15+ Fun back-to-school icebreakers for the first day of school

New school, new opportunity. New class, new kids, new friends. Every student is a little bit scared and excited for their first day of school. "Who will be my teacher? Who will be my new friend? Will they like me?", and so on. Their school bags are ready and clothing is picked. They probably didn't get much sleep. The big day is finally there. As it happens, they are not the only ones to feel that way. It's a first day for a teacher too.

Relax and get to know each other in an informal atmosphere with these fun introductory games, which you can use as icebreaker activities. Icebreakers help students feel welcome, get to know each other, and promote classroom unity from day one. These icebreaker activities can be adapted for elementary, middle, or high school students, making them flexible for every age group.

How to use (and edit) these back-to-school icebreaker games

Most of the presented icebreakers activities for the start of the school year are created with BookWidgets, a content creation and evaluation tool for teachers. Some suggested activities may require edits, such as adding the names of your new students in them. This can be done in a few simple steps:

1. Log in to your BookWidgets account (or create a free account if you don't have one yet)
2. Go to this folder in the BookWidgets Blog group
3. Search for the activity you want to use, click on the arrow icon at the right side and select "Duplicate"
4. Duplicate the widget to "My widgets" (or any other folder in your account), apply the changes and share it with your students. That's it! 🙌

15+ introductory icebreaker games for students

This post includes 15+ ready-to-use digital icebreaker games. I'm listing them here, but make sure to check each comprehensive lesson plan and ready-to-use widget activity below.

• First day of school Bingo Activity
• Random questions for the first day of school
• One (surprising) fact about me" pair matching game
• Memory game to test if students know their classmates
• Snowman Word Guessing Game
• Word search activity with students' names
• Reflect on the Learning Goals
• Nice M&M-ing you
• Create a "Facebook profile" to present yourself
• Write a Letter to Your Future Self
• Would you rather ... ? Icebreaker game
• Desert island survival challenge
• Classroom expectations brainstorm mind map
• Classroom scavenger hunt
• Classroom photo quest
• Two truths and a lie
• All about me collage
• Short film "Teach"

1. Bingo ⭐️

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Get to know classmates; Practice communication and questioning skills; Build classroom community
• BookWidgets widget type: Bingo Card
• Time needed: 10–20 minutes
• Why it works: Students interact with many classmates in a structured way. The activity naturally encourages conversation and helps students discover common interests and connections.

Back-to-School Bingo is a fantastic icebreaker activity for middle school children as it will help them to get to know their classmates. Create a Bingo Card in BookWidgets and in each square, write a brief description, such as:

• Lives close to school
• Likes pizza
• Has 3 siblings
• Loves sport
• Can juggle

Challenge your students to go around the room, asking classmates one question. When they have a match, they are allowed to tick off that square. Click here to check it out: Bingo Card.

Want to do more with a bingo game in your classroom? You'll find some more inspiration in this blog post about using bingo games in your lessons.

2. Random questions 🎰

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Develop speaking confidence; Encourage self-expression; Learn more about classmates
• BookWidgets widget type: Randomness
• Time needed: 10–15 minutes
• Why it works: The random element creates excitement and lowers the pressure of traditional introductions. Students share personal information in a fun, spontaneous way.

At the start of the school year, it’s always great to break the ice with something fun and unexpected. Instead of the usual “introduce yourself” routine, why not shake things up by asking random, light-hearted questions? It’s a great way to get students talking, laughing, and, for the teacher, a great way to get to know your students.

That’s where the Randomness widget comes in. Think of it like a classroom slot machine—it spins and lands on a random topic and, if you choose, a random student. This fun icebreaker for high school students makes those first-day conversations more engaging and memorable.

Topics may include:

• What's your favorite food?
• What's your favorite animal?
  
• What would you do if you would win 1 million at a lottery?
• What's your favorite place?
• What's your biggest dream?

💡 Por tip: You can load add student photos in a separate wheel so the person selected to answer is a surprise each time. Here's an example.

👀 Find more inspiration on use a randomness game in your lessonsin our previous blog post.

3. "One (surprising) fact about me" pair matching game 👀

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Foster self-awareness; Build peer relationships; Practice inference and observation skills
• BookWidgets widget type: Pair Matching
• Time needed: 15–25 minutes
• Why it works: Students become curious about one another and discover unique facts, making it easier to remember classmates and start conversations.

The "One (surpirsing) fact about me" game is an engaging way to help middle school students express themselves and get to know their classmates.

Here’s how it works: Ask each student to write down one fact that reveals something unique about who they are. This could be a personality trait, a hobby, or something they love. Collect all the facts, and during your lesson prep, enter both the words and the student names into the Pair Matching widget.

In class, challenge your students to match each fact to the right person. It's a fun guessing game that sparks curiosity, encourages interaction, and builds classroom community from day one.

Here are some extra lesson ideas with Pair Matching games. Check it out!

4. Memory game 🧐

• Best for: Primary school, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Learn classmates' names; Improve memory and recall; Strengthen classroom connections
• BookWidgets widget type: Memory Game
• Time needed: 10–15 minutes
• Why it works: Matching names to faces repeatedly helps students and teachers learn names much faster than through traditional introductions.

Use a memory game to help yourself and your students to keep up with all the new names, which is not always easy at the start of the school year.

Create two cards for each student:

• one card with a picture of the student
• a second card with the student's name (this can be in text format or with audio)

Now let the students match the names to the faces. You can join in too, a perfect way to get to know your students! This activity works great for primary school and middle school students.

5. Snowman Word Guessing Game ⛄️

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Learn names and classroom facts; Develop deductive reasoning skills; Build vocabulary and spelling awareness
• BookWidgets widget type: Snowman Game
• Time needed: 10–15 minutes
• Why it works: The game format keeps students engaged while reinforcing names and key information in a playful way.

The Snowman Game is a student-friendly version of hangman that makes for a fun and interactive back-to-school icebreaker activity.

In this game, students take turns guessing letters to reveal a hidden word. Each correct guess fills in part of the word, while incorrect guesses add penalty points—and bring the snowman closer to being “built.” It’s a lighthearted way to practice critical thinking and have fun as a class.

You can use the Snowman Game in creative ways during the first week of school. Try using it to introduce facts about yourself, helping students learn more about their teacher. Or, use student names as the mystery words to help everyone get familiar with their new classmates.

💡 If you are wondering on how to use a snowman game in your lessons for other purposes, check out this blog post with 19 ways to use a hangman game in your lessons.

6. Word search activity ✏️

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Learn classmates' names; Encourage peer interaction; Develop observation skills
• BookWidgets widget type: Word Search
• Time needed: 10-15 minutes
• Why it works: Students have a purpose for approaching classmates, making introductions feel more natural and less awkward.

In this name grid introduction game, each student receives a grid filled with the names of their classmates. Their task is to find a name in the grid, highlight or mark it, and then go introduce themselves to that person. There’s a fun twist—if the student they approach hasn’t yet found their name, they’ll need to find it in their own grid before continuing. This keeps everyone engaged and interacting.

7. Learning goals 🎯

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Set personal learning goals; Reflect on expectations; Develop a growth mindset
• BookWidgets widget type: Worksheet
• Time needed: 15–25 minutes
• Why it works: Students start the year with intention while teachers gain valuable insight into student aspirations and expectations.

This back-to-school activity is perfect for getting to know your middle school or high school students and their aspirations. It teaches them to set a goal at the beginning of the new school year. Even better, you'll immediately know what they expect to learn this year.

8. Nice M&M-ing you 🍬

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Improve communication skills; Build classroom relationships; Encourage participation
• BookWidgets widget type: WebQuest
• Time needed: 15–30 minutes
• Why it works: The game structure creates a relaxed atmosphere where students feel comfortable sharing information about themselves.

Let's bribe your students again with candy...🍭 Just kidding, this is a solid icebreaker game for the new school year. You do need M&M's though...

This game will help your students get to know each other. They have to pick an M&M and complete a challenge or answer a question in order to be allowed to eat the M&M. Below you'll find a digital version of this introduction game that helps students to get to know each other at the start of the school year.

Just share the link with your students. They need to go over the rules before they get started. As a teacher, you can also explain the game rules yourself.

9. Create a "Facebook profile" 👤

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Promote self-reflection; Explore personal identity; Introduce digital citizenship concepts
• BookWidgets widget type: Worksheet
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes
• Why it works: Students share information creatively while opening discussions about online identity and how people present themselves digitally.

While Facebook may not be the go-to platform for Generation Alpha, that’s exactly what makes it an intriguing classroom conversation starter. This first-day-of-school icebreaker activity gives middle school students a glimpse into the social media many of their parents used—and opens the door to a broader discussion about how online platforms evolve over time.

The activity is simple but powerful: students fill out a digital “Facebook profile” form with fun facts about themselves, including their likes, interests, and a short introduction—just like users did on the real platform. Once everyone has submitted their profiles, the teacher reads a few out loud anonymously. The rest of the class then tries to guess who the profile belongs to.

Not only is this a fun way to learn more about each other, but it also sets the stage for a meaningful discussion about online identity, self-presentation, and the changing world of social media.

10. Write a Letter to Your Future Self ✉️

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Set goals for the school year; Develop reflective writing skills; Encourage self-awareness
• BookWidgets widget type: External tool: FutureMe
• Time needed: 15-25 minutes
• Why it works: Students connect their present ambitions with future growth, creating a meaningful reflection opportunity later in the year.

Try the "Letter to Your Future Self" icebreaker using the website Future me. It’s a simple but powerful writing exercise that encourages students to think ahead—and it's perfect for language or writing-focused lessons.

On the first day of school, ask your students to write a personal letter to themselves. They can include their goals for the year, things they’re excited or nervous about, advice for future challenges, or even predictions. Using FutureMe, they’ll schedule the letter to be emailed back to them on the last day of the school year.

This activity not only helps students practice self-expression and goal-setting, but also creates a special moment of reflection when the year ends. It’s a great way to start the school year with intention—and end it with perspective.

11. Would you rather ❓

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Encourage discussion and debate; Practice reasoning skills; Learn about classmates' preferences
• BookWidgets widget type: Flashcards
• Time needed: 10–20 minutes
• Why it works: Fun choices spark lively conversations and help students reveal aspects of their personalities.

Start the school year with laughter and lively discussion using this classic icebreaker! “Would You Rather” questions are perfect for helping middle school students loosen up, share a bit about themselves, and connect over funny or thought-provoking dilemmas. This activity sparks curiosity and conversation, making it an engaging way to break the ice on the first day of class.

We've made a ready-to-use digital "Would you rather" activity by using Flashcards, which are ideal for projecting on a classroom screen. It’s simple, interactive, and works great in any classroom setting!

12. Desert island survival challenge 🏝️

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Develop teamwork skills; Practice critical thinking; Strengthen decision-making and argumentation
• BookWidgets widget type: Worksheet
• Time needed: 15–25 minutes
• Why it works: Students must negotiate, collaborate, and justify their choices, providing a natural team-building experience.

This classic team-building activity is a fun and interactive way to kick off the school year with middle school students. In the Desert Island Survival Challenge, students are divided into small groups and must decide on just five items to bring if they were stranded on a deserted island. The catch? They must agree as a team and be ready to justify their choices to the class.

This icebreaker promotes collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking, while also helping students get comfortable working and communicating with new classmates.

13. Classroom expectations brainstorm mind map 🤝

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Establish classroom norms; Encourage student voice; Promote collaboration
• BookWidgets widget type: Mind Map
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes
• Why it works: Students help create the classroom culture, leading to stronger ownership and commitment to shared expectations.

Instead of simply handing out rules, engage your students in a collaborative brainstorming activity. Divide them into small groups and ask them to discuss what makes a good learning environment or what they hope to achieve in your class and make sure they organize their ideas in a mind map. Afterward, bring everyone together to share their ideas and work as a class to create a set of shared expectations.

This activity encourages student ownership, promotes meaningful discussion, and helps build a positive classroom culture from day one.

💡Discover more creative ways to introduce and explain classroom rules to students in this previous blog post.

14. Classroom scavenger hunt 🔍

• Best for: Primary school, middle school
• Learning goal(s): Explore the classroom environment; Build social connections; Improve observation skills
• BookWidgets widget type: Checklist
• Time needed: 15–25 minutes
• Why it works: Students move around, interact with classmates, and become familiar with their new learning environment.

Get students moving and exploring with a lively Classroom Scavenger Hunt! This activity encourages students to interact with their environment and classmates while discovering important features of the classroom.

Students race to find things like classmates who speak another language, the classroom rule poster, a book with a long title, a blue object, or someone with the same birth month. This scavenger hunt is a perfect way to break the ice, help students get familiar with their new classroom, and spark conversations

15. Classroom photo quest 📸

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Strengthen observation skills; Encourage collaboration; Explore the classroom environment
• BookWidgets widget type: Worksheet with Photo Questions
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes
• Why it works: Taking photos adds an extra layer of engagement and motivates students to actively explore their surroundings.

Take your scavenger hunt to the next level with the classroom photo quest! This activity is similar to the classroom scavenger hunt, but instead of just checking off items on a list, students capture photos as proof of finding each object or person on their quest.

From snapping a picture of the classroom rule poster to photographing a desk with writing, or finding a classmate who shares their birth month, this photo-based activity gets students actively exploring and engaging with their surroundings—and each other.

16. Two truths and a lie 🤥

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Build classroom relationships; Encourage self-expression; Develop critical thinking skills
• BookWidgets widget type: Worksheet
• Time needed: 15–25 minutes
• Why it works: Students share interesting facts while classmates actively listen and make predictions, creating memorable interactions.

In Two truths and a lie, students start by writing down two true facts and one false fact about themselves. They submit these statements to the teacher ahead of time, making it easy to organize and share during class.

Once shared, the class tries to guess which statement is the lie, sparking laughter, curiosity, and great conversations. This activity helps students learn fun and surprising things about each other while building trust and connection in a relaxed, engaging way.

17. All about me collage 🖼️

• Best for: Upper primary, middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Encourage creativity and self-expression; Develop presentation skills; Build classroom connections
• BookWidgets widget type: Worksheet
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes
• Why it works: Visual storytelling allows students to share who they are in an engaging and personal way.

Encourage self-expression and creativity with the All About Me Collage! Using a virtual pinboard, students add pictures, drawings, or images that represent important parts of their lives—hobbies, family, favorite places, or anything that tells their story.

This versatile activity can be used in multiple ways: students can present their collages to practice speaking and sharing, making it ideal for ESL or language classes. Alternatively, teachers can display the collages anonymously and challenge the class to guess which student each one belongs to.

18. Short film "Teach" 🎥

• Best for: Middle school, high school
• Learning goal(s): Reflect on teacher-student relationships; Discuss expectations and stereotypes; Develop critical thinking and discussion skills
• BookWidgets widget type: Video Quiz
• Time needed: 25–30 minutes
• Why it works: The film provides a shared experience that naturally sparks meaningful discussion and reflection at the start of the school year.

In the short film "Teach", a new teacher steps into a challenging classroom with big dreams and even bigger ideals. As he tries to connect with his students and prove himself, he quickly discovers that good intentions aren’t always enough. Teach is a sharp, satirical short film that explores the complexities of education, privilege, and the gap between ambition and reality—with humor, heart, and a critical eye.

Teach is a great short film to watch with middle school or high school students at the start of the school year. It opens up discussion about expectations between teachers and students, and serves as a light but meaningful introduction to topics like stereotypes and teacher-student relationships.

Check out this blog post for much more Short film lesson ideas.

More Classroom Inspiration for the First Day of School

Looking for even more engaging ideas to start the school year off right? Whether you're still planning your first day or want to energize your students throughout the week, these blog posts are packed with creative, ready-to-use first-day-of-school lesson plans and inspirational resources:

🎒 15 creative lesson ideas for the first day of school – Perfect if you’re not sure where to start!

⚡ 15 Fun classroom energizers for students – Great for loosening up your students and boosting energy levels.

🧩 36 Creative Ways to Introduce and Explain Classroom Rules to Students – Make classroom expectations clear and memorable.

💻 20+ ready-to-use digital lesson activities for the first day of school – Easy, engaging, and tech-friendly!

📚 The Ultimate Guide to Back to School for Teachers – Everything you need to feel confident and prepared.

🤝 15 fun team building activities and trust games for the classroom – Build classroom community from day one.

🪑 19 Classroom seating arrangements fit for your teaching – Find a layout that supports your goals and teaching style.

These back-to-school resources are designed to help you create a welcoming, dynamic, and well-organized classroom from day one!

Wrap up

Fun icebreaker games are a fantastic way to foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere among students. We hope these ready-to-use lesson plans for the first day of the school help you to get to know your students and start the school year in a fun and positive way. Game on!

Which example will you try out? Let us know on Bluesky and join our Teaching with BookWidgets Facebook Group to gather more inspiration.

Hopefully, we were able to inspire you. Don't forget to say hi👋 to us on LinkedIn (Lucie, Dimitri).