Have you scrolled through several blog posts hoping to find just the right icebreaker questions for teens? I’m hoping that this post will be your last stop because I want to give you 105 icebreakers high school students will enjoy talking about during the “getting to know you” back to school transition. This is your one-stop-shop for ice breaker questions. You’re welcome!
As an introverted teenager, I used to think that icebreaker activities were a waste of time. This was mostly because they made me uncomfortable and I was self-conscious in talking about myself.Even good icebreaker questions left me tongue-tied.
Then I became a teacher. And I knew there was a need to build classroom community, so I started to think of ways to use icebreakers to foster student-to-student connections.
The Science of Icebreakers
There is actually some benefit to icebreakers in terms of human psychology. Did you know that it’s part of our human nature to like people who are like us.
Why? We want to be liked and there is less possibility of rejection when we share a mutual interest, value, or experience.
So, when we as teachers provide students with team building activities, we are creating a connection based on a mutual experience. When we provide students with ice breaker questions as a “getting to know you” activity, we are creating an opportunity for connection based on mutual interests and/or values.
If students perceive that their classmates don’t like them, chances are they don’t see much common ground between themselves and their peers. If students lack connection to each other, the more likely they are to participate in behaviors that separate them from the group.
That’s why it’s so important to take time to build a classroom environment, not just at the beginning of the year but throughout the year. Each time you do, you are sending the message “we are in this together.”
Ways to Use Icebreakers in the Classroom
There are different ways to use ice breaker questions other than the typical partner interview.
Here are a few ways to spice it up:
Icebreaker menus or choice boards.
Quick brain break during a lesson.
Question of the day projected on your agenda slide. Have students discuss at table groups or with an elbow buddy.
Speed dating. Form two lines and have one line rotate so students switch partners for each good icebreaker question you ask.
Have students find someone who has the same answer to the question as they do and write their answer/name beside the question.
105 Icebreaker Questions for Teens
Use all or some of these good ice breaker questions to get students talking to each other. And remember, the goal of these icebreaker questions for teens is to help students to find common ground with each other. You can emphasize this by having students write down the connections they make to each person they talk to if you wish.
If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
What would people on social media say about you based on your posts?
What is your favorite meme and why?
What is the last song you sang out loud?
What is your favorite quote?
When you wake up in the morning, what are you most thankful for?
If you could switch one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Describe your perfect day.
Would you want to be famous?
What are you most likely to argue about?
What are the top two songs on your playlist right now?
Name three things you and I appear to have in common.
If you could change anything about your childhood, what would it be?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Which family member are you most proud of?
Which family member are you closest to?
If you could know the future, would you choose to find out?
What would you change about your life, if anything, if you knew that you had a month to live?
When are you most likely to cry?
What do you take really seriously? Joke about?
Which TV or movie character would you be friends IRL with?
What is something you have always wanted to do, but have never done before?
When you are at a party, where are you and what are you doing?
What’s your most creative accomplishment?
What do you want to be known for?
What is your favorite memory?
Who is your favorite vlogger?
What show are you most likely to binge-watch?
What is your favorite sport to watch?
What is your favorite sport to play?
What favorite project are you working on right now?
What makes you happiest?
Do you think the world expects too much of young people?
In what ways do you think differently or the same as your parents?
If you could move anywhere in the world, where would it be?
How do you think the world will end?
What is your dream car?
What is your superpower?
Fill-In-The-Blank Questions
I wish I knew _____________.
I love it when _____________.
If only, _____________.
My motivation _____________.
My parents _____________.
I make the world _____________.
When it rains _____________.
Life is a _____________.
I predict _____________.
I sometimes imagine _____________.
Beware the _____________.
The most underrated invention is _____________.
At 4:49 tonight, I will be _____________.
I enjoy the little things in life, especially _____________.
_____________ is priceless.
School-Related Questions
What are your most and least favorite subjects?
What do you like the most about your schedule this year?
What are you most excited to do this school year?
What clubs or activities do you participate in?
If you could change one thing about our school, what would it be?
Who was your favorite teacher?
What is worth taking the time to understand on a deeper level?
Tell me about the last thought-provoking text you read.
What time do you wake up in the morning and go to bed at night?
What is your favorite location in the school building?
This or That Good Icebreaker Questions
Paper or plastic?
Up or down?
Real flowers or air freshener?
Lemonade or Iced Tea
Starbucks or Dunkin?
Target or Walmart?
Haircut or grow it out?
Formal or informal?
Noisy or quiet?
Always honest or little white lies?
Clean or messy?
Pasta or steak?
Book or Kindle?
Memes or gifs?
Rain or sun?
Sleep or no sleep?
Fortnite or COD?
Dance or sing?
Comics or manga?
Bright colors or neutrals?
Woke or ignorant?
Goodbye or hello?
Art or music?
Imagination or reality?
Movie at home or in the theatre?
Pillow fight or water balloon fight?
Popping bubble wrap or checking off items on a to-do list?
Reddit or Tumblr?
Gaming or social media?
ROFL or LMFAO?
Silly Questions
Would you rather pet a shark or stare down a tiger?
Are you more like a bird or a squirrel?
What makes the world go round?
If you could design the ultimate treehouse, what would it look like?
What book would you want to actually get lost in?
What is between here and there?
Which is better: finding a folded chip in the chip bag or a pencil with a really good eraser?
What is better than sliced bread?
If you had to re-make the world out of only one food, which one would you choose?
Wrapping Up
Thanks for reading this post! I hope you found a bunch of good icebreaker questions for teens in your middle school or high school classroom.
Hey, if you loved this post, I want to be sure you’ve had the chance to grab a FREE copy of my guide to streamlined grading. I know how hard it is to do all the things as an English teacher, so I’m over the moon to be able to share with you some of my best strategies for reducing the grading overwhelm.
Click on the link above or the image below to get started!
About Lindsay Ann
Lindsay has been teaching high school English in the burbs of Chicago for 16 years. She is passionate about helping English teachers find balance in their lives and teaching practice through practical feedback strategies and student-led learning strategies. She also geeks out about literary analysis, inquiry-based learning, and classroom technology integration. When Lindsay is not teaching, she enjoys playing with her two kids, running, and getting lost in a good book.
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Comments
Dina Pinner
Dear Lindsay Ann, Thank you so much for these! You’re right, you are my one stop shop for getting to know you questions for my teens! They will make a wonderful lesson!! May you continue in strength and creativity! Dina
Reply
Lindsay Ann
Thanks for your encouragement, Dina!
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1. Arktika. Arktika is one of the latest nuclear-powered of Russia under the Project 22220 icebreakers. IT is currently the largest and most powerful icebreaker ship in the world.
Split everyone into pairs and hand each pair a piece of paper. Each pair is responsible for finding 10 things they have in common with one another. Remember to tell everyone easy cop-outs aren't allowed, like "we both have hands".
A student draws a card out and keeps it hidden from the class.The class then takes turns at asking yes/no questions to discover the type of litter on the card. For example, “Is it made from paper?”, “Do you drink out of it?”, etc. If the answer is “yes” then the student who asked the question has another turn.
An icebreaker classic, Two Truths and a Lie is a fun way to help students get to know each other. Each participant tells the group three “facts” about themselves. However, one of these “facts” will not be true. Fellow participants will then have to guess which of these “facts” is a lie.
An icebreaker should not be too long, or it will take time away from the actual meeting. Icebreakers typically last anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes. It should last enough time for people to feel comfortable and relaxed enough to easily discuss more important topics later on in the meeting.
What talent do you have that everyone doesn't know about? What is your favorite music type/genre? What are some of your favorite apps on your phone? What is the most important thing on your bucket list that you absolutely must achieve?
Powerful questions are open ended and empower the person responding to choose the direction they take. They create possibilities and encourage discovery, deeper understanding, and new insights. They are curious and non-judgmental as they seek to further learning and connection.
An easy way to motivate students and encourage engagement is to capture their attention by posting a HOT (High Order Thinking) Question for the class to discuss. HOT questions require students to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information instead of simply recalling facts.
The Ultimate Question is the actual inquiry behind the Ultimate Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything. The Ultimate Question was sought after the supercomputer Deep Thought revealed the Ultimate Answer to be 42. When Deep Thought asked, Loonquawl and Phouchg were unable to say what the actual question was.
The purpose of the game is to ask someone (solo, or a member of a group) 21 questions, all of which must be answered honestly. Although it can be played with friends you've had for a while, it is usually best to choose someone you don't know as well, or someone you want to get to know on a deeper level.
The five common topics are: definition, comparison, circ*mstance, relationship, and authority. We start with definition. If two people can't agree on the definition of whatever they want to discuss, there's no point in moving forward with the conversation.
Getting Started with Four Types of Questions- ORID
ORID is derived from the four levels of inquiry: Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, and Decisional. As individuals, we go through all of these levels internally when making decisions.
A simple and classic ice breaker game. Each employee shares three statements about themselves – two true, and one false. Then, everyone tries to guess which is the lie by asking questions. Try to find out as many details about the statements as possible and watch the speaker's reactions closely.
Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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