The first week of school can feel exciting, chaotic, and just a little awkward all at once. Students are meeting new classmates, learning routines, and figuring out where they fit in. That’s why simple icebreaker games are such a lifesaver! They help students relax, laugh, and start building classroom connections right away.
The best part? These games are super easy to prep, require very few materials, and work for a wide range of grade levels. Whether you need first day of school activities, a quick morning activity, a brain break, or a fun way to ease students back into school, these back to school games and icebreakers are perfect for helping students get to know one another in a FUN way!
1. This or That
“This or That” is one of the easiest back to school games to organize. Simply give students two choices and have them pick their favorite.
Examples:
- Pizza or tacos?
- Summer or winter?
- Reading or math?
- Cats or dogs?
Students can raise hands, move to different sides of the room, or use mini whiteboards to share their answers.
Why it works so well:
- Fast-paced and engaging
- Gets every student participating
- Creates lots of natural conversation
- Perfect for shy students
This game can also done in pairs with students ticking off their preferences.
A printable version is available in our Back to School Icebreaker Games Pack. Click here to see that pack!
2. Two Truths and a Lie
This classic icebreaker never gets old! Each student shares three statements about themselves — two true and one false. The rest of the class tries to guess which statement is the lie.
Students love trying to fool their classmates, and it’s a great way to learn fun and surprising facts about each other.
Why teachers love it:
- No prep required
- Encourages speaking and listening skills
- Helps students discover shared interests
- Easy to adapt for any age group
Quick tip:
Younger students may need sentence starters or time to brainstorm ideas first.
3. Would You Rather
Students LOVE this game because the questions are funny, creative, and sometimes completely ridiculous. Present students with two silly choices and have them explain which option they would choose.
Examples:
- Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet dragon?
- Would you rather eat only pizza for a year or only ice cream?
- Would you rather have extra recess or no homework?
Why teachers keep coming back to it:
- Minimal prep
- Encourages conversation and reasoning
- Gets students laughing together
- Easy whole-class activity
This activity is available as a Board Game in our Back to School Icebreaker Games Pack. Click here to see that pack!
4. Snowball Fight
This is always a HUGE hit during the first week of school.
Give each student a piece of paper and have them write a fun fact about themselves. Then students crumple the paper into a “snowball” and gently toss it around the room for a quick snowball fight.
After a minute or two, everyone picks up a snowball, reads the fact, and tries to guess whose paper they found.
Why students love it:
- It gets students moving
- Feels playful and exciting
- Takes almost no preparation
- Helps students learn names and facts quickly
Teacher tip:
Set clear expectations before starting so the “snowball fight” stays fun and controlled!
5. Find Someone Who…
This simple mingle game is perfect for helping students interact with lots of classmates in a short amount of time.
Students receive a checklist with prompts such as:
- Find someone who has a pet
- Find someone who likes soccer
- Find someone who has traveled somewhere interesting
- Find someone who loves art
Students walk around the room asking questions and collecting signatures.
Why it’s great for back to school:
- Encourages movement and conversation
- Helps students meet many classmates
- Builds confidence quickly
- Super easy to prep with a simple worksheet
This activity works especially well when students don’t already know each other.
Teacher tip:
Play this game as a BINGO game with the checklist as a Bingo card. Students then call out BINGO when they fill a row, a column or the whole card. Grab the Bingo card in our Back to School Icebreaker Games Pack. Click here to see that pack!
6. Never Have I Ever
“Never Have I Ever” is another fun and easy icebreaker that gets students talking and laughing right away. One student shares something they’ve never done, and classmates who have done it respond by raising a hand, standing up, or taking a step forward.
Examples:
- Never have I ever been camping
- Never have I ever eaten sushi
- Never have I ever ridden on a plane
- Never have I ever stayed up all night
It’s a simple way for students to discover shared experiences and fun facts about each other without putting too much pressure on anyone.
Why teachers love it:
- Requires almost no prep
- Helps students find common interests
- Encourages participation from the whole class
- Creates lots of laughter and conversation
Teacher tip:
Keep prompts lighthearted and school-appropriate so every student feels comfortable participating. You can also get a list of prompts like these below in our Back to School Icebreaker Games Pack. Click here to see that pack!
7. Name Toss
If your students are still learning each other’s names, Name Toss is the perfect icebreaker to add to your first week of school activities. All you need is a soft ball or stuffed toy!
Students stand in a circle. One student says the name of a classmate and gently tosses the ball to them. The student who catches it then says another classmate’s name before tossing the ball again.
Once students get the hang of it, you can make it more challenging by adding:
- Favorite colors
- Hobbies
- Favorite foods
- Fun facts
For example:
“Hi Ava! My favorite food is tacos!”
Why teachers love it:
- Helps students quickly learn names
- Gets everyone involved
- Encourages listening and eye contact
- Requires almost zero prep
Teacher tip:
Start slowly so students can build confidence before speeding up the game. Younger students especially benefit from seeing and hearing names repeated several times.
Why Simple Icebreaker Games Work So Well
The first week of school doesn’t need elaborate activities to be memorable. Often, the simplest games create the biggest connections. Easy-to-prep icebreakers help students feel comfortable, included, and ready to participate in your classroom community.
Looking for More Back to School Games and Icebreakers?
These games and more are ready for you in our Back to School Icebreaker Games Pack. Click here to see that pack!
HERE’S WHAT’S INCLUDED:
7 Printable Board Games in Color and B&W
- All About Me
- Would You Rather
- Tic Tac Toe – Feelings I Know
- Let Me Tell You
- My Favorites
- Getting to Know You
- Tell Me About
15 Game Ideas Some with Printables
- Similar & Different
- Two Truths & a Lie
- Balloon Burst
- Make a Line
- Snowball Fight
- Opposites Game
- Beach Ball Toss
- Alliteration Name Train
- Interview and Introduce
- No Yes or No
- Question Jar – with printable question cards
- Ask, Listen, Swap – with printable question cards
- Classmate Bingo – with printable bingo sheet
- Never Have I Ever – with printable activity sheet
- This or That – with printable activity sheet
For low-prep back to school activities that students genuinely enjoy, these games are ready for you with printables and board games in our Back to School Icebreaker Games Pack. Click here to see that pack!
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