Icebreaker question generator
Pick where you are and how deep you want to go, then draw a question. There are 251 original questions, and none repeats until every one in your setting has had its turn.
What's a small thing that made this week better?
Question 1 of 62 · no repeats until all 62 are used
A list for the room
Draw several at once for a handout, a slide or a stack of cut-up cards. They come from the same deck, so they won't repeat what you've already seen.
Icebreaker questions
Running an icebreaker well
- Go first. Answer the question yourself, briefly. People copy the length and openness of the first answer.
- Let people pass. "Pass, or tell us your favourite snack instead" keeps it light for anyone who'd rather not share.
- Keep it short. In a meeting, about one minute each is plenty; for big groups, ask in pairs and have a few share back.
- Match the depth to the trust. Light questions suit new groups and short calls; the deeper ones work best on retreats and with people who already know each other a little.
How the generator works
Every question is tagged with the settings it suits and whether it is light or deeper. When you choose a setting and depth, those questions are shuffled into a deck and dealt one at a time, so you won't see a repeat until the deck is used up; then it reshuffles and tells you. Your place in the deck is saved in this browser, so next week's meeting carries on where you stopped. Classroom questions are written to suit children and teenagers.
Questions
Can I use these questions in my workshop or lesson?
Yes. They were written for this site and you are welcome to use them, print them and adapt them.
What is the difference between light and deeper?
Light questions are quick and low-stakes, like favourite snacks or the week's small wins. Deeper ones invite a little reflection, such as advice you'd give your younger self, without prying into anything private.
How do I start the deck again?
Switching to another setting or depth starts that deck. To reshuffle the current one, just keep going: after the last question it reshuffles on its own.