Teacher Tips
15 Fun Would You Rather Questions for Middle School Students
Aug
Middle school students usually have plenty of opinions. The challenge is getting them to share those opinions in a way that feels comfortable, appropriate, and genuinely fun. That is one reason I like using Would You Rather questions in the classroom. Students do not need background knowledge, there is no single correct answer, and even students who are hesitant to speak can participate simply by choosing between two options.
Would You Rather can work as a first-week icebreaker, but I have found that it is even more useful when treated as a year-round classroom routine. A single question can become a two-minute brain break, a partner discussion, a movement activity, a bell ringer, or even a short writing prompt. It is one of those activities that requires very little explanation but can generate much more conversation than you might expect.
The key with middle school students is choosing questions that feel fun without feeling too young. Questions about favorite foods, technology, school preferences, travel, and imaginative situations usually work well because students can share an opinion without revealing anything too personal.
Here are 15 Would You Rather questions you can try with your class.
School Life Would You Rather Questions
1. Would you rather have no homework for a month or have an extra hour of lunch every day?
This is a great question to use early in the year because almost every student has an immediate opinion. After students choose, ask them to explain which option would actually make school more enjoyable and why.
2. Would you rather start school one hour later or finish school one hour earlier?
This question usually creates more disagreement than students expect. Some students value sleeping later, while others would much rather have more free time after school.
3. Would you rather work with a partner or work by yourself?
Besides being a fun question, this one can give you useful information about how students prefer to work. I would not treat their answers as permanent learning preferences, but it can open a useful conversation about when teamwork is helpful and when independent work makes sense.
4. Would you rather give a presentation or take a written test?
After students choose, ask what makes one option easier or harder. Their answers can lead naturally into a discussion about confidence, preparation, and different ways of showing what you know.
5. Would you rather learn through games or learn through projects?
This is another question that can become more thoughtful with one simple follow-up: “What makes an activity feel like real learning?”
Food and Favorite Things
6. Would you rather make your own pizza or decorate your own cake?
Food questions are useful because they have a very low social risk. Students can participate immediately without feeling as though they are being asked to introduce themselves or share personal information.
7. Would you rather eat at a restaurant or have a picnic outside?
Try asking students to imagine the perfect version of each choice before deciding. Suddenly the conversation becomes much more interesting than a simple A-or-B vote.
8. Would you rather have unlimited fruit smoothies or unlimited hot chocolate?
This question works especially well as a fast transition activity. Project the question, give students ten seconds to decide, and then ask two or three volunteers to defend their choice.
Technology and Entertainment
9. Would you rather have the fastest internet ever or a phone battery that never runs out?
This tends to be an easy conversation starter for middle school students. For an extra challenge, ask students to identify one advantage and one disadvantage of the option they selected.
10. Would you rather create a viral video or create a popular game?
This question moves the discussion from consuming entertainment to creating something. You can extend it by asking students what skills they would need to succeed with their choice.
11. Would you rather have a robot assistant or a super-smart AI tutor?
Students can usually imagine plenty of uses for both options. Ask them what jobs they would give the robot or what subject they would want the AI tutor to help them learn.
Adventure and Experiences
12. Would you rather explore the ocean or explore outer space?
This is one of my favorite choices because both options involve discovery. After voting, ask students which environment they think would be more difficult to explore and why.
13. Would you rather visit the future or visit the past?
If students choose the past, ask which time period they would visit. If they choose the future, ask how far forward they would go. One simple Would You Rather question can easily turn into a five-minute class discussion.
Imaginative Choices
14. Would you rather be able to fly or become invisible?
This is a classic question for a reason. Students usually choose quickly, but the explanations are where the fun begins. Ask them what they would actually do with the ability they selected.
15. Would you rather teleport anywhere or stop time for ten minutes?
Students often change their answers once they hear someone else’s reasoning. That makes this a perfect question for practicing respectful disagreement and persuasion.
Four Easy Ways to Use Would You Rather in the Classroom
You do not need to use these questions the same way every time. Changing the response routine keeps the activity fresh even when students already understand the basic format.
One option is a simple class vote. Students can raise one hand for Option A and the other for Option B. This works well when you need a very short warm-up or transition.
Another option is to add movement. Label one side of the room A and the other side B. Project a question and have students move to the side that represents their answer. Once students are in position, ask them to discuss their reasons with someone nearby.
For a quieter version, use Turn and Talk. Students choose their answer independently and then complete a sentence such as, “I would rather ___ because ___.” This gives every student a chance to speak without requiring everyone to talk in front of the whole class.
You can also use Would You Rather as a writing prompt. Ask students to select one option and write three or four sentences defending their choice. For older or more advanced students, require them to include an advantage of their choice and a possible disadvantage.
Go Beyond the Vote
The real value of a Would You Rather question is not the choice itself. It is the reasoning that follows.
Instead of moving immediately to the next question, try asking:
- Why did you choose that option?
- What is one advantage of your choice?
- What could be a disadvantage?
- Did anyone else’s explanation make you reconsider?
- What would have to change for you to choose the other option?
These follow-up questions turn a simple game into speaking, listening, reasoning, and classroom community practice.
Want More Ready-to-Use Questions?
If you would rather project the questions and start immediately, I created a complete Would You Rather Questions for Middle School resource with 50 student-friendly questions and a 58-slide presentation.
The resource also includes printable question cards, Create Your Own cards, multiple game modes, editable-style templates, and a Teacher Guide with ideas for using the questions as icebreakers, brain breaks, partner discussions, movement activities, advisory activities, and classroom community builders.
You can see the complete Would You Rather resource here:
The best part is that the questions are not tied only to the first day of school. Keep the slides available throughout the year and pull out one whenever your class needs a quick opportunity to talk, move, think, and reconnect.
