d let the student know they were incorrect, and then identify which statement is actually not true. After the fib is revealed, I would briefly talk about my statements and then choose a student to give their three statements. If time is an issue, select groups of students each day until everyone has had a chance to share.
Click on the image to download your Truth/Fib Icebreaker
Find Someone Who . . . (Scavenger Hunt)
This activity can be found in the book, Super Ways to Jumpstart the School Year. I have played this game with my class for several years and it does a great job of getting the students out of their seats and moving.
Students are given a sheet of paper that lists different personality traits. Their job is to find a classmate that has one of the characteristics listed. You can give a time limit for them to complete the task. Also, I often announce that a student can only list a classmate’s name no more than two times. The point of the game is to get the kids to circulate and to talk to as many students as possible. Click on either "Find Someone Who" activity sheet to download both.
Calling All Partners (Small Group Activities)
In your welcome letter or postcard, ask your students to bring in a small memento of their summer vacation. On the first day of class, students place the item on their desk and then look at their classmates' items to see if they can a common theme. Ask the students to arrange themselves into groups based on these themes. (For example, if one student brings a beach ball, another a sea shell, and a third a starfish, they would make a great beach-themed group.)
Once students are in their groups, they can talk about their vacations, finding one detail they all have in common to share with the rest of the class. (During their talk, maybe the beach-themed group discovered that they all ate ice cream every night.)
In your welcome note to your students, include the title of a book, popular song, or movie. Ask the students to bring the postcard with them on the first day of school. Students then find the students with similar items on their postcard and form a group in which each tells one interesting fact about him or herself. (For students who forget, have some extras handy so that everyone has someone to meet.) Or if you are not able to send a welcome note, use index cards on which you have written the same information pieces and have the students find their matches.
I really want to try this having the students find matches between book titles and characters, but would need to use books that I am sure all students would be familiar with. I am still up in the air with this. School does not start until September, so there is some time to decide.
Pearls of Wisdom — Remember to circulate during the icebreakers and gently coach students when needed. You want to make sure that your students are on task. Also, use this as a way to reinforce your class routines and procedures.
For those of you who are returning — welcome back! And for new readers, thank you for tuning in. For everyone, I am looking forward to sharing my class and our learning with you.
As always, I want to hear your ideas too! Any tips (ice breakers) that work in your classroom? Please share!