At the start of a new school year (and quite frankly, all year long, too) one of my top priorities is building a strong, supportive classroom community. As teachers, we often teach a wide range of students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and personalities. One of the easiest and most effective ways to build connection, spark conversation, and help students feel comfortable in our classrooms is by engaging them in friendly, low-stakes discussions. For this task, I use “Would You Rather” slides in the beginning of the school year and for fun Friday attendance questions.
Whether you’re looking for an engaging bell ringer, a brain break, or a community-building activity, these Would You Rather slides are the perfect addition to your classroom routine!
Building Classroom Community: Why “Would You Rather” Questions Work
“Would You Rather” questions are quick, low-prep, and incredibly engaging. Because they come in both Google Slides and Canva presentation formats, they are versatile and easy to use! They encourage students to make choices, share opinions, and listen to others—all essential components of a collaborative classroom.
Even the most reluctant students often can’t resist picking a side when the options are things like, “Would you rather discover a new underwater species or discover a new planet?”
These kinds of fun and engaging creative prompts give students a chance to share their thinking, hear from their classmates, and find common ground with classmates they may not otherwise interact with.
And as we know, when students feel safe, seen, and connected, they’re far more likely to participate, take academic risks, and grow when the material becomes more challenging.
Would You Rather Attendance Questions
To make this classroom discussion and community building strategy even more seamless, I created a ready-to-go “Would You Rather” resource that’s perfect for back-to-school and for the entire school year.
This Would You Rather classroom resource includes 50 student-friendly Would You Rather questions designed specifically with secondary students in mind.
✅ Age-appropriate
✅ No prep required
✅ Perfect for middle and high school
✅ Great for whole class, small groups, or even writing prompts
Use them during the first week of school, as a Friday bell ringer, or when your class needs a quick reset.
Building Classroom Community: How I Use Them in My ELA Classroom
There are so many different ways to use this resource in your classroom. I like to use one every Friday as a fun Friday attendance question. I also like to share a couple of slides whenever I switch the seating around in my classroom so that my students can get to know each other and become more comfortable in their new groups.
Here is how you can use these slides in your classroom:
- Bell Ringer Activity: As students walk in, I project a “Would You Rather” question on the board. It sets a positive, low-stress tone for the class and gives students something fun to talk about with their table groups.
- Class Discussion Practice: I’ll have students move to one side of the room or the other based on their choice. Then, I’ll invite a few students to explain their reasoning. It’s a low-stakes way to build speaking and listening skills.
- Writing Prompts: I sometimes take it a step further and have students write a short paragraph defending their choice. It’s a fun and creative way to sneak in some argument writing practice.
Building Classroom Community One Question at a Time
The truth is, building a positive classroom culture doesn’t always require elaborate lessons or detailed activities. Sometimes, it’s the simple routines—like taking two minutes share and discuss quirky and silly answers to questions that have nothing to do with the class content.
By using “Would You Rather” questions consistently, you’ll help students bond, learn about one another, and feel like they belong. And when students feel like they belong, they’re more likely to engage in meaningful learning.
So if you’re looking for an easy, effective, and engaging way to build community in your classroom, try adding “Would You Rather” slides to your weekly routine. And if you want to save time, grab my ready-made resource here. It’s one small change that can make a big difference.
You can also grab this Classroom Community Bundle that contains four sets of community-building attendance questions to last you the entire school year! This bundle also includes thoughtful this or that questions. Also, if you are looking for more back-to-school activities for your secondary ELA classroom, check out this blog post: 15 Back-to-School Activities for Secondary ELA.
