For teachers, learning the names of students can be a daunting task, whether there are 20 students or 120. For kids, making new friends can be just as hard. Icebreakers, or getting-to-know-you activities, can make the first day of school less stressful for everyone.
Acrostic Poems
This activity requires students to write acrostic poems using their first names as guides. For each letter of the name, students have to come up with a word or phrase that begins with that letter and describes them.
For example:
- S - Sweet
- A - Athlete
- R- Reader
- A - Asks a lot of questions
- H - Helps at homeless shelter
The poems can be written on construction paper and decorated. Students then take turns sharing their poems with the rest of the class. Hang the poems around the room when done.
Six Word Life Stories
Students may find this activity challenging, but it is fun. Author Ernest Hemingway once wrote a six word story:
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
Following in this style, students will write about their lives using only six words. The story can be one sentence or broken into two.
For example:
- Two kids in college. I'm broke.
- Summer was great. Traveled to Italy.
- Youngest child means I am spoiled.
- Love to read. Books are awesome.
Once students have written and shared, their stories could be compiled into a class book.
Social Networking Page
Whether it's Facebook or MySpace, many students have their own page on a social networking site, or at least know about the sites. With this activity, students will design their own profile page on a piece of card stock or construction paper.
Things to include:
- a photograph
- basic information: where they were born, siblings, age
- education: schools attended
- activities
- interests
- music
- books
- movies
This may take two solid periods, or it can be assigned as homework.
People Bingo
This is a twist on a popular game. Bingo cards are made up ahead of time and include categories rather than letters and numbers. A total of 25 spaces will have to be filled. Some examples of categories are:
- traveled out of the country this summer
- is an only child
- does not like chocolate
- has read all the Harry Potter books
- likes scary movies
- speaks more than one language
- has broken a bone
- plays a sport
- doesn't like roller coasters
- free Space
Students are to walk around the class and find others who fit into those categories. Those students must initial the boxes. Depending on the number of students in the class, some may have to sign off on more than one of the categories.
The first day of school does not have to be stressful for students. While many of them may already be friends, some enter class not knowing anyone. Icebreaker activities like acrostic poems, six word life stories, social networking pages, or bingo, will give students and teachers a chance to get to know each other and set a positive and friendly tone for the school year.
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Doris Keeler - Doris is an 8th grade language arts teacher who specializes in teaching students the art of writing. Under her direction, the writing plan ...
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