10 Engaging Icebreakers to Kick Off Elementary Counseling Groups
The new school year is here, and if you’re anything like me, your calendar is already full of classroom lessons, Tier 1 initiatives, and, of course, planning for Tier 2 counseling groups. The first weeks of school are the perfect time to use back to school icebreakers in your elementary counseling groups.
Hi, I’m Rachel Davis! I’m a former school counselor with over 8 years of experience in the classroom. I specialize in creating easy-to-implement strategies for busy school counselors, and I am the counselor and curriculum designer behind Bright Futures Counseling , a community designed to offer counselors the support they need to feel confident serving their students well.
Those first few weeks of school are exciting but also a little overwhelming: new students are adjusting to routines, teachers are setting expectations, and staff are beginning to spot individual student needs.
And while we’re eager to dive into interventions, here’s the truth: before we can make an impact on student behavior or skills, we first need to make sure the students walking into our groups feel safe, welcomed, and ready to connect. That’s where engaging icebreakers come in.
Icebreakers aren’t just “fluff.” They set the tone for your group, help students relax, and create space for relationships to grow. And when students trust you and feel connected to their peers, your counseling work becomes that much more effective.
Back to School Icebreakers for School Counseling Groups
Before diving into goal setting or behavior strategies, students need to feel safe, seen, and comfortable in your space. Icebreakers set that tone, helping kids relax, connect, and open up.
When it comes to icebreakers, there are really two approaches:
- Simple, welcoming games that give students a chance to let loose and learn each other’s names.
- Themed activities that tie directly into your small group’s focus, like self-control, social skills, or self-regulation.
Both play an important role! A quick, fun game builds comfort and rapport, while a themed icebreaker helps students start practicing the skills they’ll work on throughout the group. Blending the two throughout the year creates a balance of playfulness and purpose.
As you plan your counseling groups this fall, here are 10 engaging icebreakers that will help you start strong.
1. Introduce Yourself in a Meaningful Way
One of the most powerful icebreakers you can do is simply letting students get to know YOU. Building rapport starts when kids see you as a real person who cares about their story.
Instead of just saying, “I’m the school counselor,” share something personal. Do you have a dog? A favorite snack? A funny story from your own school days? You can even tell them why you became a school counselor in the first place.
I like to take it a step further and let each student ask me a silly question that they have to answer in return! This can help loosen up the nervous jitters and allow the students to get to know each other as well. This small step goes a long way in creating trust. Students feel more comfortable when they know you’re not just an authority figure, but that you’re someone they can relate to.
2. Tour the Counseling Space
Many new students feel overwhelmed at the start of the year. A quick tour of your counseling office (and even a walk around to key school locations like the nurse’s office, bathroom, or lost-and-found) makes your group feel more grounded.
Use this time as an icebreaker by letting students ask questions about specific areas of your room that they may be utilizing. If you have a calm corner or Self-Regulation Station, this is a great opportunity to explain what that space is for, and how students can appropriately use the space when needed.
As you complete your tour, students can share what feels familiar, what’s confusing, or even just something they notice along the way. It helps them feel ownership of the space and sets the stage for comfort during future sessions.
3. The Beach Ball Game
This is always a hit! Write or tape discussion questions onto a beach ball, or whatever ball you have on hand, (examples: “What’s your favorite food?” “Do you have any pets?” “What’s something that makes you laugh?”). Toss the ball around, and wherever a student’s thumb lands, that’s the question they answer.
This game is low-pressure, active, and works beautifully for building connections right away. Plus, you can theme the questions around your group’s focus if you want a sneak peek into the skills you’ll be working on.
4. Dice Breaker
Grab a big foam die and assign a prompt to each number. For example:
1 = Share your favorite color
2 = Tell us your favorite thing to do outside
3 = What’s something that makes you feel calm?
4 = Share a goal you have for this year
5 = What’s one thing that makes you laugh?
6 = Free choice!
This icebreaker is flexible and can easily be adapted to the theme of your group (self-regulation, social skills, goal setting, etc.).
5. Simon Says
Classic games make great themed icebreakers! For a group working on self-control, Simon Says is perfect. Students think they’re just playing, but they’re actually practicing listening, focusing, and waiting to act until they have all the information.
At the end, connect the dots: “Today we practiced listening carefully and following directions, which is the same skill we’ll use when we talk about self-control.”
6. Freeze Dance
Like Simon Says, Freeze Dance is fun, high-energy, and sneaks in a counseling skill. Play some upbeat music and have students dance. When the music stops, they freeze.
This activity gives them practice with impulse control: stopping their body even when they want to keep moving. Again, you can make the connection to self-control or self-regulation during your reflection time. I love to pair this ice-breaker with my Self-Regulation “Ready to Regulate” School Counseling Group!
7. Get-to-Know-You Jenga
This is a low-prep and engaging way to get students talking. Write questions on Jenga blocks and let students answer when they pull a block. Example prompts:
“What’s your favorite holiday and why?”
“If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”
“What’s one thing you’re really good at?”
This icebreaker is hands-on, interactive, and creates natural conversation. For older students, you can use themed questions that connect to your group goals.
8. Bingo
Bingo isn’t just a classroom reward game, it can be a powerful counseling tool. I love starting a Stress Management and Relief Counseling Group with feelings bingo. Use the provided bingo cards, or create your own with vocabulary words related to stress inducing situations and cping strategies (for example: unavoidable, support system, stress busters, etc.).
As you play, students get to practice defining key terms, learning from one another, and reinforcing group skills in a fun, game-like format.
9. Executive Functioning Scavenger Hunt
This one works best for an Executive Functioning and Study Skills Group. Hide words like organization, time management, perseverance, focus, and effort around the room. Students search for them, then share what they found.
You can extend this by discussing how each word shows up in their school life. It’s playful, but it also introduces key vocabulary in a memorable way.
10. “I Have, Who Has” Goal Setting Edition
This simple card game is a great way to start a Goal Setting and Intrinsic Motivation Group. It helps students identify people in their lives who are a part of their support system.
Students will take turns reading their cards. Each student has a card that starts with “I have ___, who has ___?” For example: “I have lantern, who has principal?” Another student may have a card that says, “I have sleeping bag who has counselor?”
This is a silly way to get students involved in thinking about the different people in their lives who can offer them support.
Why Icebreakers Matter
At the end of the day, the point of an icebreaker isn’t just to fill time or entertain students. The purpose is deeper:
- To make students feel comfortable and welcomed.
- To create space where they feel safe to share.
- To give a sneak peek into the skills you’ll be working on together.
The best counseling groups balance lighthearted games with purposeful, skill-based activities. Icebreakers are the bridge between fun and function.
Final Thoughts
The start of the school year is busy: new routines, new students, and new challenges. But when you take a few minutes to introduce back to school icebreakers, you’re laying the foundation for meaningful growth.
Start with a simple welcoming game to get students laughing and talking. Then, as your group continues, layer in themed icebreakers that connect to your small group goals. Remember: the more comfortable and connected students feel, the more likely they are to open up and engage in the work you’re doing together.
If you’re looking for ready-to-use counseling resources, my Elementary Small Group Counseling Curriculum Bundle is designed to help you start strong and make a big impact without spending hours planning. Inside, you’ll find structured lessons, engaging activities, and everything you need to support your students with confidence.