Friendship Icebreaker Activity Kit

About this resource

Most kids have never practiced how a new conversation starts. This friendship icebreaker activity kit gives Grades 1–3 a low-stakes place to do it, with a few specific moves: ask a question, listen, find something in common and share something about yourself. It builds Relationship Skills.

What students practice

• Starting a conversation
• Listening carefully to a partner
• Finding common ground
• Sharing something about themselves

What’s inside

• A teacher guide with a detailed script and a flexible outline: three steps, about 25 minutes
• A Get-to-Know-You Prompts Sheet with eight conversation starters, two copies per page, in 2 versions
• An About Me Worksheet with seven fill-in lines to share with a partner
• Reflection Questions Cards: five questions, four cards per page, in 2 versions
• A Weekly Icebreaker Tracker with four weeks of check-ins, in 2 versions; 15 pages in all

A look inside

• From the teacher script: “Sometimes we call things we both like ‘common ground.’ Finding common ground helps us feel connected”
• Get-to-Know-You Prompts: “What’s something you’re really good at?”
• Reflection Questions: “What similarities did you find between yourself and your partner?”

How to use this friendship icebreaker kit

• Open with a few get-to-know-you questions and ask students to think of one thing that makes them happy
• Students answer prompts on paper and fill in the About Me worksheet, with a favorite game, a superpower and one fun fact
• Partners take turns while the other listens carefully
• Talk about what partners had in common, then keep the habit going with the four-week tracker

Grade fit

The light prompts and short worksheet suit Grades 1–3 in early elementary. It is one of the SEL activities that works well when the class needs to get to know each other.

Pairs well with

Follow it with The Friend Circle, or build listening with Active Listening and Clear Expression.