Ice Breaker Activity....
I really liked the Ice Breaker Activity; paper plane idea was great. I think I’m going to start doing this at the beginning of the semester/quarter (possible the first class) with hopes that the class will define themselves as a group versus individuals.
The Ice Breaker activity that has worked best for my classes involves giving each student a white bag. I then ask them to fill the bag with three items that best represent them (photos, souvenirs, small trinkets). The next day, we spend a good deal of time sharing what is in our bags (I fill one also). The students seem to really enjoy this activity.
The more physical activities (such as with the paper planes) is a bit difficult in our small classroom area of the cosmetology school.
Hi Susan,
Love it! I like how all students are rewarded with a treat! Great way to bond and get students comfortable with each other.
Patricia Scales
I play my own kind of candy game. I have my students tell their name and where they are from and two things about themselves... One being a truth and one being a fib. I have the student next to them figure out which one is which. Correct answer gets either a blow pop or a tootsie pop... incorrect answeres get a dum dum pop. ( I do have a supply of sugar free goodies for those who can not have sugar just in case)In the end all students get a little treat, learn something about their new "neighbor" and have a little fun. Relaxes them to let the learning begin.
Ice breaker I liked in one of my courses was each student had to share one thing interesting/unusual about themselves. Answers included such things as "I skydive for fun". This helped both the students and instructor remember names.
Hi Lelia,
Great way to get to know the students and for students to bond with each other.
Patricia Scales
have each student address class and why they are attending class
Hi Laurie,
Love the idea! Sounds like fun and a great way to bond.
Patricia Scales
I've used an activity before, as an icebreaker" to have the student introduce themselves to one other person in class and then they have to introduce the person that they just met to the entire class by giving us some information about that person. I think that it would be fun to incorporate the playdough into that activity. So it would look like this:
1. create something that you like out of playdough
2. now share that item with the person next to you
3. then the partner will explain about that item and it's connection to the person that they just met as an introduction to the entire class
I think this will get the tactile and creative people more involved. I like having the other person to introduce their new friend to the entire class, because some people don't like to talk about themselves in front of a group.
Hi Mark,
Great tool to determine what type of student you are dealing with so that you will better know how to help the student.
Patricia Scales
Hi Peter,
Great icebreaker. I am sure students love it because they get a treat as well.
Patricia Scales
Hi Craig,
Students need to have some fun in the classroom every once in a while. Learning can involve fun.
Patricia Scales
I play a candy game where I give a hint to a particular candy and the first student to guess it gets a candy. for example- a candy named after a street in nyc is a 5th ave candy bar
When I was in school, I had a teacher that used a quiz on the very first day and everybody has at some time seen this where you are to read all instructions first from top to bottom, the last question tells you not to reply to any of the questions or just put your name on the paper and wait for further instruction. This does two things for me and the class; I get to see the student’s reactions as they work at each question and how they interact together. And as I see how they interact I can adjust my methods of presenting the information based the reactions of the students. It tends to be fun for everybody and I can tell who pays attention to details, who rushes through the assignment to get it done, and those who need that little extra push to interact with others.
That's a really good idea. It makes it fun and gets the students thinking more about themselves. I'll have to use that.
as an Ice breaker what I do is have the student introduce them selfs to the class and what brought them to the industry at the end I do the same, i give examples of project to be made and the course of study, one of the things that I do with a class is how to use a calculator, many have no idea how to convert a faction to a disamel and so on. so rather than a paper air plane. for our industry this work very well the first day, students end the first day leaning something and can't wait for tomorrow.
Hi Tamra,
Yes, this is a great activity to break the monotony of the same old thing. Students tend to really enjoy this activity as well.
Patricia Scales
Hi Katherine,
Students enjoy this as well. It is fun and a nice opening to the grading period.
Patricia Scales
Hi Peter,
I am sure you get an assortment of neat things. It is amazing what our students can do with their imagination and creativity. I am certain you also learn a lot about your students from this activity as well.
Patricia Scales
The Plane idea is great, a fun way to break the ice on the first day of class. I think I will use it when we just need a 'break from learning'!
Clear the mind and get the body moving!
