This post is going to unpack seven amazing icebreakers that work incredibly well for college students. Whether you’re dealing with first-year students who are nervous, trying to be cool, and feeling a bit uncomfortable, or you’re engaging upperclassmen, these icebreakers are designed to make meaningful connections. And let’s face it, facilitating an icebreaker with people who are scared or uncertain takes some real skill.
Icebreaker vs. Connection Before Content
First off, let’s ditch the word icebreaker and replace it with connection before content. Here’s why: connection before content ties the activity to why the students are there in the first place. If they’re attending an orientation or walking into a 400-level class, they’re not there for an icebreaker—they’re there for the topic, for the content. So let’s respect that and make the icebreaker relevant.
1. In the Manner of the Adverb
The first icebreaker, “In the Manner of the Adverb,” is brilliant for making that connection to purpose. All you do is have people engage in conversations or activities they were already going to do, but with a twist. You invite them to do it in the manner of the adverb—for example, quickly, slowly, funnily, or happily. This game adds a playful layer to what could otherwise be a mundane task, making it an engaging and fun way to get people talking and laughing.
You can take any of the following exercises I share and add this adverb layer to make it even more dynamic.
2. Looking Forward To List
This exercise is perfect for balancing the needs of introverts and extroverts, giving everyone some reflection time before speaking. The idea comes from Helen Tupper, and it’s called a Looking Forward To List. College students, whether just starting out or already deep into their studies, always have something to look forward to.
Here’s how it works: give participants 10 seconds to think about or write down three things they’re looking forward to. It can be something immediate or distant, personal or academic. Afterward, have them get into groups of three to share those things. You can add a layer of interaction by inviting the group members to ask questions about what each person shared.
This creates meaningful connections and allows people to bond over things they genuinely care about.
3. The Question Swap
This is my favorite connection before content activity, and I’ve never seen it fail. The Question Swap involves using We Connect Cards, which I originally designed for college students. Each card has a question on one side and an action on the back. These cards are color-coded—green for fun and light, purple for reflective, and blue for deep—and give students the freedom to choose the type of conversation they want to have.
Here’s how it works: each participant gets a card, pairs up with someone, asks the question on the card, listens to the answer, and then swaps cards. Afterward, they signal by raising their hand and find a new partner to continue the process. The beauty of this exercise is its flexibility—students can connect as briefly or deeply as they like, and it keeps them moving and engaged.
4. Mirror Neurons
Now for something wacky and fun: Mirror Neurons. This activity taps into our brain’s natural empathy response—the same thing that makes you cry when you watch a sad movie. The idea is simple: pair up, lock eyes, and on the count of three, both participants do the action on the back of their card. If you match actions, you earn a point.
This fast-paced game brings lots of energy and laughter, which helps break the ice and gets everyone involved. It’s adaptable too—if someone can’t do certain physical actions, they can modify the exercise to match in a way that works for them.
5. Question Shopping
A lower-key icebreaker is Question Shopping. This is a slow-motion version of the Question Swap. Spread a bunch of good questions over a table and have students pick one they’d like to ask and answer. After choosing, they pair up with someone and dive into a meaningful conversation.
This works well as an unofficial start to an event, where students can ease into conversations in a low-pressure environment. The questions act as a shield, making it easier for people to ask and answer without feeling like they’re being too vulnerable.
6. To Be vs. To Do List
One of the most powerful icebreakers is the To Be vs. To Do List. Inspired by my late coauthor, Will Wise, this exercise encourages students to think about who they want to be in college, not just what they want to do.
First, ask students to take a few minutes to write down all the things they want to do during their time in college—things like academic goals, extracurricular activities, or personal milestones. Then, shift the focus: Who do you want to be while doing these things? Do they want to be compassionate, generous, hardworking, or joyful?
This exercise helps students reflect on their values and gives them a chance to share meaningful insights with their peers. It’s a great way to set a tone of introspection and connection for the semester.
7. Best In-Person Group Activity
Finally, if you want to see these activities in action and take things to the next level, check out my video where I demonstrate what I consider the best in-person group activity. It’s a fantastic way to witness how these techniques can create real connections and energize a group of students.
I’m Chad Littlefield. There are 500 other videos like this with really useful stuff. Consider subscribing. Have an awesome day!