Back To School: Ice Breaker Games

As the school year kicks off, teachers are often looking for fun and engaging ways to help students get to know each other. Ice breaker games are a fantastic way to break the ice, build community, and set a positive tone for the rest of the year. Below, we’ve highlighted some top games that are perfect for the classroom, including some must-have resources available from our store and a few timeless classics.

The 50 Best Games for Groups

Every teacher knows the challenge of finding the right game to fit a particular moment. Whether you’re looking to break the ice, wrap up a session, build confidence, or just have a bit of fun, this collection of 50 games has you covered. Designed for teachers and group leaders, this set includes activities tailored to different themes—whether you need a quick ice-breaker, a thoughtful discussion starter, or a high-energy game to get everyone moving. With options for all occasions, you’ll always have the perfect game at your fingertips. See More Here

Let's Talk Wellbeing Cubes

Encouraging students to open up and share can sometimes be a challenge, but these Let’s Talk Wellbeing Cubes make it easier. These cubes are designed to promote Social and Emotional Learning by prompting students with engaging questions and scenarios. The set includes categories for ice breakers, social skills, and emotional/feeling prompts, making it a versatile tool for fostering meaningful conversations in the classroom. Whether you’re helping students develop empathy, understand their emotions, or simply get to know each other, these cubes are a fantastic resource.

Kitchen Paper Pass

Here’s a classic that never gets old! The Kitchen Paper Pass game is a simple yet effective way to get students talking about themselves. Pass a roll of kitchen paper around the room and instruct each student to tear off as many sheets as they think they’ll need for the day. Once everyone has their pieces, explain the twist: for each sheet they’ve taken, they must share an interesting fact about themselves. This game is great for getting students to open up and learn quirky details about one another.

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is another timeless icebreaker that’s always a hit in the classroom. In this game, students take turns sharing three statements about themselves—two of which are true, and one that is a lie. The rest of the class then tries to guess which statement is the lie. This game is not only fun but also encourages students to think creatively and pay attention to detail as they try to stump their classmates.

Stand Up, Sit Down

Stand Up, Sit Down is a fast-paced and easy game that’s perfect for warming up your class. All you need is a list of yes-or-no questions. Ask the questions one by one, and if a student’s answer is yes, they stand up. If their answer is no, they sit down (or stay seated). This game can be played quickly with a rapid-fire round of questions, or you can take your time to discuss each question and learn more about your students’ responses. It’s a fantastic way to get everyone moving and engaged.

Balloon Tower Game

Stand Up, Sit Down is a fast-paced and easy game that’s perfect for warming up your class. All you need is a list of yes-or-no questions. Ask the questions one by one, and if a student’s answer is yes, they stand up. If their answer is no, they sit down (or stay seated). This game can be played quickly with a rapid-fire round of questions, or you can take your time to discuss each question and learn more about your students’ responses. It’s a fantastic way to get everyone moving and engaged.

First break your class into small groups of four to six students. Then supply each group balloons in a variety of sizes and shapes, and a roll of masking tape. Give each group several minutes to brainstorm techniques before they actually start building. Finally, challenge each group to build the tallest tower they can. We love that this activity will get even the shyest of students talking!