First Week Wins: 5 Back-to-School Icebreakers to Build Classroom Community


As a secondary ELA teacher, that first week back at school can be quite challenging. You want to engage your students, get to know them, and make them feel welcomed while at the same time establishing your classroom as a place of learning, growth, and rigor. It’s a tough feat to accomplish, but it is possible.

When I plan my first few days of a new school year, I like to think about all of my learners. Some students will naturally be more outgoing, while others will be shy. Some will want to talk about their elaborate vacations, while others will be embarrassed that their family couldn’t afford one. Some will come to the new school year excited, and some will bring not-so-distant memories of trauma into the room. And for that reason, I like to incorporate some quiet, independent work time with the fun and exciting getting-to-know-you icebreakers. Doing so helps many of the new students in my classroom get used to their new space.

Here are some of my favorite icebreakers and back-to-school activities (including a few of my go-to resources!) that help build a welcoming classroom community right from day one while also supporting students who might be less apt to open up on the first day.

Attendance Questions - A Daily Dose of Classroom Community


Instead of a traditional “here!” or “present,” I like to start the day with a simple, low-pressure attendance question. These are quick prompts that invite students to share just a little something about themselves, and there is no right or wrong answer.

At the start of the new school year, rather than asking an open-ended question, I like to give them quick “would you rather” or “this or that” attendance questions to simplify the process. As the school year progresses and you build community, you can then ask more exciting questions because the students will be more comfortable with each other.

My Would You Rather Attendance Question Slides are a huge hit because they’re fun, quirky, and totally stress-free. Questions like “Would you rather be able to talk to animals or speak every language?” break the ice and encourage students to talk to one another in class.

You can grab my Would You Rather Attendance Question Slides in a year-long bundle with this Community Building Classroom Attendance Questions bundle.

Classroom Quilt – Building a Visual Community


Creating a Classroom Quilt is the perfect activity for creating a visual classroom display that connects students. Each student decorates a square of a paper "quilt" with their name and information about them. I tell them to make the quilt an authentic representation of who they are.

During this time, I like to play some calming background music and give students some time to catch up with friends as they complete their quilt squares. This provides students with some much-needed time to decompress during the stressful first week of school.

Then, we stitch the classroom quilt together on a bulletin board and keep it displayed all year long. This activity is also a perfect way to decorate for Back to School Night. Parents love coming in, finding their child’s square, and seeing their child included in the community.

My Back to School Quilt Activity comes with printable squares and directions, and the final product becomes a colorful, collaborative display of our classroom identity. It’s an easy win for building a sense of belonging and pride in the space.

Create Paper Chain Connections


Do you remember making a paper chain as a child to help you count down the days to something exciting? The paper chain connection is a fun twist on that idea, and you can get this activity immediately delivered to your inbox by clicking on this link here!
For this activity, have students select the paper chain design they prefer. They’ll write their name in the space provided and then decorate the rest of the chain in a way that really shows who they are!

Once students have decorated their paper chain links, have them move around the room to find similar connections. After providing students with some time to chat, link up the chain together using tape, glue, or staples, and us the paper chain as a classroom decoration that is inclusive of all of your students! You can access this free activity here!

Stacking Cup Challenge


The stacking cup challenge is another great collaborative activity to have your students complete in your classroom during the first week of school. I like to have students complete this challenge after I assign their new seats as a way to get to know their new tablemates.

This challenge really shows students just how important communication and collaboration are. I always have my students complete the stacking cup challenge toward the beginning of the school year and also when we move seats to allow students to get to know and work with their new table mates.

To facilitate the stacking cup challenge in your classroom, you will need plastic cups (the red plastic ones work well), rubber bands, and string. Each team will receive six cups, a rubber band, and however many pieces of string you’ll need so that each student grabs onto one piece of string. I like doing the challenge in groups of four. However, grouping students in groups of six provides an extra challenge. Tie each piece of string to the rubber band, and then have students work toward stacking the cups in a pyramid using only the strings.

Chit Chat Cards – Structured Small Talk


Another way that I like to build community and break the ice in my classroom is by engaging my students in structured small talk through the use of chit chat cards. These cards come with student-friendly questions that are open-ended, and they make small talk easy for students.

These cards prompt students to engage in meaningful but light-hearted conversation. Topics range from favorite books to silly hypotheticals to personal goals.

Looking for more ideas for the beginning of the school year? Check out our previous blog posts!
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