Whether at camp, an after-school club, or any group get together, it’s great to have a few fun icebreaker activities and games up your sleeve! They’re a great way to help kids make new friends and feel comfortable in new settings.
So if you’re on the hunt for the perfect getting-to-know-you activity for your next event, check out this ultimate guide to icebreakers for kids. These have been vetted by the fun experts at iD Tech, and I can speak from personal experience that there’s something for every age group, energy level, time frame, and supply list here.
Icebreakers & Get to Know You Games for Kids
These time-tested icebreaker games are great for elementary and early middle school kids. They’ll get your group laughing, moving, and having a blast!
1. Alphabet Name Game
Make a circle facing one another. The first player must state an adjective that has the same first letter as the first letter in their first name, followed by their first name (ex. Preposterous Pete). The next player states their name combination and then all of the combination names that preceded them. After completing the circle, all of the players have a chance to show off their ability to perfectly recite the names in order.
Stay in the circle and pay attention! A great twist is having the players rearrange themselves and try to remember all of the names!
2. Elephant Giraffe Unicorn
Arrange your students into a circle with one student in the middle. The person in the center acts as the Pointer, and they will call out an animal and point to any individual in the circle. The person that is pointed at, as well as the person on each side of him/her will have to coordinate their actions and make each animal as described below:
Elephant: center person will stick both arms out in front of their "nose" to form a trunk. The persons on the left and right will form the "ears" by placing one hand near the center person's hip and the other by their head.
Giraffe: center person will place their hands directly over their head to form the tall "neck." Outside persons will lean over and touch the middle person's toes, forming the "legs."
Unicorn: center person will make a horn on their head with their finger. Outside persons will arch their arms to form a rainbow.
Each group has until the count of five to get into positions. If they are unable to do so, the last person to get into position will become the Pointer.
3. On-the-Spot Story
Get those creative juices flowing! Sit with a small group and spend 10 minutes creating a story on the spot. Each person contributes one sentence of the story, and the only rules (aside from only adding appropriate content) is that the story must continue for the allotted amount of time. The story can be silly, adventurous, or go wherever kids’ imaginations take them!
4. Who am I ?
To play this game, every player is given a note card with a word (a celebrity, movie/book character, be creative!) on it. This word is their new identity. No one can look at their own card. Every player tapes the card, or just holds it to his or her forehead to prevent peeking.
All the players may then mingle and ask 'yes or no' questions to all the other players about themselves. You can change the 'yes or no' rule so long as no one asks 'what am I?' The other option is that they have a short conversation with each other player, addressing them as though they are the thing on their card to give them hints. (This is better with older players who are more crafty with their word choice.)
You can't ask more than one question to anyone until you've asked everyone else at least once. Once everyone thinks they know who they are or until enough time seems to have passed, the game ends and players can volunteer to say who/what they think they are. Finally, they can look at their cards and have a good laugh!
5. Look up/Look down
This is a short fun way of mixing up the group a bit. All of the players stand facing one another in a circle. When they make full eye contact with a person across the circle, they scream/make a dramatic reaction, and they’re out. Continue until there are two victors!
6. Trust Walk
Ask group members to pair up and then explain the trust walk: one partner will shut their eyes or be blindfolded. The other will be their guide, and lead them with verbal instructions around the space. Encourage them to explore unusual areas where the air might feel different. Have all pairs return after a specified time and switch roles.
7. Helium Stack
For helium stack, participants will work as a team to move the object (slow and steady finishes this game!).
A Hula Hoop or Wooden Pole is placed at the center of the group, and every player puts a single finger on the bottom of the object. The game begins once the object is above the groups' heads, and players need to carefully lower the object to below their knees and back above their heads without having a single finger leave the object.
Once a player's finger leaves the object - even for a moment - the game starts completely over again. After a group gets the hang of it, try timing them to see if they can beat their own score.
8. Quick Picks
This is a simple competitive activity that will really get kids thinking. The players stand in a circle facing inward with one player as "It" in the center. "It" is given a category from the facilitator and must come up with as many items that fit that category as possible. While the one who is "It" is listing items, the group passes a soft sphere around the circle as quickly as possible. Once the soft sphere has completed one revolution, "It" must stop and the score is tallied. The category is changed and a new "It" is chosen until everyone has had a chance—who can score the highest?
9. The Wild Wind Blows If…
For this one, everyone stands in a circle with one person in the middle of the circle. That person says a fact about themselves, such as “The wild wind blows if you have a sister.” Then, everyone in the circle who has a sister/the stated fun fact applies to them runs to find a new spot in the circle. The person without a spot shares the next fact!
- Icebreaker activities can help teachers establish a positive and engaging classroom environment from the beginning of the class. This can lead to better classroom management as students are more focused and attentive.
- Icebreakers are designed to capture students' interest and actively involve them in the learning process. When students are engaged, they are more likely to concentrate and participate actively in subsequent lessons.
- Icebreakers often involve personal sharing and interactions between students and teachers. This can foster a stronger teacher-student relationship and create a supportive classroom atmosphere, which positively impacts student motivation and concentration.
- Icebreakers provide opportunities for teachers to learn more about their students' interests, backgrounds, and experiences. This knowledge can be used to tailor future lessons and make them more relevant and engaging, increasing student motivation and concentration.
- Icebreaker activities can help students transition from a state of distraction or disengagement to a focused and attentive mindset. By capturing their interest and activating their minds, icebreakers prepare students for the learning ahead, enhancing their concentration.
- Icebreakers create a positive and enjoyable learning environment. They can boost students' motivation to participate in class activities, contribute to discussions, and complete tasks. Increased motivation leads to improved concentration and learning outcomes.
- Icebreakers promote a sense of belonging and connectedness among students. By encouraging interaction, collaboration, and the sharing of experiences, students feel more comfortable and connected in the classroom. This positive social environment contributes to improved concentration and motivation.
- Icebreakers can help alleviate student anxiety, especially at the beginning of the school year or when students are entering a new classroom or joining a new group. When anxiety is reduced, students are better able to focus and engage in learning activities.
