The next time you get your group together, consider these easy, fast, and fun meeting icebreaker activities to get the entire group together and ready to focus on the task at hand. Make sure you dedicate some mixer time to the start of your meeting; fifteen minutes should be all you need for the group to get refreshments, mingle, and come together. Then, your meeting warmup icebreaker can get things really going.
Parent Teacher Group Meeting Icebreaker Questions, Talk Amongst Yourselves
You can start your meeting by breaking everyone up into smaller groups, keeping a nice mix of new and established members. Then, display one of these icebreaker questions and allow your members to answer it with one another. These questions create an excellent opportunity for people to get to know one another better.
Meeting Icebreaker Warmup Discussion Topic Ideas
- If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
- Bonus question: What would the title be?
- What’s the scariest thing you’ve done for fun?
- What was something you were known for in school?
- Where would your dream vacation take you?
- If you were a color, what would it be?
- You’re stranded on a deserted island; what three things would you bring?
- What personal passion project are you working on right now?
- What’s one thing you accomplished before you turned 18?
- What was the first concert you attended?
- Do you have a favorite snack or treat?
- What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
- What season best describes you and why?
- If money was no object, what hobby would you like to try?
- If you met a genie, what would your three wishes be?
Once the groups have had time to discuss, you can start the meeting by calling on each group and seeing who learned what about one another and who had the most interesting answers.
Pick the MVP
Each meeting, choose one MVP to speak at the next meeting and tell the group something interesting about themselves and why they’re part of the group. This meeting warmup provides each member of your organization some face time and the chance for people to get to know one another better.
Show and Tell
Do you remember how much fun Show and Tell was as a child? It’s time to bring it back for your next meeting. Select one or two random members and ask them to bring something to Show and Tell for your next meeting and answer questions from the group.
You can also do an alternate version of this by asking a member to share a photo on their mobile phone and asking them to tell the story behind it. Or maybe they can find something in their purse or pocket and tell a story about what the object is and what it means to them.
Speed Meet and Share
Much like speed dating, you can use simple questions, like the ones above, to have members meet and learn about each other one on one. Create stations where one group of members can sit, then have another meet each of them and tell their story with a one-minute time limit.
Share a Survey
Print out a short survey of questions to share with the group. Collect the surveys once your members finish filling them out so you can learn some interesting things about your organization’s members. A group survey is a great way to get things off on the right foot with your group’s more reserved members.
Sit Up or Stand Down
This fun meeting warmup icebreaker sees how many people can remain standing with each question. It starts simple. Anyone who answers no must sit down, so avoid starting with a question like “who here has a kid in our school?” Obviously, your PTA, PTO, or Booster Club is nearly all parents. Instead, use questions designed to get many, but not all, people seated, like “who has traveled outside the US?” Or “who has driven an 18 wheeler?” At the end, call out and introduce the last member still standing.
Play One Common Thing
Break your meeting into small groups of four to six people, then set aside five minutes. Each group will discuss at least five things they have in common, such as a movie they all like, the food they like to make, favorite colors, or hobbies. The more unique the things they have in common, the better! Then, each team presents how they discovered what they have in common. The best thing about this exercise is that we all have something in common with one another, no matter how different we may seem. Get ready to be surprised!
Time for an Icebreaker Game!
Pictionary, Scattergories, Would You Rather, trivia, and BINGO all make great meeting warmup activities. They get even more engagement when there’s a prize on the line for the winner.
What are Your Four C’s?
The Four C’s is a fun meeting warmup activity that gets everyone’s brain thinking. Everyone needs to pick something from each of the Four C’s (cartoons character, color, car, and cuisine) that best describes them as a person.
Interactive Icebreaker Activities
A quick game like ball taps, in which your group tries to keep a ball or balloon up in the air for as long as they can, requires communication and teamwork while getting the blood flowing to start your next meeting with some high energy.
Another icebreaker that mixes physicality with getting to know one another is group juggling. It’s easy – start by saying a member’s name and then tossing them a ball. They then pick someone else, say their name, and toss the ball. Repeat that until everyone has a chance to throw and catch. And if you don’t know someone’s name, this is the perfect time for them to introduce themselves.
Play the Classic Icebreaker Game, Telephone
This game is perfect for large groups. It starts when players sit in a circle or stand in a straight line. They should be close enough to whisper but far enough apart so that they can’t hear what each other is saying.
The first person in the line or circle whispers a phrase to the person on their right, and then that person does the same. Repeat this until you reach the last player. At this point, the first person and the last repeat their phrases. You won’t believe how wildly simple phrases change in this fun game.
Here Are Some Fun Telephone Starter Phrases
- Wednesday is always hump day for camels
- Rabbits rumble, dogs bark, wolves woo
- The shark tank has a guppy
- More maids mop hotels
- Suitcase with a new suit
- Ten cups in the cupboard
- My dad got me a pink balloon
- Sparkling sweet sugar
Share Something New Icebreaker
Has something incredible happened to you or another member since your last meeting? Use the start of your next gathering to tell your story, or open the floor up to another member to share a quick personal anecdote or story.
Need More Tips?
AIM’s website has plenty of resources for getting the most out of your next meeting. Here are a few links to some ideas that’ll help you as you plan your group’s agenda:
Increase Male Engagement in Your Parent-Teacher Group
If you are looking for a way to grow your parent-teacher group and the good it can do for your students, consider increasing male involvement. AIM has a few strategies your group can use to help increase male engagement in your parent-teacher group.
How to Run a PTO: Tips to Boost Meeting Attendance
New and incumbent parent-teacher group officers know the success of their group is often tied to meeting attendance. But, measuring attendance alone is not a great measurement of success. It’s about what you do with the people you have that shows you know how to run a PTO.
How To Plan A Successful PTO Meeting
Looking to make your Parent Teacher Organization’s meetings the best they can be? Whether you’re a newly-elected officer or a PTO veteran, here’s how to plan a successful PTO meeting and take your meetings to the next level.
3 Icebreakers for Your Virtual Parent Teacher Group Meetings
Need some meeting warmup activities for a virtual parent-teacher group meeting? These icebreakers will keep your members connected even if they’re not there in person.
AIM is here to help your organization succeed. Check out our other blogs for fundraising inspiration, tips, PTA, PTO, and Booster Club guidance, plus more!