96 Introductory Icebreakers
Introductory Icebreakers
Lost in Space
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course
Objective: To allow students to get acquainted with their classmates’ shared interests, backgrounds, and abilities in a non-threatening atmosphere
Method: Synchronous
Scenario: You have been living on a space station for a period of one year. Suddenly computers malfunction, and you fifteen minutes to evacuate to a space shuttle before all life systems fail. You will be allowed five items to take with you.
Instructions: As quickly as you can, type your name followed by the five items on shared OneDrive documents such as OneNote or Word. This is not the time for reflective thought. Just type as quickly as you can. Once all participants have entered their list, read through what has been entered. Then each student will explain why he chose his items.
Purpose: To talk about priorities. Sometimes person’s priorities tell more about him, than a standard introduction.
Fact or Fiction
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a course
Objectives: To allow students to get acquainted with their classmates’ shared interests, backgrounds, and abilities in a non-threatening atmosphere
Method: Synchronous
Instructions: Use Lino It collaborative tool for the ice-breaker
- Create a canvas named “Fact or Fiction”
- Share the canvas with all the students giving them access to put sticky notes on it
- Ask students to put sticky notes on the canvas and write their names followed by three statements about them, one of which is false
- While having the canvas on the monitors so as everyone can see it ask the group to make a guess about each student’s false statement.
Purpose: To help to start interaction within the group
People Bingo
Task: Introductory exercise for the beginning of a lesson
Objectives: To allow students to feel themselves in a face-to-face environment
Method: Synchronous
Instructions: Use this icebreaker for new groups
1. Before the lesson, email students asking to make a 5×4 grid on a piece of card and bring it with them to the class.
2. At the beginning of the lesson encourage the group to talk to everyone to try and complete their card. If one of the items listed on the bingo card relates to the person they are talking with, have them sign their name in that box.
- Has brown eyes
- Has made the longest journey
- Has eaten the weirdest food
- Plays Tennis
- Is wearing blue
- Speaks a foreign language
- Knows what a muntjak is (it’s a small deer)
- Plays a musical instrument
- Has 2 or more pets
- Has been to the most foreign countries
- Hates broccoli
- Has 2 or more siblings
- Name begins with an ‘S’
- Loves Chinese food
- Loves to ski
- Knows what a quark is (A quark is a tiny theoretical particle that makes up protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus. So there!)
- Loves soccer
- Likes to get up early
- Someone whose favorite TV show is CSI
- Someone over 6ft tall
Purpose: To help to break boundaries between two remote classrooms.
References
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction. (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Knox, G. (n.d.). 40 Icebreakers for small groups. Retrieved from http://insight.typepad.co.uk/40_icebreakers_for_small_groups.pdf
