Are you looking for a quick activity to do on the first day of class that will help your students get to know each other? You’ve come to the right place! Keep on reading for all the details you need to know about the toilet paper icebreaker activity.
Check out this ESL icebreaker activity that’ll help your students get to know each other, and have a bit of fun in the process. After all, who doesn’t like to have a bit of fun with toilet paper, right?
Toilet Paper Ice Breaker Speaking Activity
Skills: Speaking/Listening
Time: 5-30 minutes
Level: Beginner-Advanced
Materials Required: Toilet Paper
This toilet paper ice breaker speaking activity is the perfect way to start your first class off with a bit of fun. It also helps your students get to know each other, as well as you, the teacher. The age group this activity works best with is teenagers but it can be used for a variety of ages.
Although some students may have played it before, it’s still worthwhile. Just mention to the students that if they’re played it before to keep quiet about what the secret is (how many squares to take).
Materials: Just a Roll of Toilet Paper
Bring in a roll of toilet paper, and depending on the size of your class, tell the students they can take a certain number of pieces (big classes 1-4, small classes 4-8). Don’t give them any other information except for that.
Once everyone has their paper, tell them that they have to tell the class one thing about themselves for each square of paper that they have. For each sentence, they “throw-away” one square until they’re done.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bolen, Jackie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 159 Pages - 09/11/2023 (Publication Date)
Large Class? Consider Groups of 4
If you have a huge class and want to get your students talking, even more, you could set a higher minimum (maybe 5 or 6) and then put the students into groups of 4 while they do their introduction. It’s like ESL Christmas to have multiple groups doing this fun activity at once!
Alternative: Follow-Up Questions
A way to extend this activity is to set a higher minimum, perhaps 8 or 10 pieces of TP. Then, students can do it in groups of 5 or 6.
The first person tells one thing about themselves and throws away a square of toilet paper. Someone (whoever is fastest) can ask a follow-up question. They also get to throw away a square of toilet paper. The next person in the circle says their statement and so it continues with one follow-up question, etc.
Or, Consider Using Candy
A fun way to use this ESL ice breaker speaking activity for kids is to use some candy, like Skittles or Smarties. The students can eat one candy for every fact that they tell about themselves.
More Ideas for Teaching English
Do you like this Toilet Paper Icebreaker Activity?
If you found this ESL ice breaker speaking activity useful, then you’ll need to check out this book on Amazon: 39 ESL Icebreakers: For Teenagers and Adults. Break the ice and get your class started off in style with these fun, engaging ESL icebreakers.
Available in a Variety of Formats
You can get the book on Amazon in both digital and print formats. The cheaper digital one can be read on any device-Smartphone, tablet, Kindle, Mac or PC. You just have to download the free Kindle reading app. Keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office as a handy reference guide for when you’re doing lesson plans. Or, take the digital version to your favourite coffee shop for lesson planning on the go.
It’s Easier than Even to Start your Classes Off the Right Way
Yes, it really is that easy to make interesting, varied English classes for your students. Get the semester started off on the right foot with one of these fun icebreakers.
Shop Now
Check out 39 ESL Icebreakers for Teenagers and Adults on Amazon today. But, only if you want to have some ESL awesome going on in your life!
Have your say about the Toilet Paper Ice Breaker Activity
What do you think about this ESL icebreaker? Or, do you have another go-to ESL activity or game that you like to use for this purpose? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.
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Oh yeah, interested in making a bit of cash in your spare time? Check out these side-hustles for teachers.
Last update on 2025-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Thank you Jackie. Such a fun idea !