Returning to School this year is definitely going to be completely different from past years. For schools that will open with social distancing, desks will be 2 meters apart, plexiglass dividers could become the norm and many schools will have classes split into two shifts. What is a teacher to do when it comes to building a stable, successful learning environment in a classroom? Coming up with appropriate ice breakers will present unusual challenges.
Like most things this year, many of our favorite classroom icebreakers and team-building activities won’t work because they won’t be social distancing friendly. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Here are 5 social distancing and virtual classroom-friendly activities that will help you and your students get to know each other and set the foundations of a successful classroom environment.
Ice Breakers for Social Distancing or the Virtual Classroom
1. Hello, My Name Is . . .
This is a fun game to play with your students in order to help them learn the names and some fun facts about their classmates. The idea is to use this game every day for 3 – 5 days in a row or play 3 – 5 rounds on one day. All you need are some “Hello, My Name Is . . .” name tags.
Each round will build on the last round using a different theme or question.
Round 1: Your Name
Have students write their name at the bottom of the white box on the name tag. They will need space to add other words in the white space in front of their name.
Round 2: Your favorite food
Have students write the name of their favorite food right above their name.
Round 3: Your favorite color
Have students add their favorite color on the name tag right before their favorite food.
Round 4: Your favorite hobby / activity
Have students add a favorite hobby or activity right before the color.
Round 5: Add an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name
Have students write an adjective that starts with the same letter of their name before the hobby.
To play, take turns going around the room introducing yourself according to the theme or question for that round. Each introduction should start with the words “Hello, my name is . . .” After each introduction, the class responds with “Hi ________!” repeating what the student said.
Here’s a Round 1 example:
Student 1: Hello, my name is Mary.
Class: Hi, Mary.
Student 2: Hello, my name is Jonathan.
Class: Hi, Jonathan.
For Round 2 each person will add their favorite food before their name. It might sound like this:
Student 1: Hello, my name is sushi Mary.
Class: Hi, sushi Mary.
Student 2: Hello, my name is taco Jonathan.
Class: Hi, taco Jonathan.
For Round 3 each person will add their favorite color to their name like this:
Student 1: Hello, my name is green sushi Mary.
Class: Hi, green sushi Mary.
Student 2: Hello, my name is blue taco Jonathan.
Class: Hi, blue taco Jonathan.
For Round 4 it’s time to add a hobby to the mix.
Student 1: Hello, my name is singing green sushi Mary.
Class: Hi, singing green sushi Mary.
Student 2: Hello, my name is reading blue taco Jonathan.
Class: Hi, reading blue taco Jonathan.
For Round 5 each person will add an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name.
Student 1: Hello, my name is marvelous singing green sushi Mary.
Class: Hi, marvelous singing green sushi Mary.
Student 2: Hello, my name is jovial reading blue taco Jonathan.
Class: Hi, jovial reading blue taco Jonathan.
You can make this game last as many rounds as you want by simply adding or taking off themes or questions. However, it is the repetitive nature of the game, and the silly answers, that help students remember each other’s name and facts.
2. Two Truths and a Lie
This is a fun, classic ice breaker that allows students to share some little-known facts about themselves while trying to stump their classmates too. Each student will write down two true statements and one lie about themselves. Let them know that they can put these statements in any order as the goal is for the class to try to figure out which one is the lie. Although this can be done without writing it down, I have found that with elementary-aged students it is very beneficial to give students thinking time first. Otherwise, you end up with students who try to think when it is their turn and it makes the truths and lies very obvious.
After everyone is done writing down their sentences, then go around the room having students read their 3 statements. The class will then vote on which they think is the lie. After the vote, the student will reveal the lie and can explain the truths if there is time.
This game could also be spread apart over many days. After students write down their three statements, have them turn in their papers. Then as time is available, the teacher will choose a paper, have the student stand, and then the teacher will read the 3 statements. The class votes on which they think is the lie. After the vote, the student reveals the real lie and can explain the truths.
3. Playdough Power Ice Breakers
For this ice breaker activity, each student will need their own small container of play dough. Since students are most likely not able to share supplies, they can keep this in their desk or with their supplies to use again and again.
This is one of my absolute favorite first days of school activities. I love to have it on the students’ desks ready for them to start when they first arrive. Having an activity that they jump right into that doesn’t require them to know anyone is a great way to ease the first-day jitters.
Have students build something out of playdough that represents them or shares something about them. Here are some examples of what could be built:
● Your favorite animal
● Your favorite food
● Something that shows your hobby or something you like to do
● If you were an animal, what animal would you be? Build it.
● Build something that represents your favorite TV show.
● Build something that shows what you did over the summer.
● What you ate for breakfast.
After students build, then have a share time where students show what they built and tell how it relates to them. This activity could easily be repeated every morning during the first week of school, or longer, using a different build prompt each time.
4. Would You Rather
Get to know your students, their likes, dislikes, personalities, and more with the classic ice breakers that is Would You Rather. Grab some Would You Rather questions from the internet and you are ready to begin. All you have to do is ask students the question and then give them a way to respond. For social distancing choose actions they can easily complete at their desk space like stand or sit. This makes for a great movement break to use throughout the first few days of school, too!
Let the students know that you are going to ask them to choose between two options. It’s okay if they like both or don’t like either, their job is to make a choice between the two. Let them know that if they like the first option best, they will stand up. If they like the second option best, they sit in their seat.
Then ask the "Would You Rather" question and give the students time to respond with your chosen signals. After each question, call on 2-3 students with each answer and have them explain why they chose their answer.
5. Quiz Time Ice Breakers
Make your first pop quiz of the year about the class. Keep notes of the things you learn about your students during your ice breakers and get-to-know-you activities. Then at the end of the first week, create a pop quiz asking questions about what you learned. Your students will love being the stars of the questions!
You can make it a paper and pencil quiz or use an app like Kahoot or Google Forms to make a digital pop quiz. This is a great way to introduce a new type of digital activity that you will use during the year too!
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