In the transformed landscape of education, where digital classrooms have become the new norm, teachers are continuously exploring innovative ways to break down virtual barriers and foster a welcoming learning atmosphere.

Zoom, the widely embraced platform for virtual learning, offers a fertile ground for interactive and engaging pedagogical strategies. The importance of icebreakers, especially in such settings, cannot be overstated, serving not just to warm students up for the session ahead but also to knit closer teacher-student and peer relationships.

These 6 Zoom icebreakers are crafted with the aim of making every student feel seen, heard, and connected, laying the groundwork for a productive and inclusive educational environment. From thought-provoking questions to creative team-building activities, each icebreaker is designed to be both accessible and effective across the digital divide. Engaging students in these activities helps set a positive tone for the class, encouraging participation and making the virtual space feel more personal and less intimidating.

1. Virtual Background Challenge

How It Works: At the start of the class, challenge students to select or create a virtual background related to a specific theme (e.g., a place you’d love to visit, your favorite book or movie). Give them a minute or two to change their backgrounds, and then have each student share a quick story about why they chose their particular background.

Example Usage: “Today’s theme for our Virtual Background Challenge is ‘places we dream of visiting.’ Please change your Zoom background to a place you would love to visit someday and be ready to share why you chose it.”

Pitfalls to Avoid: Ensure all students know how to change their backgrounds before this activity. Choose inclusive themes that all students can relate to, avoiding topics that may inadvertently exclude or embarrass someone.

2. Two Truths and a Lie – Academic Edition

How It Works: Each student thinks of two true statements and one false statement related to a subject matter or personal academic achievements. Their peers guess which statement is the lie.

Example Usage: “Let’s play Two Truths and a Lie with a twist—focus on our current topic or your own academic experiences. For example, ‘I’ve read every book by J.K. Rowling, I finished a math olympiad, and I’ve never gotten an A in history.’”

Pitfalls to Avoid: Remind students to keep their statements respectful and appropriate. Encourage them to think of facts that are not too obscure, to keep the game engaging for everyone.

3. Show and Tell, Digital Edition

How It Works: Assign students to bring a digital item to share with the class (e.g., a photo, a piece of digital artwork, a favorite song). Allocate a minute per student to present their item and explain why it’s meaningful to them.

Example Usage: “For our next class, please prepare a digital show and tell. You might share a favorite family photo, a piece of art you created, or a song that’s meaningful to you. We’ll spend the first few minutes of class sharing with each other.”

Pitfalls to Avoid: Make sure students know in advance to choose something shareable and appropriate for class. Offer alternatives or solutions for students who may have technical difficulties sharing their items.

4. Classroom Polls

How It Works: Use Zoom’s polling feature to create interactive, live polls about light-hearted topics, class material, or students' opinions on subjects. Share the results live for immediate discussion and interaction.

Example Usage: “Let’s start with a quick poll to see what everyone thinks about the topic we discussed last class. Here are three statements about the subject—please choose the one you agree with most.”

Pitfalls to Avoid: Keep polls anonymous to encourage honest answers. Ensure that the poll questions are unbiased and sensitive to students’ diverse backgrounds and opinions.

5. Emoji Storyboard

How It Works: Challenge students to create a short story or describe their weekend using only emojis in the chat. Then, have them or their classmates translate the emoji series into a verbal story.

Example Usage: “Let’s see who can come up with the most creative story using only emojis. After you’ve posted your emoji sequence in the chat, we'll take turns guessing what your story might be about.”

Pitfalls to Avoid: Encourage creativity but remind students to select emojis appropriate for a classroom setting. Be aware that some students might be less familiar with the nuances of emojis, so offer guidance or examples to help level the playing field.

6. Guided Imagery Mini-Break

How It Works: Lead students through a short, guided imagery or mindfulness exercise to help them relax and refocus. Use descriptive language to transport them to a calm, imaginative place, assisting in stress reduction and concentration.

Example CMarty: “Let’s take a three-minute mini-break. Close your eyes if you’re comfortable, and imagine you’re walking through a peaceful forest. The sun is filtering through the trees, and you can hear birds chirping softly in the distance.”

Pitfalls to Avoid: Ensure that these exercises are always presented as optional, respecting students’ comfort levels with such activities. Choose imagery that is general and universally relaxing to avoid unintentionally triggering stress or anxiety in students.