If you're on the FUNdoing Fridays list and have misplaced your free gift (Liner Quotes, Set 1), email me and I'll send you the PDF ([email protected]).
Below is the full write up for Liner Quotes (either set) so you can see the versatility of the tool. And now, with Karen's version, they are even more engaging!! THANKS KAREN.

linerquotesgrowthset_fromkarenwittaker.pdf |
Over the past few years I have been listening to music a bit differently. It all started when it occurred to me that certain lines in musical lyrics would be great for previewing, midviewing, and reviewing teambuilding experiences – these lines could inspire/remind participants of important moments ahead or moments that happened during their program. To get these “lines” out there to the masses Liner Quotes: Reviewing Cards emerged. You can also find a more detailed description of the Liner Quotes activity in my book, Portable Teambuilding Activities (2015). For the Print-N-Play version, here is what you’ll need to know about using the cards.
Activity Objective: Participants are encouraged to choose and talk about a quote card that, to them, best relates to the experience that is about to take place (previewing), one that is taking place (midviewing), or one that has already taken place (reviewing).
Facilitated Objective: Explore behaviors related to trust, communication, empathy, voice, community, challenge with choice, risk, fear, and rapport.
Needs & Numbers: Print and cut out the 32 Liner Quote cards below on light blue paper (I’m suggesting light blue paper to identify the “reviewing” Liner Quotes sets from the “growth” Liner Quote sets that I suggest printing on green paper – green being for growth). For long-term use I advise that you laminated the cards or get the quotes printed on card stock. One set of 32 cards works well with a group of two to 16 participants.
If your pre-planning and/or programming include giving away the Liner Quote cards to the individuals in the group you might not want to incur the lamination cost. When giving away the quotes you could have participants pick a quote that best represents what they want to remember or take away from the program, or you can have the group as a whole, through nomination or another process, pick a card for each person in the group. In any case, when your cards are printed, you’re ready to go.
Time: 15 to 20 minutes at any time during a program – maybe a little longer for a reviewing session at the end of a program (depending on the number of players of course and how much they like to talk).
Set-Up: Spread out the cards quote side up, on a tabletop or floor, so all the quotes can easily be read.
Procedure: Since my initial set of cards was created, here are a few ways I’ve used them:
- Ice-Breaker: Ask each person to choose a quote that reflects a certain value or belief he or she holds. Ask participants to mingle around the room sharing their quotes and the meanings they have with one person at a time.
- Previewing a Program: Ask the group to choose, by consensus, an important quote (or two) that will help to remind them of an underlying principle or concept they want to remember throughout their program. You might call this quote the “group motto” or “purpose statement” that will frame the group’s actions.
- Previewing an Activity: Ask each person to choose a quote he or she believes will be something important to remember as they move forward into the next part of the program, or the next activity.
- Midviewing: There might be times when your group could benefit from a discussion/check-in break during an activity. For example, if they are struggling to move forward. Scatter the cards out, quotes up, and see if any of the quotes inspire some thought around what the group is experiencing and/or might consider doing in order to move forward.
- Re-Viewing: At the end of an activity, or your program, ask each person to choose a quote that reminds them of something important/significant that happened during the activity or program. Taking turns, have participants share his or her quote and the meaning it has for them.
- Blind Find Reviewing: (after an activity or program) Set the cards out with the quote sides facing down for this one. At the end of an activity, or your program, ask each person to choose a card that is intuitively “speaking” to them – like picking that fortune cookie that speaks to you. After reading their card each participant is asked to interpret the meaning of his or her quote in relation to the activity just completed (or the overall program) and any relevant learning it may hold. Taking turns, have participants share their quotes and the interpretations. If a participant is struggling to interpret his or her quote it can be opened up to the group for its possible – at-the-time – meaning.
Facilitation Notes: The first opportunity I had to put out my complete set (at the time, 52 cards) I found my group more interested in discovering all the quotes than they were at choosing a quote related to their experience. In retrospect there was just too much information to choose from. Minimizing the choices (32 cards) seems to lend more focus to the task.
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.