One of the most fun activities to get to know your students is with a game of Would You Rather? A series of ‘this or that’ questions can do so much to build classroom community and open a teacher’s eyes to students’ personalities, likes, and dislikes. Not only do kids have opportunities to move and share, but the questions are eye-opening, some straightforward, and a few, just plain silly.
Lots of Ways to Use the Resource
Attendance Tool: Project a page on a screen and have kids write their names on a pre-created two-column anchor chart as they enter the room in the morning.
Writing Prompts: Use the pages as writing prompts throughout the year.
Story Creation: Cut out the images individually, and let kids come up with their own stories.
Journal Entries: Give them the entire page to journal which they’d rather do and why.
A Morning Meeting Activity with Movement
My favorite way to use Would You Rather? slides is during week one of back to school, specifically during morning meeting. Depending on time allowed, size of the group, and levels of classroom control, teachers can create a lot of fun during the early part of the day when students may be tired or anxious about returning to school.
- Set Boundaries: When the image is projected, students may move from one side of the room to the other, based on where the teacher wants them to go in relation to the question.
- Discuss Movement: This is a great time to discuss how we move in the classroom, i.e., we don’t run, we control our bodies, and voice level.
- Make Choices: Once the first image is up, have students make their choice and move. Once on their side, allow kids to verbalize their reasoning.
Note: It can get loud and rambunctious if expectations aren’t set beforehand. It’s perfectly fine to ask students to be on a level zero and use their eyes to collect data about their classmates’ choices. Teacher comfort level is probably most important from a classroom management perspective.
During Morning Meeting While Seated
A less kinesthetic but equally interesting way to use the slides is to project them with students in their seats. Kids can raise one finger or two to express their answer. By looking around, they can visualize the choices of their classmates.
Activities:
Guided Discussion: Facilitate a guided discussion to give kids an opportunity to share their reasoning.
Turn and Talk: Students discuss their choices with a neighbor.
However it’s used, the purpose is to have some fun. I hope you do!
Ms. Martha
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