Icebreakers are an excellent way to foster engagement, build camaraderie, and create a positive atmosphere in online teaching and remote team settings.
These quick, fun activities can help break the ice and encourage participation, making everyone feel more comfortable and connected.
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Here’s a guide with 19 five-minute icebreakers you can use for online teaching and remote teams:
1. Two Truths and a Lie:
Each participant shares three statements about themselves, two true and one false. Others guess which statement is the lie.
2. Emoji Introductions:
Ask participants to introduce themselves using only emojis. They can get creative and use as many emojis as they want.
3. Virtual Scavenger Hunt:
Provide a list of items, and participants race to find them around their homes. The first one to bring back all items wins.
4. Guess the Sound:
Play short audio clips of various sounds, and participants have to guess what the sound is. You can use animal noises, common household sounds, or anything else you can think of.
5. Pictionary Challenge:
Use an online whiteboard or drawing app. Participants take turns drawing objects, and others try to guess what they’re drawing.
6. This or That:
Ask participants a series of “this or that” questions, and they respond with their choices. For example, “Coffee or tea?” “Beach or mountains?”
7. Fun Facts Speed Round:
Each participant quickly shares a fun fact about themselves in 20 seconds or less.
8. Virtual Dance Party:
Play a fun, upbeat song and encourage everyone to dance along for a minute or two.
9. Movie Emoji Quiz:
Show a series of emojis representing famous movies, and participants try to guess the film title.
10. Memory Wall:
Ask participants to show an object of personal significance in their video background and share the story behind it.
11. Desert Island Game:
Participants share which three things they’d bring to a deserted island and explain their choices.
12. Joke Time:
Have everyone share a quick joke or a funny story.
13. Virtual Traveler:
Participants describe their dream travel destination and why they want to go there.
14. Word Association:
Start with a random word, and each participant quickly says the first word that comes to mind. Keep going for a few rounds.
15. Riddle Me This:
Share a few riddles and see who can solve them the fastest.
16. Pet Parade:
If team members have pets, invite them to introduce their furry friends to the group briefly.
17. Show and Tell:
Ask participants to grab a random object near them and briefly show and explain it to the group.
18. Inspirational Quotes:
Participants share their favorite inspirational quotes and why they find them meaningful.
19. Virtual High-Five:
End the icebreaker session on a positive note by having everyone virtually high-five or give a thumbs-up to the camera.
Remember to keep the atmosphere light and inclusive, and always be mindful of people’s comfort levels.
We hear this from customers that regularly use of our training courses.
Icebreakers are meant to be fun and create a sense of community, so enjoy the process of getting to know each other better!
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.