Ask each student to write one fact about themselves on a notecard. It could be their favorite animal, an accomplishment, what bones they broke, etc. Then put the facts into a box or bag. Whenever you have a few extra minutes at the end of class, have a student pull a factoid and read it out loud. Have the class guess and agree upon the person they think the factoid was written by and start guessing!

This is my students’ favorite activity and we are on the 3rd round of factoids already!

Recommendation: Only have students write 1-2 facts at a time depending on the age of the students; my 6th graders eventually forgot some of their facts they wrote. 

Set aside class time for students to write their classmates appreciation cards. These can be signed by the student who wrote them or can be anonymous. This exercise not only makes students feel good to hear nice things about themselves but additionally helps with writing skills and the ability of students to express themselves through writing. 

Recommendation: Have students write them for only a few minutes in class, collect them so you can review them, and then pass them out the next day. For those students who did not receive one, you can write one for that student so no one is left out.

Blobs and Lines 

This fun activity was found on Cult of Pedagogy. Students will either line up or gather into “blobs” based on the prompt given. Prompt examples: Line up in birth order, line up by first names alphabetically or blob up by their favorite computer game, blob up by their favorite sports to play/watch, blob up by their least favorite chore to do at home. This helps students to find others in their class with similar interests or similarities that they wouldn’t otherwise know.

Recommendation: This ice breaker worked best outside!

Split the class into two groups. Half will be the inner circle facing towards the outside of the circle, then the outer circle will face inwards. Each student should be directly opposite another. Have a set of “Would you Rathers” or questions to answer, such as: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck? Would you rather sneeze rainbows or cough tiny unicorns? If you had 1 million dollars, what would be the first thing you’d buy? If you could have any job in the world what would it be and why? 

After a question is answered have the outside or inside group move one student to their right or left. Continue this pattern until each student has had a different partner. It’s like speed dating for classroom connections!

Recommendation: This ice breaker also worked best outside! 

Cut half sheets of paper for each student. Ask them to write 3 facts about themselves on it. Then have everyone crumple up their paper into “snowballs”. On the count of 3 have them throw their “snowball” (safely) across the room. Then everyone picks up a “snowball” off the ground. Each student reads their paper out loud and has 2 chances to guess who wrote those facts. 

Recommendation: You can reward those who guess correctly with a small treat or prize