So, how do you play Would You Rather in a classroom? You can use this game in many ways, but let’s focus on easy, low-prep ideas that also help build classroom community! Below are five practical, easy, and fun ways to use Would You Rather prompts in your elementary classroom.
How Do You Play Would You Rather?
The rules are simple. Present students with two choices and have everyone decide which option they’d rather pick. Students can answer by raising their hand, moving to one side of the room, discussing their choice with a partner, or writing about it.
There isn’t one “right” way to play. The best format depends on your students and what you’re trying to accomplish that day.
#1. Would You Rather in the Classroom for Morning Meetings
One of the more traditional ways to use Would You Rather prompts is as a morning meeting activity. You can have students begin their day on a lighter note, with less pressure than a typical worksheet.
For this activity, you could dedicate a specific day of the week to using Would You Rather prompts, such as a ‘Would You Rather Wednesday.’
You can display a slide with two different ‘Would You Rather’ options for students. For answers, you can select specified students daily, facilitate a classroom discussion, or even partner share.
Incorporating Would You Rather in the classroom as a morning meeting activity also provides an opportunity to build community as students relate to one another!
Students begin noticing shared interests, practicing respectful disagreement, and becoming more comfortable sharing their ideas with classmates over time.
Looking for more ideas for more low-prep morning meeting activities? Check these out!
#2. Back to School, Getting to Know You Activity
A ‘getting to know you’ activity is such a fun way to use Would You Rather prompts! Students at the beginning of the year are often shy and reluctant to engage in conversation.
Using Would You Rather prompts is low-pressure and doesn’t necessarily require lots of talking (but it can!). Use this activity as a way to incorporate the interests and personalities of all students.
You can use these as a quick icebreaker by displaying a slide that shows both options and allowing students to decide in various ways.
One idea is to designate a specific side (left wall or right wall) of the classroom to represent option #1 and the opposite side of the classroom to represent option #2. Students answer by either moving to the right side of the room or the left side. Here, they can talk amongst themselves to discover what they have in common with their classmates.
Another idea is to have all students stand in a circle and share their opinions with the whole group or with an elbow buddy. This option works well once students are beginning to feel more comfortable with one another since everyone has a chance to introduce themselves.
#3. Opinion Writing Prompts
Would You Rather prompts are a fantastic opportunity for students to practice stating their opinion.
Having students express their opinion and provide reasons to defend themselves helps them understand the difference between fact and opinion; what an opportunity to incorporate a concrete, real-life learning experience!
When used as a quick write, these prompts can be super engaging and motivate students actually to write.
You can use these to kick off your opinion writing unit by displaying a slide with both options and a sentence starter for additional support. Students can share with a partner first. Then, you’ll want to record whole-group results either on an anchor chart or a blank SmartBoard page.
Help students understand this difference between fact and opinion by requiring 2-3 defending reasons from either side.
#4. Brain Breaks
By far, the most engaging way to use Would You Rather prompts is as a brain break. Sometimes you just need pure FUN – no pressure or worksheet follow-up!
I love incorporating movement in my classroom, as I know you do. Whether it’s after a statewide standardized testing session, between subjects, during those winter afternoons when everyone is feeling restless before a break, or to kill 5 minutes of extra time before lunch, Would You Rather slides make one of the best brain breaks! Just look at these examples!😂
The key is to make the choices entertaining enough to spark instant engagement (and perhaps laughter)!
Display a slide with an entertaining selection of options for students. Allow them to move around the room to search for someone with an opposite opinion to discuss or defend their choice.
You can even play a sort of ‘musical chairs’ by playing music and having students pair up with the nearest classmate once the music stops to discuss their opinion. Whatever you do, make it funnnn!
#5. Discussion Starters
Discussion starters are a simple way to give students authentic speaking and listening practice. Because every student answers the same question, the conversation feels low-pressure while still encouraging students to explain their thinking and listen to different perspectives.
Picture supports can make the activity even more accessible for younger students and multilingual learners.
Looking for even more ways to encourage student participation? These classroom engagement strategies can help.
More Classroom Community Activities Students Love
If your students enjoy Would You Rather activities, they’ll probably enjoy these other low-prep classroom community builders, too!
- Classroom Team Building Games
- Community Circle Questions
- Brain Break Activities
- Morning Meeting Discussion Activities
- Student Participation Strategies
Using Would You Rather in the Classroom
There are many activities in which you can implement Would You Rather prompts. It’s best to have pre-made slides that you can pop on the screen, so you’re not coming up with ideas on the fly.
If you’re looking for ready-to-use Would You Rather slides, I’ve created collections for every season of the school year.
Whether you need back-to-school icebreakers, seasonal classroom discussions, or activities that help students build stronger classroom relationships, you’ll have picture-supported prompts ready to display in minutes.
You’ll also receive editable templates so you can create your own questions whenever inspiration strikes!
Find the Right Would You Rather for Your Classroom
Whether you’re looking for a one-time activity or something to use all year, here’s where to start.
Just Getting Started
Would You Rather Picture Slides
Perfect if you’re trying Would You Rather for the first time. Includes 25 picture-supported prompts plus editable templates.
Use It Every Week
Would You Rather Wednesday
A full year of weekly prompts that make Wednesday planning easy.
Use It All Year
Would You Rather & This or That Bundle
A year’s worth of conversation starters with even more variety.
Build Classroom Community
Seasonal Belonging Would You Rather Bundle
Picture-supported prompts designed to help students get to know one another and build stronger classroom relationships throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Would You Rather best for?
Would You Rather activities work well for elementary students from kindergarten through upper elementary. Younger students benefit from picture-supported prompts and simple choices, while older students often enjoy questions that encourage deeper thinking or friendly debate.
The best prompts are age-appropriate, easy to understand, and open-ended enough that students can explain the reasons behind their choices!
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