This school year, building community in the classroom is essential to creating camaraderie among students as they return. Try these first-day-of-school icebreakers so you can get to know your students better—and 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. Team building in the classroom can help your students feel connected and supported throughout the 2026–2027 school year.
Icebreakers for all grades
Classroom icebreakers and community-building activities for students across all grade levels
School's back in session, which means it's time for a fresh batch of writing prompts for the new year. Have your high school or middle school students try these back-to-school prompts this fall.
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.
Teachers can use these fun back-to-school icebreaker activities for elementary students in the classroom or remotely.
These first-day-of-school icebreakers for high school students will help your class get to know one another while having fun.
Check out our first-day-of-school icebreaker activities for middle school students. Using icebreakers will help ease everyone back into the school routine.
Try these back-to-school getting-to-know-you activities to help students discover more about their classmates on the first day of class.
Short activities for back-to-school
Activities that help students introduce themselves, discover common interests, and build connections
Try out these welcome-back-to-school activities and ideas for students to usher in the new school year.
Explore these back-to-school science activities and experiments for the first day of science 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 5 beginning of the school year activities for any classroom. Create positive first impressions for your students
Get back into science with these back-to-school activities for middle school science.
Explore these back-to-school science activities and experiments for the first day of science class.
Professional learning
Resources that support educators in returning to school, strengthening their professional skills, and exploring opportunities for continued learning
Discover the professional development topics shaping teaching in 2026, including AI, teacher leadership, and instructional strategies designed to support growth, collaboration, and better outcomes for students.
Discover practical tips and strategies for professional development for new teachers.
Find helpful lesson planning tips and resources for new teachers.
Our first-day-of-school checklist for teachers will help get the new school year off to a great start.
Discover 6 ways you can get back into a teaching routine after a holiday break. Recover from a break fresh, renewed, and free of burnout.
Photo: Fourth-grade teacher Toney Jackson
Fourth-grade teacher and HMH ambassador Toney Jackson returns and shares tips to start off the school year as a Teacher MC, including how to empower students by sharing the stage and how to find your teaching crew.
***
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!
