includes kids uneasy with either.

The rules

Write each animal on two slips — one per matching pair.
Hand out one slip per player, and keep partners a secret.
Players close their eyes or put on blindfolds.
On go, everyone makes their animal's sound and listens for their match.
No looking and no talking — sound only.
Check slips once paired; wrong pairs keep searching.
Optional: the first three correct pairs each earn a point.

Before you start

Group size: 10–30 players, even numbers. Every player needs an exact match, so the headcount has to split evenly. Works indoors or outdoors.
Prep the slips ahead of time. Write out animal names in pairs — one slip per player, each animal appearing exactly twice.
Blindfolds are optional. Closed eyes work fine on their own; blindfolds add a layer of difficulty if you have them handy.
Built with ages 6 and up in mind. The original design skews toward kids, though the mechanic holds up for any group willing to make animal noises in public.

How to run it

Explain the rules 1 min
Say it in one breath: everyone gets a secret animal, then has to find their identical match using only the sound, no looking or talking allowed.
Hand out the slips 2 min
Distribute one slip per player. Remind everyone to keep their animal to themselves.
Close eyes or blindfold 30 sec
Have players shut their eyes or put on blindfolds, if you're using them.
Make the sound, find the match 5–8 min
On your go, everyone makes their animal's sound out loud and searches for their partner by ear alone.
Verify pairs and wrap 2–3 min
Check each pair's slips to confirm the match — wrong pairs keep searching. If you're scoring, the first three correct pairs each earn a point.

← no eyes, no talking, all ears.

Facilitator tips

Stick to animals everyone knowsCommon animals keep the sounds guessable for the whole group. Save the exotic ones for a harder round later.

Add pictures for non-readersDraw or print a small image next to the animal name so kids who can't read yet still know their assignment.

Let bodies join inStomping, clapping, or another movement works as a stand-in sound for players who have trouble making noise on command.

Pair strugglers with an adultIf a player is stuck, an adult helper can walk with them and narrow down the search.

Frame it as teamwork, not a raceDrop the point system and the game gets calmer fast — useful for younger or more anxious groups.

Variations

Exotic sounds

Swap common animals for unusual ones — the harder the noise is to place, the longer, and louder, the round gets.

No scoring

Skip the points for a lower-pressure version that still ends the same way: everyone paired up.

Why it works

Listening does the work sight usually doesWith eyes and talking both off the table, players have to isolate one specific sound inside a room full of noise — a real focus exercise wearing a game's clothes.

A low-stakes way to be loud on purposeMaking an animal noise in front of the group is a small, structured risk — good practice for kids who go quiet during regular introductions.

Keeps the whole room movingEveryone is searching at once, so nobody is standing around waiting for their turn to talk.

HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"This one earns its laughs honestly. It's dead simple to run, it works for almost any group, and watching a room commit to sounding like a barnyard does more for bonding than any structured icebreaker I've tried."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

7 questions for the debrief, ready whenever you want to go past the game.

What was it like making animal sounds and searching for your partner?Comfort with silly, active games varies — this tells you a lot about the room for next time.
How did it feel when you finally found your partner?A window into the emotions and connections the game actually built.
Which animal sound was hardest to make or recognize, and why?Gets at listening and communication skills without asking about them directly.
How did the blindfold change how you played?Useful for understanding how sensory limits shape group activities.
What strategy did you use to find your partner, and where else might it apply?Turns a game tactic into a transferable problem-solving skill.
Did this game make you more comfortable around the group? How?Tracks whether the icebreaker actually did its job.
How would you adapt this for a different age group or setting?Gets people thinking like a facilitator, not just a player.