This or That: Igniting Discussions and Self-Reflection in High School

"Would You Rather" questions are a versatile tool for educators and students alike. They can be used as icebreakers, discussion starters, or even prompts for deeper self-reflection. These questions, which present two distinct options, encourage individuals to think critically, express their preferences, and engage in lively debates. For high school students, "Would You Rather" questions can be particularly valuable, as they offer a fun and engaging way to explore complex topics, develop critical thinking skills, and build a stronger sense of community.

Why "Would You Rather" Questions Work for High Schoolers

High school is a time of significant personal growth and development. Students are grappling with questions of identity, values, and future aspirations. "Would You Rather" questions provide a safe and engaging space for them to explore these issues, express their opinions, and learn from their peers.

Encouraging Discussion: "Would You Rather" questions naturally spark conversation. The inherent ambiguity of the choices encourages students to articulate their reasoning and defend their preferences.
Developing Critical Thinking: These questions require students to weigh the pros and cons of each option, consider different perspectives, and make informed decisions. This process hones their critical thinking skills and encourages them to think outside the box.
Building Community: Sharing preferences and engaging in friendly debates fosters a sense of connection and camaraderie among students. "Would You Rather" questions can help break the ice, create a more inclusive classroom environment, and encourage students to learn from one another.
Facilitating Self-Reflection: Many "Would You Rather" questions touch on deeper values and beliefs. By considering their responses, students can gain a better understanding of themselves, their priorities, and their aspirations.

Types of "Would You Rather" Questions for High School Students

The beauty of "Would You Rather" questions lies in their versatility. They can be tailored to suit a variety of purposes and subject areas. Here are some categories of "Would You Rather" questions that are particularly relevant for high school students:

Adulting Edition: Preparing for Life After High School

These questions delve into the realities of adulthood, prompting students to consider their future paths and the choices they will face.

Education & Training Paths: Would you rather go to college or to trade school?
Career Interests and Work Environments: Would you rather have a desk job or an outdoor job?
Money, Budgeting, and Transportation: Would you rather have more money or more time?
Housing and Independent Living: Would you rather live alone or live with your family?
Personal Values, Hobbies, and Lifestyle Choices: Always feel safe and secure or always feel fulfilled and satisfied?

Each slide includes speaker notes with pros and cons to help you guide deeper conversations and highlight different perspectives. Students can log their answers and reflect on how their preferences may shift over time.

Read also: The Meaning of 'Good Luck'

Serious "This or That" Questions: Exploring Values and Beliefs

These questions encourage students to think critically about complex ethical and philosophical issues.

Look into your future or change your past?
Have the power to be invisible or the power to read minds?
Live in a world without disease or a world without poverty?
Travel through time or teleport anywhere in the world instantly?
Have inner peace or success and recognition for your work?
Be able to speak any language fluently or understand animals’ communication?
Be able to control fire with your mind or water with your mind?
Make all of your decisions based on logic or make all of your decisions based on emotion?
Know how the world ends or when the world ends?
Forget everything you know or forget everyone you know?
Never be able to cry again or never be able to laugh again?
Have $100,000 to spend on yourself or have a million you can only spend on others?
Go to prison or spend your life on the run from the police?

Controversial "This or That" Questions: Sparking Debate and Discussion

These questions are designed to elicit strong opinions and encourage lively debate.

Does pineapple belong on pizza or should fruit not be allowed on pizza?
Is a hot dog a sandwich or is a hot dog a taco?
Are fries better with ketchup or another sauce?
Do rectangular pizzas taste better or do round pizzas?
Are introverts too quiet or are extroverts too loud?
Is McDonald’s better than Burger King?
Is cereal or oatmeal a soup?
Is it better to wear shoes in the house or take them off?
Which is the worst word: Moist or Phlegm?
Is it better to watch movies with subtitles or without them?
Is golf a sport or a hobby?

Debatable "This or That" Prompts: Fostering Thoughtful Responses

These prompts encourage high school students to respond to questions with their thoughts and ideas is an excellent way to foster a strong community in your classroom.

Character and Behavior: How can you show that you are dependable? How can you prove that you are responsible? What kinds of behaviors will help you get into a good college? What can you do to make your school a safe place for everyone? What does it mean to be respectful? What can you do to be your best self? What are some skills you’ll need to be successful in life? What kind of student do you want your teachers to remember? What quote would describe you as a person? What important lessons have your teachers taught you?
Would You Rather? Would you rather be class president or captain of a sports team? Would you rather control the weather or control the time? Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the smartest person in the room? Would you rather have a robot that does your chores or a robot that does your homework? Would you rather write a 10-page paper or give a 10-minute speech? Would you rather have a class with your favorite teacher or your best friend? Would you rather live in a cabin in the mountains or a house on the beach? Would you rather drive a bus or a semi-truck?
Favorites: What is your favorite place to shop? What is your favorite genre of movie? What is your favorite place to visit? What is your favorite candy? What is your favorite animal? What is your favorite thing to do with friends? What is your favorite brand of clothes or shoes? What are your favorite toppings for an ice cream sundae? Who is your favorite family member to spend time with? What is your favorite book or movie character?
Free Time/Hobbies: What do you enjoy doing on a day off from school? What is the best sport you’ve every played? If you had a 3D printer, what would you print first? Do you have a friend who could teach you something new? Do you like hobbies you do alone or hobbies you do with friends? If you had to write one new nonfiction book, what would it be about? What would you do if you had an extra hour each day? What is something you want to do, but you’re afraid to try? What are an expert at? What are some hobbies you had when you were younger that you might like to try again?
Food: What is something you could eat every single day? If you could invent a new fruit or vegetable, what would it taste like? What is the best snack to eat after a hard day at school? What is one food you never want to find in your lunch? What are some things you like to cook? What food have you never tried? What country do you think has the best foods? What is the best birthday meal or dessert? What foods bring back good memories? Have you ever had a bad experience with food?
Future: What college do you dream of going to? What kind of job do you want to have? What would you like to name your kids? If you started your own business, what would you do? What will you miss most about high school? What do you want to do to change the world? If you could travel the world, where would you go first? What do you want your future home to look like? Who would your dream college roommate be? Which state would you want to live in and why?
Have You Ever?: Have you ever written a song? Have you ever visited one of the seven wonders of the world? Have you ever won a contest? Have you ever survived in the wilderness? Have you ever gone on a vacation without your parents? Have you ever driven a sports car? Have you ever cried at the end of a movie or book? Have you ever had surgery? Have you ever grown your own garden? Have you ever met a famous influencer?
Use Your Imagination: What would you do if you won the lottery? What fictional creature would make the best pet? What was your favorite fantasy story when you were little? What toy from your childhood would you most like to come to life? Would you rather meet Bigfoot or Yeti? If aliens exist, what do you think they look like? What would you do if you met a leprechaun? If you wrote a new fantasy movie, who would star in it? What is your favorite Disney movie? If you found a magic wand, how would you use it to change the world?
Thought-Provoking: What is the best museum exhibit you’ve ever seen? What makes a good friend? What makes you nervous? What is the best part of working in a group? What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you? What famous person from history would you most like to meet? What do you think about when you can’t fall asleep? What color represents you and why? What can your teachers do to support you? What is one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Just for Fun: If you could travel back in time, where would you go? If you could have any animal as a pet, what animal would you choose and why? What do you wish for the most? What is the coolest thing you’ve ever made? What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? What could you talk about all day long without getting tired of it? When do you think a person becomes an adult? What do you think the world will be like in 100 years? If you could rewrite the ending of any movie, what would the new ending be? What is the most valuable thing in your life?

Pop Culture and Social Media: Reflecting on Teen Life

These questions tap into the trends and issues that are most relevant to teenagers today.

Would you rather be a famous YouTuber or a popular TikToker?
Would you rather have a million followers or have all your posts go viral?
Would you rather live in a world without social media or a world without smartphones?

Gross and Funny: Encouraging Laughter and Connection

These questions are designed to be silly and lighthearted, providing a fun way for students to bond and relax.

Would you rather always have B.O. or always have a food stain on your shirt?
Would you rather have a permanent wedgie or always have something stuck in your teeth?

School-Related: Gaining Insight into Student Perspectives

These questions can provide valuable insights into students' attitudes towards school, their learning preferences, and their relationships with teachers.

School start and end earlier or start and end later?
Go on a field trip to the zoo or to a museum?
Have a longer lunch or a longer recess?
Go to prom or go to homecoming?
Never have math class again or never have English class again?
Write a story or a write a poem?
Be good at sports or get good grades?
Would you rather have a class with your favorite teacher or your best friend?
Would you rather write a 10-page paper or give a 10-minute speech?

Superpowers and Fantasy: Unleashing Imagination

These questions encourage students to think creatively and explore the realm of the impossible.

Be a Transformer or a Pokémon?
Be the fastest person in the world or the strongest person in the world?
Be best friends with Batman or Superman?
Be able to control fire with your mind or water with your mind?
Would you rather control the weather or control the time?
What fictional creature would make the best pet?
If you found a magic wand, how would you use it to change the world?

Travel and Adventure: Expanding Horizons

These questions spark curiosity about the world and encourage students to consider different cultures and experiences.

Explore space or the ocean?
Walk through a rainforest or a desert?
Travel through time or teleport anywhere in the world instantly?
If you could travel the world, where would you go first?
Have you ever visited one of the seven wonders of the world?

How to Use "Would You Rather" Questions Effectively

To maximize the benefits of "Would You Rather" questions, consider the following tips:

Create a Safe and Inclusive Environment: Encourage students to express their opinions respectfully, even if they differ from those of their peers.
Encourage Explanation and Justification: Don't just ask students to choose an option; ask them to explain why they made that choice.
Facilitate Discussion and Debate: Encourage students to engage with one another's ideas, ask questions, and challenge assumptions.
Connect to Curriculum: Whenever possible, tie "Would You Rather" questions to the topics being studied in class.
Use Visual Aids: Consider using slides or posters to display the questions and make them more engaging.
Incorporate Technology: Use online polling tools or social media platforms to gather responses and facilitate discussion.
Adapt to Different Learning Styles: Offer a variety of response options, such as verbal responses, written responses, or visual representations.
Be Mindful of Sensitive Topics: Avoid questions that could be triggering or offensive to students.
Have Fun! "Would You Rather" questions should be enjoyable for both students and teachers.

Practical Applications in the Classroom

"Would You Rather" questions can be incorporated into a variety of classroom activities:

Icebreakers: Use "Would You Rather" questions at the beginning of the school year or before a new unit to help students get to know one another.
Discussion Starters: Use "Would You Rather" questions to spark debate and discussion on complex topics.
Writing Prompts: Use "Would You Rather" questions as prompts for creative writing assignments or persuasive essays.
Bell Ringers: Use "Would You Rather" questions as a quick and engaging way to start the class.
Brain Breaks: Use "Would You Rather" questions as a fun and relaxing break during a long class period.
Exit Tickets: Use "Would You Rather" questions as a quick way to assess student understanding at the end of a lesson.
Library Activities: Use a "this or that" station in the library to encourage students to "vote" their opinions on various questions.

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