Icebreakers

Beach Ball Icebreaker

Write questions all over a beach ball and toss it around the room. Whoever catches it answers the question under their right thumb.

  • πŸŽ“ Grades K–12
  • ⏱ 10–15 min
  • πŸ‘₯ Whole class
  • πŸ“¦ Low prep
🎲 Another game

How to play Beach Ball Icebreaker

  1. Write 20 to 30 short questions all over a beach ball ("Favorite food?", "Dream job?", "Best thing about summer?").
  2. Students stand or sit in a circle.
  3. Toss the ball to a student. They answer the question closest to their right thumb.
  4. They toss it to someone who has not had a turn yet.
  5. Continue until everyone has answered.

Variations

  • Review ball: write unit questions instead and reuse it before every test.

πŸ’‘ Teacher tips

  • Keep a second ball with content questions for review days.

Keep playing

Similar classroom games

Icebreakers

This or That

A fast two-choice warm-up: pizza or tacos, summer or winter.

  • ⏱ 3–10 min
  • πŸŽ“ K–12
  • ✏️ No prep
Icebreakers

Would You Rather

Give students two choices and have them pick a side of the room, then explain their reasoning.

  • ⏱ 5–15 min
  • πŸŽ“ 3–12
  • ✏️ No prep
Review games

Hangman

Students guess letters to reveal a hidden word before the drawing is complete.

  • ⏱ 5–15 min
  • πŸŽ“ K–12
  • ✏️ No prep
Review games

Odd One Out

Show four words, numbers or pictures and ask students which one does not belong and why.

  • ⏱ 5–15 min
  • πŸŽ“ K–12
Icebreakers

Desert Island

Students choose three items they would bring to a desert island and justify their picks.

  • ⏱ 10–20 min
  • πŸŽ“ 3–12
  • ✏️ No prep
Icebreakers

Find Someone Who

Students walk around with a grid of prompts and find a classmate who matches each one.

  • ⏱ 10–20 min
  • πŸŽ“ 3–12