Question: What’s Your Favorite Outside-the-Box Classroom Icebreaker?
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The first few minutes of a new class can be awkward. Whether it’s a room full of quiet high schoolers sizing each other up or a group of fourth graders unsure of what to say, educators often need to step in to spark connections and get things rolling.
Edutopia assistant editor Daniel Leonard is working on a new article and wants to know: What’s your favorite classroom icebreaker, especially one that’s a little unexpected?
Most teachers have a go-to strategy: a quick game, a reflective prompt, or a silly activity that helps students feel at ease and ready to participate. But not all icebreakers are created equal. Some feel stale. Others take too long. The best ones feel natural, spark curiosity, and open the door to real connection.
We’re especially interested in icebreakers that are a little unconventional—the kind students remember and talk about later. To help you reflect, here are a few questions to guide your response:
- What classroom icebreaker activity has worked especially well for you?
- What makes it effective?
- How do you adapt it for your grade level and/or content area?
Daniel will be reading through the comments for ideas to include in his piece, so don’t hold back!
More Community Building Strategies
Check out our Classroom Management page for more strategies on building community. You might also find these helpful:
At Edutopia, we're always looking for educators to share their strategies. If you have ideas that go beyond what can be shared in the comments, visit our Write for Us page.
Thank you for sharing your strategies with us. If you have questions of your own, feel free to post them here—our community facilitators are ready to help!