Icebreakers

Getting students to feel at ease in a new classroom usually takes a bit of time and work. The icebreakers below can be adapted to different age groups and curriculum areas; they'll help your students get to know each other and you! Develop classroom community with our icebreaker games and interview activities -- perfect for new teachers and back to school. These resources encourage friendships and will help students and teachers learn names.

Acquaint Your Class Classmate Book Report Icebreaker Students generate fake book reports with their classmates by sharing information. Create a Scrapbook Icebreaker Creating scrapbooks about themselves can lead students to studying autobiographies. Make a Giving Tree Get to know your students by making a classroom giving tree. To introduce this activity, you'll read Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree to your class and discuss its meaning. This is a great icebreaker that ties in children's literature to the fun. The Feature Story Present these activities to help your students get to know each other. Personal Mandalas Icebreaker Students create a personal mandala to illustrate how they see themselves. Postcards Icebreaker Students create postcards that reflect a summer happening. They use a pen name to sign it and the rest of the class has to guess who really wrote it. Top 10 Icebreakers to Get to Know Your Students Enjoy icebreakers that will help students get to know each other, assist you with learning names and personalities, and facilitate cooperation and understanding in the classroom. These are great activities for back to school! Making New Friends Students create name tags to help in meeting classmates. Icebreakers Printable Book (K-8) "Icebreakers" will help you promote a well-balanced, caring environment, while helping your students get to know each other. This printable book will help you create a foundation of understanding and respect in the classroom. Remembering Names Use these fun games to help students remember each other's names. Icebreaker Games What Am I? Icebreaker Explore an activity that helps students to get to know one another using animal sounds. "Getting to Know You" Game A game that helps students get to know their classmates at the beginning of the year. Getting to Know You Bingo A bingo game will help your students (and you) get to know each other better. Interview Activities Student Baseball Cards Students make baseball cards as a way of getting to know one another. "Getting to Know You" Interview Sheet Use this interview sheet as an icebreaker to help your students get to know their classmates, and to encourage everyone to get along. You can use this activity with the Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo series. Henry & Mudge Friendly Fun Icebreaker Foster new friendships in your classroom with this icebreaker activity from the Henry and Mudge series. This printable is perfect for back to school – it has a variety of questions to help students learn about their classmates.

Student Interviews and Introductions In pairs students interview each other, an excellent way to develop classroom community. Friendly Interview Students learn about a friend by conducting an interview. Icebreakers for Substitute Teachers The Five Senses - Kindergarten This substitute kit for kindergarten-aged children explores the five senses. A Visit to the Zoo Sub Kit (Grades 1-2) Use this substitute teacher kit for grades 1-2 that encourages children to explore the world of animals. An Ocean Adventure Sub Kit (Grades 3-4) Use this substitute teacher kit for grades 3-4 that explores oceanography topics through a series of cross-curricular activities. A Day in Space Sub Kit (Grades 5-6) Allow students to learn about outer space while you're away from your classroom with this substitute teacher kit for grades 5-6. Poetry Jam! Sub Kit (Grades 7-8) The activities in this substitute teacher kit (grades 7-8) will help students write and appreciate poetry. Seeing the World Sub Kit (Grades 7-8) Use this substitute teacher kit for grades 7-8 that focuses on the development of geography skills. What's in the News? Sub Kit (Grades 7-8) Use this substitute teacher kit for grades 7-8 that helps teach grammar by having students use a newspaper. Related Resources Getting to Know Your Students Get to know new students through icebreakers, name games, and first-day celebrations. Our activities and advice will help teachers develop classroom community and establish positive relationships. Popular Back-to-School Lesson Plans These lesson plans on all things related to back-to-school will help you start the year off right. Whether you're looking for icebreakers or an outline of a class constitution, we have what you need. New Teacher Resources Discover everything a beginning teacher will need for a successful school year, from tips for your first day, to classroom-management advice, to printables and lesson plans that will support your curriculum all year long. Back-to-School Headquarters Return to school this fall prepared to conquer any questions you or your students might have about the school year. Our resources range from teaching students the school's layout to assessment tips.