Hey there counselor friend! If you’re running Tier 2 small groups, you already know this truth: you can have the best lessons planned, but if students don’t feel safe or comfortable, the real work won’t happen.
School Counseling Icebreaker Activities for Small Groups
That’s why it is essential to incorporate school counseling icebreaker activities into your small group lessons!
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.
Icebreakers aren’t just a “first-session thing” or a time filler when we don’t have enough planned. When used intentionally, they help students feel seen, reduce anxiety, and build the trust needed for meaningful skill-building in small groups, especially at the elementary level or during the back-to-school season.
Whether you’re leading tier 2 small groups focused on friendship skills, self-regulation, executive functioning, or emotional awareness, beginning the session with icebreaker activities will help increase engagement and build rapport.
Keep reading for some of my favorite, simple yet engaging school counseling icebreaker activities that you can seamlessly incorporate into your tier 2 groups!
Why Icebreakers Matter in Tier 2 Small Groups
Tier 2 students often walk into small group sessions carrying a mix of emotions: nervousness, uncertainty, and sometimes past experiences that make opening up feel risky.
Thoughtfully chosen school counseling get to know you activities help by:
- Lowering anxiety and resistance
- Creating peer connection and group cohesion
- Establishing psychological safety
- Modeling appropriate sharing and listening
- Giving you valuable insight into student needs
To put it simply, icebreakers help students shift from “I don’t know if I want to be here” to “This feels okay… maybe even fun.”
Icebreakers are an essential component of school counseling small groups because they help students feel comfortable and connected.
How to Choose the Right School Counseling Icebreaker Activities
Trust me when I say that I completely understand how much you already have on your plate as a school counselor. Let me reassure you that when designing your small group curriculum and choosing icebreaker activities, you don’t need to go crazy!
Choose activities that are simple, build rapport, and introduce the group topic.
Before jumping into a game, ask yourself two questions:
- What does this group need right now? (Movement? Calm? Connection? Laughter?)
- How does this support our group goal? (Social skills, self-control, emotional awareness, etc.)
The best icebreakers balance fun with function. They should be playful enough to engage students, but purposeful enough to support your counseling objectives.
During the first session of the small group, I like to choose an icebreaker activity that helps students get to know one another and builds community; however, for the following sessions, I suggest choosing an activity that helps introduce the session topic.
For example, if you are talking about self-control strategies, the icebreaker may be a freeze game that lends to the topic and spurs conversation.
School Counseling Icebreaker Activities for Elementary Small Groups
When planning small groups and choosing icebreakers, I tend to choose between the following types of activities:
- Discussion cards
- Games
- Movement activities
- Videos
- Beach Ball Toss
- Jenga
- Sides of the Room
Now obviously these are just a handful of suggestions! Let’s dive into some specific school counseling icebreaker activities that you can easily incorporate into your own tier 2 small group sessions.
1. “All About Me” Share Cards
This is a simple, low-pressure way to get students talking.
Create or print cards with prompts like:
- My favorite snack is…
- Something I’m really good at…
- One thing that helps me feel calm…
Students choose one card to answer. This activity works well for early sessions and gives quieter students an entry point into sharing.
Bonus: These cards double as get-to-know-you therapy activities for kids when reused in class lessons or tier 3 individual sessions.
2. Feelings Emoji Check-In
Place emotion cards or emoji visuals on the table and invite students to choose one that matches how they’re feeling today.
Then ask:
- “What made you pick that one?”
- “Does anyone else feel the same today?”
This icebreaker builds emotional vocabulary and normalizes feelings, especially helpful for social emotional learning and self-regulation groups.
3. Beach Ball Questions
Write prompts directly on a beach ball and toss it around the group. Wherever a student’s thumb lands, that’s the question they answer.
Prompt ideas:
- Something that makes me laugh
- One thing I like about school
- A time I felt proud of myself
This is one of those school counseling icebreaker activities that works for almost any group and age.
4. Dice Roll Get-to-Know-You Game
Assign a question to each number on a large foam die. Students roll and respond.
Example:
1 – Favorite thing to do after school
2 – Someone who helps you
3 – Something you’re working on
4 – Favorite place to feel calm
5 – A goal you have
6 – Free choice
It’s structured, predictable, and perfect for students who thrive with clear expectations.
5. Two Truths and a Wish
Instead of “Two Truths and a Lie,” which can feel tricky for younger students, try two truths and a wish.
Students share:
- Two true things about themselves
- One thing they wish or hope for
This activity encourages sharing while keeping things positive and future-focused.
6. Compliment Circle
Have students sit in a circle. One student starts by giving a specific, kind compliment to the person next to them.
You can scaffold with sentence starters:
- “I appreciate you because…”
- “You’re good at…”
This icebreaker supports social skills, empathy, and positive peer interactions. It would work great for friendship or social skills groups.
7. Would You Rather? (Counselor Edition)
Ask light, kid-friendly questions and let students explain their choices.
Examples:
- Would you rather read a book or play outside?
- Would you rather work alone or with a partner?
- Would you rather feel calm or excited?
This activity promotes decision-making, communication, and self-awareness, all while keeping energy high.
8. Jenga with Prompts
Write get-to-know-you or SEL questions on Jenga blocks. When students pull a block, they answer the question before stacking it back on top.
This hands-on activity is especially effective for elementary students who struggle to sit and talk for long periods.
Tips for Using Icebreakers Effectively
- Keep it short. 5–10 minutes is plenty.
- Model sharing first. Students take cues from you.
- Honor pass options. Safety comes before participation.
- Reflect at the end. Help students connect the activity to group skills.
Final Thoughts
When used intentionally, icebreakers aren’t fluff, they’re foundational to building positive relationships and having successful school counseling small groups.
When students feel comfortable, connected, and safe, your Tier 2 small group interventions become more effective, more meaningful, and honestly… more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Start with simple, engaging school counseling icebreaker activities, then layer in skill-based work as trust grows. You don’t need elaborate prep, just intention, consistency, and a little bit of play.
If you’re looking for ready-to-use, counselor-approved small group resources, including icebreakers and lesson plans, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. My Group Curriculum Super Bundle has everything you need to implement a full Tier II school counseling program.
With 20 small groups and ready-to-use lessons, activities, and games, you will have something available for every situation. This group counseling curriculum meets ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors standards and has self-assessments to collect data-driven results.
You’ve got this. And your students are lucky to have you.
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