3 Elementary Icebreaker Games to Welcome New Kids

Use these elementary icebreaker games to welcome everyone and learn names.

3 Elementary Icebreaker Game to Welcome New Kids

1.  Hot Potato Questions

This elementary icebreaker game will help kids learn about their classmates.

You’ll need:

• a small ball
• a kitchen timer

Have kids sit in a circle and play a game of Hot Potato, passing the ball around the circle until a timer sounds. (It’s best to set the timing in intervals of 5 to 30 seconds.) The child who ends up with the ball must answer three questions other kids ask him or her. Encourage kids to ask questions that help them get to know each other as well as some silly questions to generate laughter and fun.

2. Who Am I?

This elementary icebreaker game will help kids learn names and get some energy out!

Have kids sit in a circle. Tell kids you’re going to play “Who Am I?” where kids walk around the circle just like duck, duck, goose. But in this version, “It” taps kids on the head and says, “Friend, friend, friend — Who are you?” The child who’s tagged on “you,” shouts his or her name and then chases It around the circle. Play until all children have been tagged.

3. Match-Up

This elementary icebreaker game will help kids make new friends and share some laughs.

Tell kids that you’ll call out body parts they have to match to another child. For example, if you call out “elbows,” kids find someone to touch elbows with. Each time they have to find a new person to make a match. (For older kids, you can make the match requirements more complex, such as “Ears and red shoes.”)

Call out these body parts and characteristics:

• ears
• feet
• heads
• backs
• hair
• hands

Each time kids match up, stop and ask these questions:

• Why did your parents give you your name?
• What’s your favorite color?

Looking for more elementary ideas? Check out these posts!