Icebreakers: A cool way to warm up!

Credit: Text adapted from a presentation by Sarah Clifton (MEd)

This page covers:

What an icebreaker is and why we use them
Examples of different icebreakers

Why do we use Icebreakers?

• ease people into a learning situation or group meeting
• create a positive group atmosphere
• help people relax & get to know one another
• break down social barriers
• energise and motivate
• help people “think outside the box”

What is key to a good icebreaker?

• involves students learning something about each other, including
names
• no/minimal props necessary
• gets lots of students talking at the same time
• encourages students to talk to many different people
• involves movement
• doesn’t take more than 10–15 minutes

Categories of icebreakers

• Energising: bring people together at the start of a long
session
• Discussion: setting up discussion topics and getting
students focused on a talking point
• Information: introducing new groups of people to one
another e.g. learning each other’s names, getting
around campus
• Teambuilding: encouraging a team to form a bond

Final Thoughts

• Great variety of icebreakers to suit different needs/contexts
• Match it to the learning outcome
• Avoid activities that make people uncomfortable
• Provide plenty of time for the icebreaker
• People have mixed feelings about icebreaker so make the activity purposeful
• Acknowledge the awkwardness
• Encourage students to ask each other questions – you may need to model
this
• Make up your own icebreakers too!

Here are some examples of icebreakers that you can use in your classroom.

Resource Credits

https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=7582
https://www.icebreakers.ws/
https://www.mwls.com/icebreakers
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/learning-teaching/support/course-design/group-work/staff-section/setting-the-
scene/icebreakers