I don’t know about you; but, who knew all those college nights answering would you rather questions in my dorm room with my friends and laughing endlessly at the answers would become a staple in my preschool classroom!
When I became a preschool teacher, I never would have thought I would transfer those fun all-nighters into the classroom by using would you rather question for kids.
But after realizing would you rather questions for kids have significant benefits for students, they have become a staple in my classroom! They are so engaging and so much fun. Here are some ways and some whys would you rather questions for kids can be used in the classroom.
What are the benefits of using would you rather questions?
Would you Rather Questions help Develop Critical Thinking Skills
If you didn’t know, there are actually 5 different critical thinking skills. They are analysis, interpretation, inference, explanation, self-regulation, open-mindedness, and problem-solving. The cool thing is, would you rather questions allow students to explore all of these skills.
Each question is open-ended, which always allows the students to interpret the question in their own way. They also have to make inferences and figure out what would happen depending on the answer they give. I also have my students explain the answer as well.
When we look at the skills of self-regulation, open-mindedness, and problem-solving. These skills focus more on what happens before and after the cards come out.
When I get out my Halloween Would You Rather questions or my Christmas Would You Rather Questions, my students go a little nuts. We do sometimes have to discuss self-regulation and how to control our emotions and our excitement for our favorite activity or game. We also always start our activity with a discussion about how some of our classmates may choose different answers than us and we need to listen and respect what they choose (open-mindedness).
Oftentimes, once a student gives an answer. I like to make it a little more fun and to get them thinking a little harder. I may throw in an extra, “What will you do if…” “How would you…” This allows them to improve their problem-solving skills as well.
Would you rather questions allow children to articulate their opinion and accept others’ opinions
I sorta discussed this a little above with open-mindedness. Preschoolers are just learning how to share their opinion and share it appropriately. When using would you rather questions for kids, you are giving students the opportunity to think and voice their opinion.
Some preschoolers may pick up on this skill easily. Others may just pick the popular answer they hear and go with the group. Teaching them how their own opinion matters, and it is ok to have differing opinions is a great skill to learn at a young age.
Would you rather questions for kids encourage children to share their own thoughts and reflect on others’ opinions and thoughts
Would you rather questions get students talking and sharing. I love to listen in on the conversations to see how students explain their choices or why they agree/disagree with their friends.
It is really cool to see preschoolers really thinking about their thoughts and coming up with reasonable explanations. It is also really cool when I hear a preschooler say “Oh, I never thought that!” or “That is a really good reason/idea.” I can see the wheels turning in their heads and almost hear them making connections and reflecting on their friends’ ideas and opinions.
Would You Rather Questions Get Children to Take a Stand and Choose a Side
This is something preschoolers are normally VERY good at. You know, when the student stomps their foot and refuses to go to blocks because they MUST go to paints at that exact moment!
Would you rather questions for kids help students figure out how to appropriately take a stand and choose a side and discuss their side and why they chose it.
Would You Rather Questions Build Flexibility in Thought Patterns
In 21st century classrooms, we want students to be thinking outside the box. Starting this in preschool gives students a leg up as they move through grade levels. Would you rather questions help show students they can look at a question and think in different ways for themselves and think differently from their friends.
How to use Would you Rather Questions in the Classroom
1. Morning Circle
Each day of the week, display a different would you rather question for your students to think about and discuss with their friends.
Don’t forget to extend the activity by having students expand on their answer and give the reason they chose it.
Using themed questions for kids like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas can add a little razzle-dazzle to your morning circle as well.
2. Class Sign In
A fun way to place would you rather and help with name recognition at the same time is to use a pocket chart.
Display the question over a pocket chart and have the students move their names to one side of the chart or the other side depending on their answer. You can also use this as an introduction to graphing.
3. As a Connection to Family Activity
Don’t forget you can always send home a would you rather questions every Friday. Allowing students to discuss their answers with their families. You can also give the parents a little cheat sheet that gives them extension question ideas to keep the conversation going and their little one thinking.
4. Create a Would You Rather Book
I love creating a book to go home during holiday break full of would you rather questions. I have the students color in their answers and it gives them a little “homework” while away from school. Plus, parents always love to see their children’s choices and it helps get parents involved in their students’ learning.
5. Encourage an Opinion Based Discussion
I know my work is based in preschool. But I love how these types of questions can also be used in other grade levels. If you are starting argumentative writing in your classroom, using would you rather questions allows students to see how their opinions can differ from their classmates. This is also a great opportunity to teach them how their opinion needs to be backed up with reasons why they chose that response.
6. As Writing Prompts
Another great opportunity for older students to use the would you rather questions. They make great writing prompts and can get your students practicing making a claim and supporting that call with reasons. It is a great introduction to argumentative writing and can make for some fun little writing pieces for your students to share.
Go ahead and try would you rather questions in your classroom!
Would you rather questions for kids are great for any age group and can quickly be adapted and scaffolded to fit your age group. They open the door to so many fun activities and give students the chance to learn and grow as thinkers and communicators!
If you are looking to add already made for you Would You Rather resources into your classroom, check out the links below ????????
????Halloween Would You Rather Questions
????Christmas Would You Rather Questions
????Thanksgiving Would You Rather Questions
❄️ Winter Themed Would You Rather Questions
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