Ice breakers for teachers

Icebreakers for teachers! Here are some fun and engaging activities to help you get to know your colleagues and students better:

For Teachers:

  1. Two Truths and a Lie: Each person shares two true statements about themselves and one false statement. The others have to guess which one is the lie.
  2. Human Bingo: Create bingo cards with different traits, characteristics, or interests (e.g., "has traveled to another country," "speaks more than one language," etc.). Each person needs to find someone who fits each of the characteristics and get them to sign the corresponding square.
  3. The Name Game: Have each person introduce themselves and share a unique fact about themselves that starts with the same letter as their name (e.g., "I'm Sarah, and I love sailing").
  4. Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items or challenges that people need to complete (e.g., "find someone wearing the same color shirt as you," "take a photo with someone who has the same birthday as you," etc.).
  5. Word Association Game: Have each person write down a word on a piece of paper, fold it up, and pass it to the person on their right. Then, each person takes a turn saying a word associated with the word they received.

For Students:

  1. Classmate Interview: Pair students up and have them interview each other about their interests, hobbies, or favorite books/movies.
  2. Would You Rather: Present students with two difficult choices (e.g., "would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?") and ask them to discuss their answers in small groups.
  3. Show and Tell: Have each student bring in an object that represents something about themselves (e.g., a favorite toy, a book they're reading, etc.) and share a brief story about it.
  4. The Human Knot: Have students stand in a circle and put their hands in the center. Each student should grab the hand of someone across from them, not next to them. Then, they need to work together to untangle themselves without letting go of each other's hands.
  5. Classroom Mural: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a large piece of paper or whiteboard. Ask them to create a mural that represents their interests, goals, or values.

For Both Teachers and Students:

  1. Classroom Chain: Have each person write down a word or phrase on a strip of paper that represents something they're looking forward to in the upcoming school year (e.g., "learning new math skills," "making new friends," etc.). Then, link the strips together to create a chain.
  2. Gratitude Circle: Have each person share something they're grateful for, either about themselves or someone else in the room.
  3. Classroom Goals: Have each person write down a personal or academic goal they'd like to achieve during the school year. Then, share them with a partner or in a small group to provide support and encouragement.

Remember to keep the activities fun, engaging, and respectful. The goal is to build connections and create a positive classroom environment!