Icebreakers

Icebreakers

A collection of get-to-know-you prompts and activities to build community in your camp. Use these during Opening Circle, Brain Breaks, or anytime you want to help scholars connect and feel comfortable with each other.

Facilitation Tips

As the facilitator, you set the emotional thermostat for the room! Be prepared to model the energy you want to see. If you want deep answers, share a slightly vulnerable story. If you want quick energy, keep your answer to five words. Remind scholars that they are welcome to skip a prompt or circle back once they’ve had more time to process, which reduces the pressure of the spotlight. Depending on the activity and your modality, you can also vary the format:
  • In-Person: Stand on different sides of the room for "This or That"
  • Virtual: Use Zoom polls, a chat waterfall, or reactions

Question Banks

The prompts below are organized by time commitment and purpose to help you choose the right tool for any moment in the day. Whether you need a 60-second round of “This or That” to fill a transition between lessons or a 15-minute “Get to Know You” session for intentional House time, these banks are designed to scale with your agenda. Select a category based on your current time constraints and the energy you want to cultivate among your scholars!

Quick Fire: "This or That” ⚡

Best for: Transition moments, chat engagement, or high-energy moments
  1. Dog or Cat?
  1. Netflix or YouTube?
  1. Phone Call or Text?
  1. Toast or Eggs?
  1. Cardio or Weights?
  1. Facebook or Twitter?
  1. Ice Cream Cone or Snow Cone?
  1. Mobile Games or Console Games?
  1. While walking/ working out: Music or Podcasts?
  1. iOS or Android?
  1. Form or Function?
  1. Cake or Pie?
  1. Swimming or Sunbathing?
  1. High-tech or Low-tech?
  1. Big Party or Small Gathering?
  1. New Clothes or New Phone?
  1. Work Hard or Play Hard?
  1. What’s worse: Laundry or Dishes?
  1. Jogging or Hiking?
  1. Bath or Shower?
  1. Sneakers or Sandals?
  1. Glasses or Contacts?
  1. Burger or Taco?
  1. Couch or Recliner?
  1. Online Shopping or Shopping in a Store?
  1. Receive: Email or Letter?
  1. Passenger or Driver?
  1. Tablet or Computer?
  1. Amusement Park or Day at the Beach?
  1. At a movie: Candy or Popcorn?
  1. Pen or Pencil?
  1. Toilet paper: Over or Under?
  1. Cups in the cupboard: Right Side Up or Up Side Down?
  1. Pancake or Waffle?
  1. Coke or Pepsi?
  1. Coffee Cup or Thermos?
  1. Blinds or Curtain?
  1. Train or Plane?
  1. Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee?
  1. Meat or Vegetables?
  1. Save or Spend?
  1. Honesty or Other’s Feelings?
  1. Coffee or Tea?
  1. TV or Book?
  1. Movie at Home or Movie at the Theater?
  1. Ocean or Mountains?
  1. Horror Movie or Comedy Movie?
  1. City or Countryside?
  1. Winter or Summer?
  1. Mac or PC?
  1. Console Gaming or PC Gaming?
  1. Soup or Sandwich?
  1. Card Game or Board Game?
  1. Classical Art or Modern Art?
  1. Camping or Binge Watching Shows at Home?
  1. Working Alone or Working in a Team?
  1. Dine In or Delivery?
  1. Sweater or Hoodie?
  1. Book or eBook?
  1. When sleeping: Fan or No Fan?
  1. TV Shows or Movies?

The Energy Shifter: Mandela Effect 🤯

Best for: Waking up the brain during a mid-afternoon slump; great for "mini-debates”
  1. Is it “Looney Toons” or “Looney Tunes”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Looney Tunes”
      Graphic
      notion image
  1. Is it “Berenstein Bears” or “Berenstain Bears”
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Berenstain Bears”
      Graphic
      notion image
  1. Did Curious George have a tail or no tail?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      NO TAIL!!
      Graphic
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  1. Is it “Febreeze” or “Febreze”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Febreze”
      Graphic
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  1. Is it “Sketchers” or “Skechers”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Skechers”
      Graphic
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  1. Is it “Fruit Loops” or “Froot Loops”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Froot Loops”
      Graphic
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  1. Is “Chartreuse” a shade of Green or Pink?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      It’s a shade of green!
      Graphic
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  1. Is his name “Smokey The Bear” or “Smokey Bear”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Smokey Bear”
      Graphic
      notion image
  1. Is it “Cheez-Itz” or “Cheez-It”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Cheez-It”
      Graphic
      notion image
  1. Is it “Double Stuf” or “Double Stuff”?
      2. 🤯 ANSWER
      “Double Stuf”
      Graphic
      notion image

Building Community: GTKY Prompts 🤝

Best for: Opening/Closing circles or House time
  1. What movie or show can you watch over and over?
  1. What is the most adventurous food you’ve tried?
  1. What is your claim to fame?
  1. Which superhero would you most like to be?
  1. What is your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure?
  1. How do you like to waste time / procrastinate?
  1. Do you prefer camping or luxurious travel?
  1. What is your favorite place in the world?
  1. If you were a thing, what would you be?
  1. What do you do on a typical Sunday?
  1. Where are you from originally?
  1. Are you more of a city or country person?
  1. What was the last song you listened to?
  1. Are you a night owl or an early bird?
  1. What would you take with you to a desert island?
  1. If you had to be someone else for a day, who would you be and why?
  1. If you were to star in a movie, who would you like as your co-star?
  1. What would be the title of your biography?
  1. Exploring or lazing on the beach?
  1. DIY or call an expert?

KWK Mission Prompts 💚

Best for: Connecting the social fun back to the purpose of camp
  1. What aspect of camps are you most looking forward to this summer?
  1. Brag about yourself! What’s one coding related thing you’ve learned/ figured out that you’re most proud of?!
  1. What have you built with your coding super powers that you are most proud of?
  1. If you could use tech to solve one problem in your community, what would it be?