Spring is here, the snow is melting, and ice is breaking everywhere! Inspired by nature, we want to share some engaging icebreakers that we have been using in our online workshops.
Icebreakers are short, fun activities that help develop skills like team-building, social interaction, sharing, and empathy.  We usually use them at the beginning of the year to help forge a bond between students, and between students and the teacher.  But, because they have so many benefits, they can actually be used throughout the year for all those same reasons!
Since many teachers have had to teach online at some point this year, we have assembled a list of our favourites to share with you-and even one for you to try right now!

Here’s the challenge!
Look around your house and find the following objects:

  • something round
  • something that makes noise
  • something that is special to you

Now let’s see what everyone found!

  1. Open the Padlet.
  2. Click on the pink + icon at the bottom right hand corner of the page.
  3. Upload a picture or take the picture directly in the Padlet, and write a comment about what you found.
  4. Read others’ responses.

You’ve just participated in our very first online blog icebreaker!  Continue reading for icebreakers to try with your students!

Icebreaker

Description

Why It Works

1. What Is Your
Emoji Today?


 At the beginning of the class, ask students to use emoji reactions to describe how they are feeling.  This activity can also be used as a quick check-in during class or at the end of a session.
  • Students choose what they want to share with the group.
  • All participants who want to share, are given the opportunity to express how they feel in a non-threatening way.
  • Gives the teacher the pulse of the class at that moment.

2. Tell Us the Story
Behind Your Shoes

 Ask students to send you a photo of their shoes to share with the class.  The student tells the story of the shoes by explaining why the shoes are important, when they were last worn, what they represent.  Other students are invited to ask questions.  This could be done as a whole class, or with small groups in breakout rooms.
  • Students choose what they want to share with the group.
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Getting to know each other.

3. Expressions of Gratitude

 Ask students to share one good thing that happened to them.  It could be something that someone did for them, or something that they did for someone else.  Each student begins their statement with, “I am grateful for…” or “I am grateful to…”.  (This activity reminds participants that there are many things to be grateful for, even during more difficult times.)
  • Helps to develop empathy: different people are grateful for different things.
  • Students choose what they want to share with the group.
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Getting to know each other.

4. A Twist on Simon Says

 Cameras on! “One student assumes the role of, “Simon,” and gives instructions on actions to do, being sure to say, “Simon Says,” before each action. If they only say the command, without using, “Simon Says”,  anyone who does the action becomes the new Simon!
  • This version ensures that all students are playing all the time.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Movement improves attention and alertness.

5. I Spy with my Little Eye

 Begin by giving a clue about one of the participants like “I spy something blue in someone’s background”. Invite students to guess which student’s background they are describing. The person who guesses correctly is the next person to give out a clue about someone else.
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Student choice.

6. Scavenger Hunt:
About Me

 Send your participants on a hunt to find 3 objects in their house. Participants can show their object(s) to the camera and talk about what they found, or use an app like Padlet for them to make a class board.
(See Challenge Icebreaker above.)
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Movement improves attention and alertness.
  • Students choose the objects they want to present.

7. Pick 3

Send your participants on a hunt to find 3 random objects in their house. When they return, give students a scenario where they have to use one of the objects they chose.  Students can also do this in breakout rooms with smaller groups.
For game scenarios: Pick 3 Distance Learning Game
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Students can cooperate to find interesting answers.
  • Uses creativity and imagination.

8. One Truth & Two Lies

 Ask students to come up with three statements about themselves. Two statements must be false and one must be true. Each participant must share their statements verbally while the other participants determine which statement is true. They can write their statements in the chat (numbering them 1, 2, 3), and ask participants to respond in the chat with their answer.
  • Students choose what they want to share with the group.
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice (Asking questions)
  • Getting to know each other.

9. Twenty Questions

 One participant thinks of a person, place or object, and draws it, writes it on a piece of paper, or holds the object in their hand.  The other students must guess what the object is, by asking only yes/no questions.  The group has 20 chances in the form of questions to figure out what the object is.
  • This activity requires students to listen to each other attentively so that they do not repeat questions and “waste” their chance.
  • Students choose what they want to share with the group.
  • Participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice (descriptive words and asking questions).

10. Charades

 The teacher sends a few vocabulary words to a student via private message in the chat. That student chooses one of the  words, acts it out, and the class tries to guess the word that is being acted out.
Here is a fun list of words.
  • Students choose the word they want to act out.
  • All participants get a chance to participate as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice.
  • Some movement, which improves attention and alertness.

11. Weekend Photo Contest

 Ask students to bring in a photo of their weekend to present to the class without any explanation.  Students must ask questions to find out where, what and with whom this activity was done.
Ex.: Was it at a park?  Is the person a family member?  Do you like this activity?
  • Students choose what they want to share with the group.
  • All participants get a chance to speak as little or as much as they want.
  • Vocabulary practice (Asking questions).
  • Getting to know each other.

Carolyn Buteau and Elizabeth Alloul are both Pedagogical Consultants at LEARN.  They enjoy hosting  and participating in workshops, and love to share ideas with teachers!

Resources

Ice: Dyson, Dannielle. (2021, March 20). Ice. LEARN
Emojis: AnnaliseArt at Pixabay
Shoes: Ginny at Flickr
Gratitude : Julie Jordan Scott at flickr
Play blocks: Skitterphoto at Pexels
I Spy: levelord at Pixabay
Truth: geralt at Pixabay
20 Questions: geralt at Pixabay
Charades: Drama Face Theatre Masks drawing
Weekend photo: Netflix Night with Popcorn, Kostenloser photos