Engaging students at the start of an online lesson can be challenging. How do you quickly connect with students and get them excited and ready for learning online?
We have found that the simplest way to kick-start an online lesson is to ask a fun icebreaker question.
Icebreaker questions are easy to use (no additional technology or extensive preparation required) and students can respond in different ways. You can offer students the option to answer orally or write their response in the Zoom chat. Another great way to encourage low-stakes engagement is to have students use the “thumb up” Zoom reaction to show their agreement with their peers’ answers.
While there are many icebreaker questions available online, most are aimed at adults in remote meetings. I culled these lists for questions that work well with students and provide a fun beginning to any online class. Here are some of my favorites:
Would you rather be reincarnated as a cat or a dog?
If you could try any food, what would it be?
You can only eat one food again for the rest of your life. What is it?
Who’s your favorite Disney character?
What superpower would you most want?
What dog breed would you be?
What’s your favorite holiday?
What’s your favorite magical or mythical creature?
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
What’s your favorite dessert?
Would you rather go back in time or visit the future?
Would you rather be able to teleport or fly?
Would you rather have a pet lion, pet elephant, or pet whale?
Would you rather live under the sea or on the moon?
What’s the strangest food you ever tried?
If you could have any unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
If you could be any supernatural creature, which would you pick?
Which movie made you laugh the most?
What is the origin of your name?
Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room?
Do you use icebreakers to engage students during online lessons? Let us know your favorites in the comments!
- Elizabeth Ross, M.A., SMARTS Media Manager
To find more icebreaker questions, check out these links:
The Only List of Icebreaker Questions You’ll Ever Need
Icebreakers, do’s and don’ts, and some that don’t suck
25 Strategies to Engage Students on Your Next Zoom Meeting