Are you searching for the perfect Back to School icebreaker activity for multilingual learners to kick off your year? Look no further! This “Find Someone Who” Bingo game is designed to create a welcoming and engaging environment for your students from day one. Not only is this Get to Know You activity fun, but it is thoughtfully created with multilingual learners in mind, making it a fantastic fit for second, third, and fourth-grade classrooms. Great for back to school, a January reset, or when new students arrive. It’s a great first day of school ESL activity and get to know you game.
How to Use This Back to School Icebreaker Activity
This game is called “Find Someone Who,” and it’s one of the best ways to get students moving, talking, and connecting on the very first day of school.
Here’s how it works:
Each student gets a bingo card filled with prompts like “Find someone who has a pet” or “Find someone who likes pizza.” Students walk around the room, ask classmates questions, and write their names in the matching squares. The goal is to get five in a row – Bingo! – but honestly, the real magic is in the conversations happening along the way.
Here’s what a typical first-day session looks like:
- Introduce the activity (5 min) Model it yourself! Show students how to ask the question on the card and how to respond. Keep it simple: “Do you have a pet?” “Yes, I do!” / “No, I don’t.” Write a name, move on.
- Play the game (15-20 min) Students mingle. You circulate, listen, and take note of who’s talking, who’s hesitant, and who might need more support. Someone calls Bingo!, you cheer and keep playing until time is up.
- Wrap up with writing (10-15 min) — Students complete one of the two differentiated writing extensions. This is a great informal snapshot of where students are starting the year. Be sure to model one example of the expectation orally and in writing.
The whole activity fits comfortably in a 30-45 minute class period, making it perfect for that first day when schedules are unpredictable and you need something flexible. If you have extra time, you can have students share their writing, add illustrations, or recap what everyone learned.
Tips for Supporting Newcomers and Beginning English Learners
If you have students who are brand new to English, don’t worry, this activity was designed with them in mind. Here are a few ways to set everyone up for success:
- Pre-teach the sentence frames before you start. Write “Do you ___?” and “Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.” on the board and practice together as a class. Even one minute of practice makes a huge difference.
- Pair newcomers with a bilingual buddy if possible, or with a patient, friendly classmate who can help model the language.
- Point to the real photos on the cards. The images do a lot of the heavy lifting for students who don’t have the vocabulary yet – they can point and gesture their way through the game while they build confidence.
- Let newcomers observe first for a few minutes if they seem overwhelmed. Most will want to join in once they see how friendly and low-stakes it is.
- Use the simpler writing extension for beginners. It still gives you a writing sample without creating unnecessary frustration on day one.
This activity works beautifully for a January reset too, or when new students arrive mid-year and need a warm, structured way to meet their classmates.
Why Teachers Love This
- Low Prep: Simply print and go! No extra setup is required.
Real Photos: The use of real images makes it visually accessible and engaging for students of all ages, including newcomers in older grades.
Differentiated Writing Support: Includes two writing extension options to meet the diverse needs of your students.
Interactive and Fun: Students get to move, mingle, and practice speaking and listening skills.
Assessment-Friendly: Teachers can easily observe students’ speaking and writing abilities as they interact and complete the follow-up writing activity.
What’s Included:
10 Unique Bingo Game Boards for variety and engagement. Have more students? Just print more than one copy!
Real-Life Photos that support vocabulary and comprehension.
2 Writing Extension Options with differentiated levels.
This activity is perfect for ESL/ELL students, and any group of learners who benefit from visual and interactive supports. You can find this ESL icebreaker for grades 2, 3, and 4 on TPT. Just click on one of the photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades is this activity best for? It’s designed for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade, but it also works wonderfully for older newcomers who are at a beginning English proficiency level. The real photos make it accessible without feeling babyish.
What if I have more than 10 students? Just print multiple copies! With 10 unique bingo boards, most students will have a different card, which keeps the game fresh and means no two students are looking for the exact same names.
Can I use this at other times of year? Absolutely. It works great for a January restart, after a long break, or whenever a new student joins your class mid-year and needs to get to know their classmates.
Do I need any special materials? Nope, just print and go. Students can use any pencil or crayon to mark their squares. If you want tisane to use over and over again, put in dry erase pocket sleeves and use dry erase markers. Just warn students to be careful not to accidentally erase the names.
Make your classroom a place where every student feels seen and heard right from the start. Additionally, you will set the expectation for speaking and interacting with classmates, and it has a writing activity so you can work on all language domains.
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Be sure to also check out my ESL Back to School BUNDLE for even more engaging resources! You will find this back to school icebreaker activity, getting to know you games, and school vocabulary too!
For more ESL classroom ideas, check out this blog post:
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