As an elementary school teacher, one of the most important parts of starting a new school year (new semester or even new week) is fostering a sense of community in your classroom. Students need to feel safe, valued, and part of a group where they can express themselves, share ideas, and connect with one another. This is where “break the ice” activities come in. These activities not only help students feel more comfortable in their new environment but also lay the groundwork for positive relationships, collaboration, and emotional safety throughout the school year. #icebreakers
Why Break the Ice Activities Matter in Elementary Classrooms
Building Relationships: Starting the year with intentional activities that focus on getting to know each other helps students build relationships. By learning about their peers, students gain a sense of belonging and appreciation for one another.
Creating a Safe Environment: For students to take risks in learning, they need to feel safe. Icebreakers help establish trust and create an emotionally supportive classroom where students can express themselves without fear of judgment.
Encouraging Participation: Icebreakers create opportunities for shy or reluctant students to participate in low-pressure situations. They provide structured ways to interact, which is crucial for students who might otherwise stay quiet.
Fostering Communication Skills: Activities that involve speaking and listening are great opportunities to practice communication skills. Students also learn to respect each other’s ideas, fostering empathy and cooperation.
Setting the Tone for the Year: The start of the year sets the tone for the entire year. By focusing on community and teamwork from the beginning, you’re helping to create a positive classroom culture that will last throughout the school year.
Keep reading to explore specific ideas you can implement in your classroom throughout the year.
All About Me Posters
Students create a poster or a digital presentation about themselves to introduce to the class. They can include things like their name, favorite hobbies, pets, family members, favorite foods, dreams, or goals. Consider having a "student of the week" so children can share their posters throughout the school year or divide students into small groups for shorter presentations. #allaboutme
How to Differentiate:
Provide a choice of formats: traditional poster, digital slide, or even a spoken word/poem.
For students with limited writing skills, allow drawings or give prompts for them to fill in.
Human Bingo
Create a bingo card with characteristics or hobbies (e.g., “Has a pet cat,” “Likes to read books,” “Can speak more than one language”). Students must find classmates who match the descriptions in the boxes and write their names in the boxes. The first to fill their card wins! For extra fun, have students design their own cards or use this as a class reward. #humanbingo
How to Differentiate:
Use pictures alongside text for students who may struggle with reading.
Give verbal or written prompts for students who may need help initiating conversations. Model and practice these prompts before beginning the activity.
Name Game
This is a simple but effective way to learn everyone’s names. Have students stand in a circle. The first person says their name and adds an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name (e.g., “Jolly Jake”). The next person says their name and adjective and repeats the previous person’s name and adjective. Continue around the circle. #namegame
How to Differentiate:
For students who may have difficulty remembering names, provide a written list of everyone’s names and adjectives as a reference.
Use visuals or gestures to help students with memory challenges.
Two Truths and a Lie
Each student shares two truths and one lie about themselves, and the class has to guess which statement is the lie. This game is a great way for students to share interesting facts about themselves while getting to know their classmates. #twotruthsand1lie
How to Differentiate:
Provide sentence starters for students who need help framing their thoughts (e.g., “I have three pets,” “I love pizza,” “I once met a celebrity”).
Allow students to write their statements ahead of time or share them with a partner before sharing with the class.
The Ultimate Ice Breaker: Battle Brackets
Battle Brackets are a double-elimination tournament-style activity that lets students debate "This or That" topics in a friendly competition. Each student or group selects a side of the bracket and then uses evidence and reasoning to argue why their side should win. As students move through the rounds, they refine their opinions, develop their reasoning, and practice communicating their ideas clearly and confidently.
Whether printed out or presented digitally, Battle Brackets provide a dynamic and engaging way for students to practice argumentative writing, speaking, and critical thinking. Each round encourages students to support their opinion with reasons, using prompts that guide their thoughts and help them structure their arguments. #battlebrackets
How Battle Brackets Benefit Your Students
1. Build Opinion Writing Skills - Battle Brackets are more than just a fun game—they’re an excellent way to strengthen students' opinion writing skills. As students present their arguments, they learn to:
Formulate strong claims.
Support their opinions with logical reasoning.
Use evidence to back up their points.
Through each bracket, students practice crafting well-organized responses that build their confidence in both speaking and writing. #opinionwriting
2. Improve Critical Thinking - Debating "This or That" topics requires students to evaluate different viewpoints and make reasoned decisions. As students weigh the pros and cons of each option, they develop their critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for success across all subjects. #criticalthinking
3. Encourage Public Speaking - Public speaking can be intimidating for many students, but Battle Brackets offer a low-pressure environment for students to practice. By presenting their arguments in front of the class, they improve their verbal communication skills while learning to express themselves clearly and confidently.
4. Foster Collaboration and Communication - Battle Brackets encourage students to work together, whether in pairs or small groups. Collaboration is a key component of the activity, as students bounce ideas off each other and decide how to best present their argument. This helps build communication skills and teaches students how to respect others' opinions, even when they disagree.
How to Use Battle Brackets in Your Classroom
1. Energize the Morning - Start your day with an exciting Battle Bracket debate! This is a great way to get your students thinking and talking right away. Present a topic on the classroom screen and let the debates begin. Students will love the interactive element, and you’ll set an energetic tone for the day ahead. #morningmeetings
2. Integrate into Writing Lessons - Battle Brackets are a great tool to introduce or reinforce opinion writing. Use the accompanying sentence starters and prompts to guide your students as they write responses to support their arguments. This provides an engaging way for students to practice writing clearly and persuasively.
3. Fill Extra Time - Running short on time before lunch or dismissal? Battle Brackets are the perfect filler activity. It’s a quick yet valuable way to fill a few extra minutes while keeping your students engaged and productive. Plus, it helps reinforce the writing and speaking skills they’ll use throughout the year.
4. Use for Classroom Rewards - Battle Brackets are also a fun and interactive way to motivate students. Use them as part of your classroom management system or as a reward activity when students earn certain privileges or points. Let students present their own brackets to the class as a fun and engaging reward for their hard work. #classrewards
5. Create Custom Brackets - With the included editable templates, you can tailor the Battle Brackets to your class’s interests or the subjects you're covering. Whether it's a history lesson, a reading comprehension activity, or a math challenge, you can create themed brackets that relate directly to the content your students are learning. This personalization helps students feel more invested in the activity and connects the debate topics to their curriculum.
Hear about MB Creations' Battle Brackets from educators like you!
⭐️ “Mondays are Battle Bracket Days in my classroom. Students love coming to school to debate their favorite things. I’ve noticed improvements in students’ opinion writing as they support their statements with reasons.”
⭐️ “I use Battle Brackets as a reward. Students can present their own brackets to the class after earning points in our classroom management system.”
⭐️ “My students loved making their own brackets.”
⭐️ “The discussion questions take this fun activity to the next level.”
Use these This or That Battle Brackets in so many ways!
✅ Print or present a variety of battle brackets and have students support their choices with reasons.
✅ Engage students in fun activities while building academic skills with the discussion and written response prompts.
✅ Choose your favorite topics and create additional slides and worksheets relating to your students’ interests and class content.
Find answers to your questions about these Editable Battle Brackets:
✋ Why should I choose this resource?
The accompanying writing prompts and discussion questions build academic skills. The easy-to-print worksheets mirror the colorful slides. The included templates allow you (or your students) to create custom brackets.
✋ Which grades will benefit the most from using this resource?
Students in 2nd-5th grades will enjoy the included categories. Edit the Google Slides templates to create your own battle bracket worksheets and presentations.
✋ How can I use this resource in my classroom?
Present one or two battle brackets each week. Use this activity to energize your class. Start the day with an engaging debate or fill extra time before dismissal. Show the digital version on a classroom screen while students fill out the accompanying paper worksheet at their desks. Encourage them to support their opinions with reasons. Print the blank version and slide it inside a page protector. Have students store this page in a binder so they can use it again and again!