Sharing what works is an excellent way to get new ideas. We invite you to contribute an Icebreaker or a Tip on using icebreakers. Just click on the link to the left and send a message with your contribution. Include in your message whether or not you want to have your name published or if you would like to remain anonymous.

To get things going, author Robert Magnan provides some new Tips.

Bonus Icebreaker:

Grip and Grin
Divide your students into two groups of equal size. Have them stand and form two lines, about a foot and a half to two feet apart, with each student in one line facing a student in the other line. Explain that each pair of students will shake hands and talk with each other, as if meeting at a party or in the receiving line at a wedding. Then, after a minute or two, you will give a signal — whistle, clap your hands, turn the lights off and on, or yell, "Shift!" On that signal, the students in one line will move one person to their right and the student at the right end, now without a partner, will move to the left end. Then, the new pairs meet. This continues until every student in each line has met every student in the other line. If time allows, divide each line into two lines of equal size. Then have the students in each half line up facing the students in the other half. The grip and grin continues until each student has met every other student.

Bonus Icebreaker:

Sweet Somethings
Pass around a bowl of candy, such as M&M's and/or Reese's Pieces and/or jelly beans, and invite your students to take some. Don't tell them anything about this activity until every student has taken some candy. Then tell them that each will have to share one piece of information about himself or herself for every piece of candy he or she took.

Bonus Tip:

Some icebreakers ask the students to answer questions such as "What makes you unique?" or "What does nobody know about you?"

Questions like the former can cause anxiety for students who shy away from bragging. Questions like the latter can make students uncomfortable about revealing things to strangers that they'd prefer to keep secret. It may be better to ask your students to answer a question such as "What three things should everybody here know about you?" That focuses on sharing that makes sense when meeting people.

Tip from a reader:

On the first day, I distribute a "2-Minute Interview" handout that has several question starters at the top of the page, (i.e. name, phone or e-mail, family, pets, hero, for fun, awards, interests). Students must interview as many others in the class as possible and write their answers on the page. I allow 20 minutes the first day and 20 minutes the next. Students have made quick connections and they keep their 2MI pages for the rest of the semester to use for forming study groups or contacting one another. I do this as well and find it helpful in building community and getting to know people quickly.

—submitted by Sharon Miller

Tip from a reader:

Instead of the usual "biography" I have students fill out this survey, "The ABCs of Me." It prompts some spins on the traditional getting-to-know-you questions. Then, depending on the course and the material, I have students exchange surveys and introduce each other. In a speech class, they can give an introduction speech; in a writing class, I have them write a bio on the other person; in a creative writing class, I use this survey as material for writing prompts - they have to pick one letter and write a story or poem about it/from it. It really helps open up discussion and the students get to learn "fun" facts about each other.

A - Age you got your first kiss:
B - Band, the best one you ever saw in concert:
C - Crush, past or present
D - Dad's name:
E - Easiest person to talk to:
F - Favorite TV shows:
G - Gummy bears or gummy worms:
H - Hometown:
I - Instruments you play:
J - Jobs you've had:
K - Kids:
L - Longest car ride ever:
M - Mom's name:
N - Nicknames:
O - One wish:
P - Phobia(s):
Q - Quote:
R - Reason to smile:
S - Song you sang last:
T - Time you woke up [today]:
U - Unknown fact about me:
V - Vegetable you hate:
W - Worst habit(s):
X - Xrays you've had:
Y - Yummy food:
Z - Zodiac sign:

—submitted by Katy J. Vopal