WheelWhirl

Back to School Icebreaker Wheel – First Week of School Games

About this back to school icebreaker wheel

The first week of school sets the cultural foundation for the entire academic year. The Back to School Icebreaker Wheel breaks nervous silences, dissolves cliques, and sparks genuine friendships.

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New here? See how the wheel works: entries, odds, winners, sound and sharing.

Streaming this wheel on Twitch or YouTube?

Open it in the Streamer Studio with a transparent OBS overlay and chat-powered entries.

Open in Streamer Studio

How to use the back to school icebreaker wheel

  1. 1

    Display on your smartboard during morning advisory or homeroom.

  2. 2

    Take turns spinning and having students share their reflections.

Ways to use this wheel

  • First Day Homeroom Opener: Welcome students with low-stress, engaging questions.
  • Peer Introductions: Pair students up for 2 minutes before having them spin for their partner.

A friendlier first week

The first week of school is nerve-wracking. Light questions help: the coolest thing you did this summer, a goal or skill you want to build, what you would do if you taught for a day, a favorite subject. The wheel asks one at random.

Spin for each student or in small groups. Teachers should answer first to model sharing.

Creating a safe space

Allow students to pass. Avoid questions about family, money or appearance. Add questions that fit your class and age group, and revisit the activity later in the year to keep the community strong.

All 6 entries on this wheel

  • What was the single coolest thing you did over summer break?
  • What is one goal or skill you want to achieve this school year?
  • If you were a teacher for a day, what subject would you teach?
  • What is your favorite school lunch or after-school snack?
  • Would you rather have infinite recess OR infinite free reading time?
  • Introduce the person sitting to your left with their favorite hobby

Frequently asked questions

Can shy students decline to answer?

We always recommend allowing students to pass or choose a neighbor to help them answer.

What is on the Back to School Icebreaker Wheel?

It opens with 6 entries: What was the single coolest thing you did over summer break?, What is one goal or skill you want to achieve this school year?, If you were a teacher for a day, what subject would you teach? and 3 more. You can keep the list as it is or replace it with your own entries.

What can I use this wheel for?

People use it for the holiday season. Popular ideas include First Day Homeroom Opener and Peer Introductions. For example, First Day Homeroom Opener: welcome students with low-stress, engaging questions.

Is this wheel really random?

Yes. The result is picked by a secure random number generator in your browser before the animation starts, and the animation only shows it. Each of the 6 entries starts with the same 16.67% chance unless you set different weights. See how our randomness works for the details.

Can I stop the same result coming up twice?

Yes. Switch on Remove winner after each spin and every entry that comes up leaves the wheel. With 6 entries you can draw up to 6 different results in a row, then reset the list to start over.

Can I share or embed this wheel?

Yes. The Share button gives you a link with your edited list built in, so anyone who opens it sees the same wheel. The Embed button gives you code to place it on your own page.

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