45 Intriguing and Inviting Icebreakers for Kids

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Whether it’s the beginning of the school year or the first day back after a long break, getting students into the swing of things can be a challenge. That’s where icebreakers for kids come in; they’ll get your class talking and reconnecting like no time has passed. From quick questions that spark conversations to full-blown activities that build classroom community, you’ll find everything you need to restart your school-day schedule.

Make kids smile with funny icebreakers

Fun is the name of the game when it comes to getting to know your students. Kick off the school year with a bang, or at least a giggle, by using a few hilarious icebreakers for kids. These also work as excellent team-building activities for kids.

Interview Your Shoe: Students take off one shoe and use silly voices or accents to “interview” it. They answer outrageous questions like “What was the stinkiest place you visited?”
Roll a Question Cube: Students create fun and goofy questions, write them on the sides of a large paper or foam cube, then take turns rolling it and answering.
Build a Movement Chain: Students stand in a line. The first student starts by doing a silly pose or movement from their summer (e.g., “diving into a pool”). The next student copies it, then adds their own twist. The final student tries to guess what each person is acting out.
Do a Silly Switcheroo: One student introduces themself with a fact (e.g., “My name is John, and I like dogs”). The next student repeats it but swaps out a word or adds a word to make something silly (e.g., “My name is John, and I like dog breath”) before adding their introduction. Keep the chain going with each student making a new switch.
Name that Sound: In pairs, one student closes their eyes or turns around while the other makes a funny “summer” sound (like slurping a slushie or cannonballing into water). The guessing student keeps trying until they get it right, then they switch roles.
Play Backpack Charades: Students take turns silently acting out something unusual or silly they might’ve found in their backpack over the summer, like a melted crayon, a half-eaten sandwich, or a beach ball. The rest of the class guesses what it is.
Walk Like Your Favorite Character: Everyone stands up. Choose one student to walk like their favorite cartoon character. Everyone has to guess who it is.

Funny Back to School Icebreaker – Tongue Twister Challenge – Editable PPT + PDF
By SillyOMusic
Grades: Not specific

Take silly to the next level with projectable or printable tongue twister cards for kids to try. You get 48 task cards, a checklist, and card designs that allow kids to create their own tongue twisters.

Get them thinking with “Would you rather?” icebreakers for kids

When it comes to bringing students together, nothing sparks connection quite like a good round of “Would you rather?” questions. From bizarre food combos to choosing between animal appendages, it’s always fun to watch your students answer and explain their why — for a touch of critical thinking. You can even turn these into creative elementary writing prompts to stretch their imaginations even further.

Would you rather have alligator teeth or giraffe legs?
Would you rather eat pizza with mashed potato toppings or spaghetti with gravy?
Would you rather have a superpower where you snap your fingers and you’re in pajamas or listen to birds gossip?
Would you rather that you spoke in reverse or everyone had to walk on their hands?
Would you rather live in a candy tree house or a boat house made of fruit?
Would you rather have your school built like a big bouncy house but no recess, or have recess all day but regular hallways?
Would you rather have a backpack that gives you any food you want or a pencil that draws objects that magically come to life?
Would you rather celebrate Backwards Outfit Day or National Walk Like Your Pet Day?

Would You Rather Questions – Back to School Icebreaker Activity
By KJ Inspired Resources
Grades: 5th-8th

This no-prep activity includes 30 “Would you rather?” slides. These questions are back-to-school and get-to-know-you themed and come with a directions slide.

Would You Rather Virtual Icebreaker
By Creating for Primary
Grades: PreK-2nd

Getting to know your littlest students with distance learning can be hard, but “Would you rather?” questions make it a little easier. Start your morning off with one of 30 different questions, along with a blank template to make your own questions. Students will enjoy learning more about their classmates.

Spark a meaningful discussion with engaging icebreaker questions

Questions to spark conversations with your elementary students don’t have to be complex. Actually, the simpler the better. What they do need is a little fun and engagement mixed in. Try something different with these creative icebreakers for kids to get them talking.

Imagine the school had a sorting hat. What would it say about you when you put it on?
If you had to compare your life to a cartoon character, who would you be? Why?
If your bedroom were a theme park, what kind of rides would it have? What does that say about you?
What is a snack that matches your personality perfectly?
Imagine that your favorite holiday could be every day. What day would it be? Why?
If you could only use one crayon color for the rest of your school career, what would it be?
Imagine that you had to trade places with a book or video game character villain, who would you be? Would you change to the path of good?
If you could hop into the setting of any book in the world, where would you go?
Is there an animal that describes your personality? Why?

Getting to Know You Question Cards – Ocean Themed Icebreaker Activities
By Mrs Bell The Crafty Counselor
Grades: 1st-4th

Spark colorful conversation with 60 get-to-know-you cards. The package also includes 24 Take the Bait cards, perfect for getting students talking.

Back from Spring Break Get to Know You Bingo Icebreaker! (Find someone who!)
By Classroom Carryout
Grades: 2nd-5th

This PDF resource includes eight pages and takes about 30 minutes to play. For this activity, students must find friends who meet the criteria they add to their Bingo card spaces. It’s a whole lot of movement and chatting.

Back to School After Winter Break Questions Activity Morning Meeting Icebreakers
By The Sassy Apple
Grades: 1st-3rd

Return from winter break with a PowerPoint file that provides game directions, 25 questions, and answers to get students moving. The slides can also be edited to meet your needs.

Save time with 5-minute icebreakers

Icebreaker games for kids don’t have to take all day. You can build a strong classroom community in just a few minutes each morning with fun icebreakers for kids. Many of these quick activities can be repeated throughout the year to help students connect on a deeper level and keep your classroom culture growing.

Do a Mystery Bag Reveal: Have students switch seats according to a random direction you give (e.g., move two seats left, swap with someone wearing red, etc.). Pull a question from a mystery bag and have students share their answers with their new partners. It’s a quick, playful way to help them connect.
Start a Scribble Swap: Ask each student to draw an abstract scribble that represents something they did over break: no labels or words. After one minute, have them swap with a partner who will take three minutes to turn the scribble into something meaningful. Allow one minute at the end for pairs to discuss their interpretations.
Match Up and Mingle: Put half of a well-known pair in a bag. For example, one slip says peanut butter, the other says jelly. Have each student pull a slip of paper from the bag and find their match. They introduce themselves and share a fun fact.
Mirror Me: Have students pair up. One student strikes a pose while saying a fun fact about themself (e.g., stands on one leg and says, “I love climbing trees”). The partner mirrors the pose and shares a fun fact of their own. Then switch roles.
Draw a Cartoon Bubble: Ask students to draw a cartoon version of themselves with a speech bubble that says something about who they are. Hang the drawings on a bulletin board as a “get to know us” display.
Swap the Invisible Trophy: Start by giving one student an imaginary trophy. They say something they’re proud of from last year, then pass the invisible trophy to another student, who does the same. Continue until time runs out.

Add energy to the room with icebreaker games

Add the competition and movement of a game to the fun of getting to know each other, and you’ve got a surefire way to break the ice with your class. These activities work great in small groups or as a whole class. Your students learn more about each other, and the activity gives you a chance to learn more about them.

Pass the Paper Airplane: Students write a fun fact about themselves on a paper airplane and throw it to a student. If they catch it, they must read the fun fact aloud, write one of their own, and then try to throw it to another student.
Fill Your Autograph Page: Give students a piece of paper, a pencil, and a question. For example, one student might have “Do you like birds?” They then need to go around the room asking classmates their question and getting signatures. Once time is up, they share their question and autographs with the class.
Walk a This or That Trail: Use notecards to create a “this or that” trail on the floor of the classroom. Students must walk the trail, talking to others who make the same choices.
Match the Mystery Fact: Each student writes one interesting fact about themself on a slip of paper. The teacher reads them aloud one at a time while the class tries to guess who the fact belongs to.
Create a Soundtrack of Me: Students create a short rhythmic sound using only snaps, claps, or taps that represents their personality. They then share their sound with a partner and explain what it means. If time allows, partners can mimic each other’s rhythms and meanings.

Guess the Mystery Picture Icebreaker Game for Distance Learning BUNDLE
By Highs and Lows of a Teacher*
Grades: K-7th

Start the morning off right with a little mystery image guessing game. The resource comes with a massive 100 mystery picture jigsaw puzzles and puzzle pieces with higher numbers for math warm-ups. The instructions are included.

Back to School Ice Breaker Games | Ready-to-print icebreakers
By Rainbow Sky Creations
Grades: 2nd-5th

Whether you need a brain break or something to fill a little time, this resource offers eight different icebreaker games from class detectives to picture match. It also boasts minimal prep, making it easy for sub days.

Distance Learning Brain Breaks Icebreakers Stand Up Sit Down Halloween
By Cameron Brazelton
Grades: PreK-5th

Get your class moving with 20 Halloween-themed Stand Up, Sit Down cards. This fun and simple activity is perfect for in-person or distance learning, and the easy-to-follow directions make it great for any setting. It also easily fits in with indoor recess games.

MIDYEAR NEW YEAR WINTER ICEBREAKER SEL Ice Breaker Activity After Winter Break
By Creativity and Assessment in ELA
Grades: 4th-10th

Make the new year special with social-emotional learning icebreakers on editable Google Slides. Instructions for playing this game are included.

Understand the purpose of icebreakers and how to use them

An icebreaker is a short, often silly activity that helps bring students together and fosters a sense of belonging in the classroom. Walking into a new classroom can feel like a big step for elementary students, and, after a long break, it can be hard for kids to get back into the groove of learning. A 2023 study by Understood even found that about 87% of parents noted that back-to-school causes anxiety for kids.

Fun, low-pressure activities help students feel comfortable, help reduce anxiety, and encourage positive social interactions. They also support communication, build trust, and help form friendships.

The benefits are clear, but how do you incorporate icebreakers into your elementary classroom? Try out these tips to get your classroom talking:

Use as a Morning Bell Ringer or Meeting: Begin the day with a quick game or question to help students connect and get ready to learn.
Incorporate it as a Brain Break: Provide icebreakers for kids with movement and laughter to refresh students during transitions or between lessons.
Design a First Day Activity: Use icebreakers throughout the first day (or first week) of school to help students get to know one another and feel welcome.
Start After Specials: When students return from art, music, or PE, use a quick icebreaker to help them reset and refocus.
Use as Partner or Group Work Intros: Before starting group or partner activities, try a fun prompt or challenge to help students get to know their teammates.
Create a Classroom Ritual: Add consistency and anticipation by using themed icebreakers every Friday or on special days like birthdays or holidays.

Get your students talking with TPT

Building a classroom community where students feel engaged, heard, and connected takes time, and it can be fun! Icebreakers for kids help ease the transition and add a spark of creativity to your day. Pair your favorite questions and games with ready-to-use icebreaker activities for elementary, and you’ve got the whole package. It’s a fun, easy way to build connections — and maybe even make your classroom the one everyone’s talking about.