Your students receive many educational benefits from classroomicebreakers. They may not realize it at the time, but those get-to-know-youactivities bear much weight in terms of social emotional learning.
Since we’re your ally in education, we’ve compiled a list of classroomicebreakers for every grade level.
Grades: K-5 Classroom Icebreakers
Ah, the elementary age group. From kindergarten to fifth grade,children start becoming their own unique person. In other words, theirpersonalities, aspirations, and apprehensions develop during this admittedlyfragile stage. Plus, these years constitute a crucial period for socialdevelopment.
As their teacher, part of these responsibilities fall to you. What happens in your classroom can help themflourish into adults who enjoy fruitful, balanced relationships. (Nopressure.)
Not to worry, these icebreaker activities for elementary students willset them on the most ideal social learning path.
Name Word Search
Here you go: Thisworksheet download provides a fun way to exercise your kids’ mindswhile they learn their classmates’ names.
To let you in on a little secret, the teacher might also use the wordsearch generator linked above. After all, it’s never easy to memorize anotherset of names on the roster.
Handwriting-Class Roster Edition
The necessity of cursive as a cornerstone of curriculum has remainedup for debate. But good handwriting shall remain a permanent foundation. Eitherway, the good news is that you can use a handwriting exercise as a classroomicebreaker.
Downloadthis handwriting worksheet, plug in the names on your class roster,and you’re good to go.
Student Interviews-Elementary Edition
Student interviews allow kids to develop a deeper rapport with oneanother. Divide your students in pairs,and give them a list of questions to ask one another. At the end of theactivity, each student will reveal what they discovered.
Questions can be tailored for individual age groups. A few examplesinclude:
- What is your favorite color?
- Do you have any pets?
- What is your favorite TV show?
Grades: 6-8 Classroom Icebreakers
We’ve arrived at the middle grades. These students are growing up.They’re undergoing an awkward stage in their social and intellectualdevelopment. At this point, activities, popular musical groups and television,and other trends factor into the equation.
In short, these kids don’t want to be “uncool.” Lucky for them, theirteacher is trendy and hip. But most importantly, their teacher wants to helpthem sharpen their social skills. We’ve got you covered with these classroomicebreaker ideas.
Guess that Picture
Get some scraps of paper ready. While you’re at it, grab a bowl. Forthis activity, simply fill that bowl with categories such as cartooncharacters, chain restaurants, sports, household objects, or whatever springsto mind.
After dividing the class into teams, one person draws the item theypulled from the bowl, while the group attempts to guess what it is. It’s prettymuch a makeshift Pictionary.
Snowball Fight
It works like this. Students write three things about themselves, thencrumple the paper up into a “snowball.” At that point, you set up a timer andallow them to have a one-minute snowball fight. Yes, it’ll make a mess, butit’s worth it.
When the timer goes off, everyone grabs the closest snowball and hasto try to find the person the three facts describe. Afterward, students canintroduce their person to the class using the information they learned.
Student Interviews-Middle Grades Edition
Really, this one works for all grades. Teachers can pair students upand give them a list of questions to ask. At the end, each student will tellwhat they discovered.
Once again, questions can be tailored for individual age groups. Hereis a handful of examples that may work for the middle grades:
- What is your favorite subject in school?
- What is your second favorite animal?
- What kind of music do you like?
Grades: 9-12 Classroom Icebreakers
High school students. They stand at the gate that opens to adulthood.At this point, they’re mostly worried about being awkward and feeling as ifthey belong. That said, icebreakers might not be their thing. But, as theirteacher, you have the students’ best intentions at heart.
Two Truths and a Lie
This activity involves revealing three details about a person, two ofwhich are true and one that is false. Students say the three things out loudand then guess which one is untrue. It’s a classic icebreaker, and it stillworks.
Your ____________ Name
This is a fun game that allows students to brand their alter egos — e.g.their rock star name, their detective name, their superhero name, and more.Teachers can change parameters as they wish.
Let’s say one’s superhero name comes from a combination of theirfavorite color and a common office supply. Who wouldn’t read a comic about acaped crusader named the Blue Stapler?
A premade version of this icebreaker is available to downloadhere.
Student Interviews-High School Edition
One more time. Student interviews really do work for any age group.The trick is finding the appropriate set of questions to give each pair ofstudents. Here are a handful of more mature interview queries that will helphigh schoolers break the ice and enjoy class:
