Make the first days of school fun and welcoming with these Back to School Ice Breakers and Team Building Activities!
This comprehensive printable resource includes a range of getting-to-know-you games, All About Me worksheets, conversation starters, team-building challenges and collaborative crafts to help students connect with their classmates and feel more comfortable in a new group.
Whether you’re welcoming a new class, introducing students to a speech therapy group or looking for engaging classroom community-building activities, this pack provides practical ways to encourage participation, communication and cooperation.
With a mixture of no-prep and low-prep activities, you can choose the resources that best suit your students, available time and learning environment.
What’s Included?
All About Me Worksheets and Bunting
Help students introduce themselves, share their interests and learn more about their classmates.
These printable activities provide opportunities for self-expression and can be used to create classroom displays that celebrate the individuals within your group.
Getting to Know You Games
Break the ice with interactive activities designed to encourage students to talk to one another and discover shared interests.
Includes:
- Find Someone Who… Bingo – 7 ready-made boards
- 1 blank Bingo board for creating your own version
- Additional getting-to-know-you activities
These games are ideal for the first week of school, new groups and classroom introductions.
Conversation Starter Cards
Includes 24 conversation starter cards to encourage discussion and help students get to know one another.
Use them during:
- Morning meetings
- Small-group activities
- Speech and language therapy sessions
- Social communication groups
- Partner discussions
The cards provide structured opportunities to practise asking and answering questions, sharing information and taking conversational turns.
Partner Up Cards
Make pairing students for activities easier with these printable Partner Up cards.
Use them to organise pairs and encourage students to interact with different classmates during group tasks.
Team Building Games and Challenges
Encourage teamwork, communication and cooperation through interactive challenges.
Activities include:
- Jump Rope
- Keep It Up
- Additional team-building challenges with instructions and materials
These activities offer opportunities for students to practise working together, listening to others, problem-solving and contributing to shared goals.
Collaborative Crafts and Group Activities
Bring students together through creative activities, including:
- Team flags
- Collaborative artwork
- Craft-based ice breakers
These activities can be used to encourage group discussion, shared decision-making and a sense of belonging.
No-Prep and Low-Prep Ice Breaker Ideas
Choose from a selection of activities that can be adapted to different group sizes, abilities and time constraints.
Whether you have a few minutes at the beginning of a session or a longer period for team building, the pack provides flexible options.
Editable Group Rules Posters
Work together to establish expectations for your classroom or therapy group.
The editable group rules posters allow students to contribute to discussions about respectful communication, cooperation and creating a positive learning environment.
Skills Supported
These back-to-school activities provide opportunities to practise a range of communication and social skills, including:
- Conversation skills – asking questions, answering and sharing information
- Listening skills – attending to instructions and contributions from others
- Turn-taking – participating appropriately in games and discussions
- Teamwork – working cooperatively towards shared goals
- Social communication – interacting with peers in structured activities
- Problem-solving – discussing ideas and making group decisions
- Self-expression – sharing personal interests, experiences and preferences
- Group participation – developing confidence when contributing to activities
Activities can be adapted to accommodate different communication abilities and support needs.
Perfect For
These printable ice breakers and team-building activities can be used in:
- Back-to-school week and the first days of a new term
- Elementary and primary classrooms
- Morning meetings and classroom community-building sessions
- Speech and language therapy groups
- Social communication and friendship groups
- School counselling groups
- Summer school and Extended School Year (ESY) programmes
- New student introductions
- Team-building activities throughout the school year
They can also be adapted for students learning English as an additional language, with appropriate support.
What Teachers and Therapists Are Saying
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“Great resource! A must-have for any teacher or counselor!” – Katie P.
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“This is a great way to build a class community.” – Rebecca C.
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“Simple instructions for ESL students. The students are actually enjoying the worksheets!” – MissMel Creations
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“Love the ideas! Perfect for beginning-of-year activities.” – Leanne J.
US and UK/Australian/Canadian Versions Included
This resource includes US English and UK/Canadian/Australian English spelling versions.
Both versions are provided in a convenient ZIP download, allowing you to select the version most appropriate for your setting.
Build a Positive Classroom Community
Starting a new school year can feel unfamiliar for students, particularly when they’re meeting new classmates or joining a new group.
These Back to School Ice Breakers and Team Building Activities offer a range of practical ways to encourage interaction, introduce group expectations and help students get to know one another.
With printable games, conversation cards, collaborative activities and flexible team-building challenges, you’ll have a collection of resources you can return to throughout the school year.
Important Information
This is a digital download. No physical products will be shipped.
Copyright © The SLT Scrapbook. All rights reserved.
This resource is licensed for use by one purchasing educator or therapist in their own classroom or therapy sessions. You may print copies for use with the students you support.
Redistribution, resale, public sharing or uploading the resource to publicly accessible websites is not permitted. Additional users must obtain their own licence.
Please refer to the full Terms of Use included with your download.
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