6 Fun Zoom Icebreakers for Students
In the era of remote learning, fostering social interaction and engagement can be a challenge. Zoom, a popular video conferencing tool, has become a staple in many educational settings. This article will introduce six effective icebreakers specifically designed for Zoom that can help students feel more comfortable and connected in a virtual classroom environment.
These icebreakers are not only fun, but also promote collaboration and communication among students. They will encourage students to get to know each other better, break down barriers, and create a more inclusive and interactive learning atmosphere. So, let's dive in and explore these engaging icebreakers!
Run an icebreaker that everyone will love
Running an icebreaker doesn't have to be hard, it can be as easy as asking everyone where they are joining from or where they were born.
When you use StreamAlive, these responses can be plotted on a map in real-time. All your audience has to do is type their answer in the chat and StreamAlive does the rest.
No more boring or cringeworthy icebreakers. Keep it simple. Just ask everyone where they are from.
See how it works in our interactive demo or learn more.
Other icebreakers you can try
1. Emoji Story
Each student is asked to share a story about their day or week using only emojis in the chat. The rest of the group tries to guess what happened.
Pitfall to Avoid: Ensure that students are aware to keep the content appropriate and respectful.
2. Quick Sketch
Each student has 30 seconds to draw something related to a given topic (e.g., their favorite hobby, a dream vacation, etc.) and then show it to the group.
Pitfall to Avoid: Ensure students understand that the focus is not on artistic ability, but on fun and creativity.
3. Virtual Scavenger Hunt
The host calls out an item and the students have to find it in their house and bring it to the screen as quickly as possible.
Pitfall to Avoid: Make sure the items called out are common enough that everyone has a chance to participate.
4. Quick Fire Questions
The host asks rapid-fire questions to each student (e.g., cats or dogs? beach or mountains? etc.) and they have to answer as fast as they can.
Pitfall to Avoid: Make sure the questions are light-hearted and non-controversial.
5. Funny Pet Stories
Students share a quick, funny story about a pet or an animal they've encountered.
Pitfall to Avoid: Be mindful that some students may not have pets or may have allergies or phobias, so ensure there's an alternative prompt for them (e.g., a funny story about any animal).
6. Favorite Memes
Students share their favorite (appropriate) meme of the week in the chat.
Pitfall to Avoid: Make sure to remind students to keep the content school-appropriate.
Make your icebreakers visual
If you want to go with a "tell me about yourself" type of icebreaker then how about making it visual?
StreamAlive helps you to visualize your chat stream into word clouds, call-out bubbles, or even a Tetris-inspiring wall of cascading tiles.