Check out this list of Would You Rather? prompts or use a video with ready-made prompts. Provide Would You Rather? questions and have students sort themselves according to the two choices. Some prompts:Ĭreate two circles or spaces. Have students move to the side of the room that they agree with or prefer. Give students a question that has two options. Put a line (or imaginary line) down the middle of the room. Learn more: Getting To Know You Games/TeachStarter 10. Here is a big list of icebreaker questions to help you fill in those beach balls. Do this as a whole-group icebreaker at the start of the year and revisit it in smaller groups as a movement activity later on. They have to read and answer the question they see when they catch the ball. Write icebreaker questions on a beach ball and have students toss the ball. If you’re looking for simple yet active icebreakers, try this one. Plus, it’s good to share both positives and negatives. It’s a good way to get a quick read on your students. Your thorn = something about summer vacation that was less than ideal. Your rose = your BEST part of summer vacation. This is a simple way to recap a summer vacation, weekend, or event at school. Then, give students questions with four answers and have them sort themselves according to the number they choose. For example, label the corners 1 through 4.
Then, have students gather according to how they fall on a rating or question. Four CornersĪnother sorting icebreaker, in this activity you label four corners or spaces in the room. This is a super-fast way to take note of your students’ interests. Much like musical chairs, whoever doesn’t have a spot goes in the middle and “All my friends …” starts all over again. Stand in the middle and say, “All my friends like …,” and fill in the blank with anything you enjoy-Goldfish crackers, pizza, Rollerblading … anything! Any student who also enjoys the same thing as you has to switch a spot with another person in the circle.
Start by having your students form a circle. Use the chant as a tool to call students in for recess, a call-and-response to signify quiet time, or even just for fun! Not only does this instantly bring the group together, it also gives you a preview as to the unique personalities you’ll be seeing all year. Gather people who come to school in a car, a bus, and on foot.Line up in alphabetical order by last name.Gather people who are wearing the same color as you.Line up according to how many siblings you have.Line up in birthday order from January to December.Line up in birth order (youngest to oldest or oldest to youngest).This game has students moving around freely until the teacher tells them to get in a line or a blob (small group) according to a category. Learn more: Back to School Snowball Fight/The Teaching Kitchen 4. Instead, keep them in the classroom so students can reference them when they need a pick-me-up.
Have students sit in a circle to open and read the notes. They then crumple up their own sheet to make a “positive snowball.” Then, ready … aim… FIRE! Watch the positivity fly across the room both figuratively and literally. Students write a positive quote, word of encouragement, or positive picture (for differentiated purposes) on a white piece of paper. You can use the list to help with planning. Students work in groups to create a bucket list of things they want to do this school year (or in the final month of the school year). Print out one copy for your whole class, or break students into small groups. Use these printable questions in a fishing game that ends in students getting to know one another better. We’ve collected active icebreakers from around the web to use at the beginning of the year, after winter break, and any old Tuesday you feel like you need to reset and break some ice. Icebreakers refocus students, teach kids something new about each other (and themselves), and can be a great way to push kids out of their comfort zone. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, active icebreakers are always a good idea.