3 Quick & Fun Active Listening Games to Build Community (No Prep!)

Perfect for Back-to-School or Anytime You Want a Classroom Boost

It’s easy to say you’ll let your students get to know each other. Then September turns to October and... your class still doesn’t know all the names. Been there? Me too.

Here’s an easy fix:
Try these 3 low-prep active listening games to help students move, reflect, and build connections without needing extra resources.

This one's easy to play and doesn't require anything other than your questions.

To Play It: Tell your students that you're going to say a word or a phrase.  After they hear it, they're to get up and line themselves across the room on the diagonal (the best way for me to fit them all in a line) from "I totally hate it" in one corner to "It's my favorite thing" in the other.  Ask about anything - Crocs, chocolate ice cream, missing the bus, getting a bad grade, historical fiction.

The Cool thing: Students learn that others feel the same (or differently) than they do, and it creates some new connections.  A great way for them to learn about each other that has nothing to do with who's cool or who's smart or whatever labels they put on each other.

To Play It: Click here to bring up the spinner on your screen.   Choose a student and let them spin the wheel.  They have to answer the question.

OR pair students up with an inner and an outer circle.  There should be an equal number of students in the inner circle as the outer one; students in the inner circle face those in the outer circle.  Spin the wheel and have each pair take a minute to answer the question.  Then, have one of the circles move a certain number of people to the left or right and spin for another question.

The Cool thing: Students get a chance to talk to each other a little more than in the previous game.  More personal storytelling. More movement. More meaningful conversation. 

To Play It: Hand out an index card to each student and tell them to write their favorite thing in the world on it.  One word only!  

OR you can give it some parameters: favorite dessert, book, memory, etc.  Students walk around the room and find someone else who falls into the same category as them.  Once they've found someone, those two link arms and go search for others.  Ultimately, each group must be prepared to explain the basis of their grouping, so it cannot be random.

The Cool thing: This forces students to have to think outside the box, trying to see if there are ways that chocolate ice cream could be grouped with potato chips.  One year, my students found a way to include everyone in the class in their group.  How welcoming is that?!  

I hope these leave you feeling a little more prepared to start the school year!

✔️ Why Do These Matter?

• They’re no-prep and flexible for any lesson or day

• They create a safe, engaged classroom culture

• Students get to hear and understand different viewpoints

• They work for classrooms of any size or grade level

✅ Pro Tip:

These games are wonderful transition tools—use them when you’re starting a new unit, switching topics, or when you need to re-energize the room.

• Want more community-building activities or icebreakers? Check out my TpT store or sign up for classroom freebies via my email list!