Ice Breakers
Fact or Fiction
To play the game Fact or Fiction, every student needs a post-it. They have to write two facts about themselves. The twist is one is fact and one is fiction. I play Mix Pair Share, Stand Up Hand Up Pair Up or Inside/Outside Circle which are all Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies. The students listen to their partner read their card. Then, he or she guesses which is fact and which is fiction.
Post-its are a "must have" supply for school counselors. I use them all the time in classroom counseling lessons. |
Zip, Zap
Have the students stand in a circle. Explain that the aim is to pass an imaginary lightning bolt around the circle. To pass the bolt around the circle the students must clap to the left or right and say "zip". The direction of the bolt can change at any time depending on the direction the student claps. The players can also choose to say "zap", and point to any other players across the circle. Then that player continues passing the bolt. If someone messes up the rhythm by moving too slowly or say something when it's not their turn. The goal is to keep the bolt moving.
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Train
This game is a lot of fun but it takes a lot of classroom management and a lot of student self-control. The students spread out around the room, and then they begin to play rock, paper, scissors with someone in the room. If a student wins, they find someone else to play with. If a student loses, they hook on to the person they lost to by putting their hands on the other students shoulders. This continues until there are two big trains with one big game of rock, paper, scissors. I know this seems a little extreme, but I have done it successfully with children as young as 1st grade.
Beach Ball Fun
Write questions about summer on a beach ball with a marker. Toss the ball with the students in a circle, and let the students answer questions about summer. This is a great activity to do in May when summer is on all of our minds. :)
Colorful Information
This is a GREAT ice breaker. My kids love it! Each student gets one Skittle. The student tells the class one thing about themselves based on the color of Skittle they receive.
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Compliment Circle
The students and counselor stand in a circle. The counselor explains appropriate compliments. Then the counselor throws the ball to someone in the circle, and gives the student a compliment. The counselor remains standing. After the students catch the ball, the student that is holding the ball throws it to another student and gives that student a compliment. After giving a compliment the student sits down. The students can only throw the ball to another student standing. The counselor will be the last one standing so that the last student gets to give a compliment. After the activity, the counseling talks to the kids about how the compliment changed how they felt.
Check My Beat
Exercise Chant
This ice breaker can lead to a great discussion about taking care of your body.
Bumble Bee Name Game
This is a great chant for young children, Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade.
All: Hickety pickety bumble bee, please say your name for me!
One Student: (Says name)
Other Students: (Repeats saying the name)
Teacher: Whisper it.
All Students: (Repeat name in a whisper)
Teacher: Cheer it!
All Students: (Repeat name in a cheer/light yell)
(Repeat for all students)
One Student: (Says name)
Other Students: (Repeats saying the name)
Teacher: Whisper it.
All Students: (Repeat name in a whisper)
Teacher: Cheer it!
All Students: (Repeat name in a cheer/light yell)
(Repeat for all students)
Chicky Chicky Chant
I sometimes do this chant in groups. The group gets in the middle of a circle formed by the students. There are motions that go with this chat. The students clap through the first two lines. Then the students point up, point all around, and point down during the last three lines.
Hey there (student's name/group), you're a really cool cat! You got a lot of this and a lot of that!
We all think that you're really neat, so come on in and do the chicky chicky beat!
And up...chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky
All around...chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky
And down...chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky
We all think that you're really neat, so come on in and do the chicky chicky beat!
And up...chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky
All around...chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky
And down...chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky, chicky