The Lansing Community College Center for Teaching Excellence highlights the ice breaker activity called "Getting to Know Each Other through Writing," which is perfect for a writing or literature class. Have students pair up with a partner and get to know each other only by writing words on a piece of paper. Emphasize the importance of proper word choice and about really getting creative to help the other person get a true idea of who the student is.
Having students introduce one of their classmates was a fine ice breaker activity when they were in elementary school. When students reach a college level foreign language class, have them introduce one another while only speaking in a foreign language to make things a little more challenging and interesting.
The Bendigo Senior Secondary College recommends the Adjective Naming game. The game is quick and simple. Each person in the classroom comes up with an adjective to describe herself that begins with the same first letter of her name. This game will inspire students and get the classes rolling on a positive note.
The Stranded on an Island activity can work in any college classroom, but is especially useful as an ice breaker for a psychology or sociology course. On the first day of class have students split up into teams of three or four, depending on the class size. Give each team about 10 minutes to determine which 10 items they would want with them if they were stranded on an island indefinitely. The team has to work together to choose 10 items that everyone can agree on. Have each team share their ideas with the class.