This school year building a sense of community in the classroom is essential to restore a sense of camaraderie among students as they return to the classroom. Try these first-day-of-school icebreakers so you can get to know your students better—and as a way to help them introduce themselves to one another.
2026 back-to-school icebreakers
Below is a compilation of activities to try on the first day of class for elementary, middle, and high school. Building community in the classroom can help your students feel connected and supported throughout the 2026–2027 school year.
Teachers can use these fun back-to-school icebreaker activities for elementary students in the classroom or remotely.
Check out our first-day-of-school icebreaker activities for middle school students. Using icebreakers will help ease everyone back into the school routine.
These first-day-of-school icebreakers for high school students will help your class get to know one another while having fun.
These math icebreakers are games and activities that span all grades to help math teachers get students practicing math while getting to know one another.
Try these back-to-school getting-to-know-you activities to help students discover more about their classmates on the first day of class.
Ease the first-day-jitters! Explore three first-day-jitters activities that you can implement in your first grade classroom year after year.
Explore “All About Me” activities for elementary and middle school students. Help your students to celebrate what makes them different.
***
View more back-to-school articles and resources for educators on Shaped to start the 2026–2027 school year off right.
This blog, originally published in 2021, has been updated for 2026.
Download our FREE calendar of activities!
