ESL icebreakers that work online - 1

 Here are some tried and tested icebreakers for use in an online classroom for a range of ages. Most of these activities can be reformulated to fit varying ages and levels.

Picture Wall

I show students 6 pictures and have them make sentences relating the picture to me. For example, 'You studied at university', or 'you like to play volleyball'.

Then I have students follow a link to a picture sharing platform (such as Padlet) and share their own 3-6 pictures (depending on class size). Then I have other students guess what the relation is to each other. On Padlet, they can even comment their ideas on each others' pictures.

Two truths & a lie

Vary this well-known game based on the age/level of the class. For a more advanced class, have them take on the role of 'detectives' and question each other until they figure out the lie, a la the British TV quiz show Would I Lie to You? 

Remember to set a model for the students to follow!

5 questions

Show students a hand with five answers. Have them guess the possible questions. Adjust it to the difficulty of the class. Then have them trace their own hands and come up with their own 5 answers. Encourage creativity and ask the other students to deduce the questions.

Introduce your town

This one's good for if you've just moved somewhere to teach. Explain to groups that you have recently arrived there and need some recommendations. This can be easily adjusted to trial different grammar points, e.g. by using 'the best thing to eat/do/see' or 'something I have to do/see'. Have students feedback to the group and see if they agree/disagree with each other.

Secret code

I like to use a good chunk of time with kids to make a class 'secret code'. Here, I get them to think of a word that starts with each letter of the alphabet (A - apple, B - balloon, C - chocolate, etc.). We then make a chart together with pictures for each letter of the selected object. Then they can write 'secret codes' for each other, using the pictures to represent the letter. 

For example: They might draw 'Egg, Nurse, Gold, Lightbulb, Iguana, Snake, Hat' - to spell out 'English'. You can then use the 'class picture alphabet' to spell out words for them to guess in the future as a warm-up. 

Circle art

Get students to draw 3 circles on paper. Then they should decorate the circles however they want (planets, cheese, pizza, flowers, sunshine). Get them to explain their choices to the class.

3 words

Students should describe these pictures in just 3 words in groups. Report back to the class.