Ice Breakers
I believe ice breakers are extremely important because building strong relationships with your students is key for them to build confidence, feel safe and create a space open for learning. Building trust, using humour and getting to know the students outside of the classroom, will not only help to better understand where your students come from, but can also help with classroom management and instruction.
"No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship"- James Comer
The following icebreakers may be translated to Spanish if teaching in a Spanish class:
1. Desert Island
Announce, 'You've been exiled to a deserted island for a year. In addition to the essentials, you may take one piece of music, one book (which is not the Bible) and one luxury item you can carry with you i.e. not a boat to leave the island! What would you take and why?'
Allow a few minutes for the individuals to draw up their list of three items, before sharing their choices with the rest of the group.
2. Around the world
The leader begins by saying the name of any country, city, river, ocean or mountain that can be found in an atlas. The person next to him must then say another name that begins with the last letter of the word just given. Each person has a definite time limit (e.g. three seconds) and no names can be repeated. For example - First person: London, Second Person: Niagara Falls, Third Person: Switzerland, and continue on around the room until everyone has had a chance to participate.
3. Funny Questions
As students walk into class they can chose a question out of a hat. The teacher can go first reading their funny question out loud then answering it for the class. Each student can then take a turn doing the same revealing a small piece of their identity. This is a light way for the class to get to know each other a little better.
1. If you could buy any type of food what would you buy?
2. What color is your tooth brush?
3. If you could be any animal what would it be and why?
4. What is one of the things you would put on your “bucket” list?
5. Who is your favorite super hero and why?
6. Who do you admire the most?
7. What is your favorite summer activity?
8. If a movie was made of your life what genre would it be, who would play you?
9. If you could be any flavor of ice cream what ice cream flavor would you be and why?
10. Who is your favorite cartoon character and why?
11. If you could go any where in the world where would you go and why?
12. What is your dream job?
13. Are you a morning or a night person?
14. What is your favorite hobby?
15. What is one thing that annoys you the most?
Etc.
4. Two Truths and a Lie
Players tell two truths and one lie. The object of the game is to to determine which statement is the false one.
Resource: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/282178732875485774/
and http://www.pinterest.com/pin/106608716150417544/
1. Desert Island
Announce, 'You've been exiled to a deserted island for a year. In addition to the essentials, you may take one piece of music, one book (which is not the Bible) and one luxury item you can carry with you i.e. not a boat to leave the island! What would you take and why?'
Allow a few minutes for the individuals to draw up their list of three items, before sharing their choices with the rest of the group.
2. Around the world
The leader begins by saying the name of any country, city, river, ocean or mountain that can be found in an atlas. The person next to him must then say another name that begins with the last letter of the word just given. Each person has a definite time limit (e.g. three seconds) and no names can be repeated. For example - First person: London, Second Person: Niagara Falls, Third Person: Switzerland, and continue on around the room until everyone has had a chance to participate.
3. Funny Questions
As students walk into class they can chose a question out of a hat. The teacher can go first reading their funny question out loud then answering it for the class. Each student can then take a turn doing the same revealing a small piece of their identity. This is a light way for the class to get to know each other a little better.
1. If you could buy any type of food what would you buy?
2. What color is your tooth brush?
3. If you could be any animal what would it be and why?
4. What is one of the things you would put on your “bucket” list?
5. Who is your favorite super hero and why?
6. Who do you admire the most?
7. What is your favorite summer activity?
8. If a movie was made of your life what genre would it be, who would play you?
9. If you could be any flavor of ice cream what ice cream flavor would you be and why?
10. Who is your favorite cartoon character and why?
11. If you could go any where in the world where would you go and why?
12. What is your dream job?
13. Are you a morning or a night person?
14. What is your favorite hobby?
15. What is one thing that annoys you the most?
Etc.
4. Two Truths and a Lie
Players tell two truths and one lie. The object of the game is to to determine which statement is the false one.
Resource: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/282178732875485774/
and http://www.pinterest.com/pin/106608716150417544/