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Chapter 926 min read

Common Thread

By Vivek M Agarwal•About the Author

Activity illustration

At a Glance

  • Time: 3-5 minutes
  • Prep: None
  • Group: Small groups (3-5 students)
  • Setting: Any classroom context
  • Subjects: Universal - primarily for community building
  • Energy: Medium

Purpose

Common Thread builds group identity and connection by challenging students to find one non-obvious thing they all have in common. Groups can then create a team name based on their commonality. Use this activity at the start of group work to help students connect personally before diving into academic tasks, or as an energizing break that reminds students of their shared humanity across surface differences.

How It Works

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. FORM GROUPS (15 seconds) - Students form groups of 3-5.

  2. EXPLAIN THE CHALLENGE (30 seconds) - Groups must find ONE thing that every single person in the group has in common. It cannot be obvious (e.g., "We're all students" or "We all have hair").

  3. DISCUSSION TIME (2-3 minutes) - Groups talk and discover their common thread. They'll likely start with surface questions, then go deeper.

  4. OPTIONAL: TEAM NAMES (1 minute) - Based on their commonality, groups create a team name (e.g., if they all love spicy food, they might be "Team Jalapeño").

  5. SHARE OUT (1-2 minutes) - Groups share their common thread (and team name) with the class.

What to Say

Setup: "Form groups of four. Your challenge: Find one thing that every single person in your group has in common—but it can't be obvious. 'We're all in this class' doesn't count. 'We all have eyes' doesn't count. Dig deeper. Find something interesting and specific. You have 3 minutes."

During: [Circulate and eavesdrop on fascinating discoveries: "Wait, you've been to Iceland too?" "We all have a younger sibling?" "We've all broken a bone?"]

Team Name (Optional): "Now, based on your commonality, create a team name. If you all love hiking, maybe you're 'The Trail Blazers.' If you all play an instrument, maybe 'The Harmonizers.' Be creative. You have 1 minute."

Sharing: "Let's hear from each group. Tell us your common thread and your team name."

Closing: "Notice how each group found something unique connecting them. This is why teamwork works—we're more alike than we think, and those connections help us collaborate."

Why It Works

Common Thread facilitates connection through several mechanisms:

Humanizing Effect: Discovering shared experiences or interests makes group members see each other as full humans, not just classmates.

Foundation for Trust: Social connection precedes cognitive collaboration. Groups that feel personally connected work more productively together.

Identity Creation: A team name based on a real commonality creates a mini-community identity that can motivate the group through subsequent challenges.

Breaking Assumptions: Students often discover surprising commonalities with peers they thought they had nothing in common with, reducing stereotyping.

Research Citation: Research on group cohesion shows that personal disclosure and discovering commonalities increase trust, which in turn improves collaborative performance (Dirks & Ferrin, 2001).

Teacher Tip

Some groups will struggle if members don't yet know each other well enough to discover commonalities. Give them starter questions to ask: "How many siblings do you have?" "What's your favorite food?" "Have you ever traveled outside the country?" "What's something you're good at outside of school?" These questions naturally surface commonalities.

Variations

For Different Subjects

  • Any Subject: After finding a personal common thread, add a second round: "Now find one thing you all agree about regarding [course topic]."

  • Language Arts: Groups find a common favorite book genre, then must create a character who embodies their shared interest.

  • Science: After personal commonality, find a common observation about a scientific phenomenon.

  • Social Studies: Groups find commonalities in cultural background or family history.

For Different Settings

  • Large Class (30+): Many groups will share out, so limit sharing to 15-20 seconds per group to keep energy high.

  • Small Class (8-12): Do this as a whole-class activity where everyone works together to find ONE thing they all share.

  • Online: Works perfectly in breakout rooms. Groups can type their common thread and team name in the chat when they return.

For Different Ages

  • Elementary (K-5): Give more structure: "Find something you all like to do, or a food you all enjoy, or a place you've all been."

  • Middle/High School (6-12): Standard format works well. Students are great at this social connection activity.

  • College/Adult: Can add complexity: "Find a non-obvious commonality related to your career goals or life experiences."

Online Adaptation

Tools Needed: Video conferencing with breakout rooms

Setup: Randomly assign students to breakout rooms.

Instructions:

  1. Send students to breakout rooms of 3-5
  2. Groups spend 2-3 minutes finding their common thread
  3. Return to main room
  4. Use chat or verbal sharing for groups to announce their commonality and team name

Pro Tip: In virtual settings, this activity is especially valuable for building connection across screens. Consider starting every group project unit with this activity.

Troubleshooting

Challenge: One group claims "We have nothing in common."

Solution: Reframe: "You're human beings with rich lives. You definitely have something in common—you just haven't found it yet. Ask more questions. Where did you grow up? What do you do for fun? Keep digging."

Challenge: Groups find something too obvious like "We're all wearing shoes."

Solution: Challenge them: "That's technically true, but not interesting. Can you find something more specific or personal? Something that wouldn't be true for every group in this room?"

Challenge: Students share something too personal or inappropriate during share-out.

Solution: Set boundaries upfront: "Find something you'd be comfortable sharing with the whole class." If something uncomfortable emerges, simply say "Thank you for sharing" and move to the next group.

Extension Ideas

  • Deepen: Once groups have found their common thread, challenge them: "Now find something unique about each person—something no one else in the group shares."

  • Connect: Use team names throughout the unit: "Okay, Team Jalapeño, you'll present first." This reinforces the identity and connection.

  • Follow-up: At the end of the project or unit, revisit the common threads: "How did knowing you shared [commonality] affect how you worked together?"

Related Activities: Human Knot, Two Truths and a Lie, Commonalities and Differences