Back to School Would You Rather Questions
First-week icebreakers for classrooms, form groups, and new school years.
Using this list
The first week of a school year is the hardest icebreaking job there is: nobody knows each other, everybody is watching, and no child wants to be the first to say something. A two-option question solves that because there is no wrong answer and no requirement to be interesting — you just pick a side. These are written to be read straight from the front of a room, and the classroom section is deliberately about school itself, because that is the one thing everyone present definitely has in common.
Best for: First-day form time, new class introductions, tutor groups, clubs, and the last week of the holidays.
- → Split the room rather than going round it. A child who will not speak will still stand up.
- → Ask one volunteer per question to explain. Never ask a child to explain who has not offered.
- → Three questions is enough for a first session. Save the rest for the rest of the week.
Lessons and the timetable
The one thing everyone in the room has in common. (8 questions)
Would you rather have double maths or have double pe?
Would you rather have homework every night but finish school early or have no homework but longer days?
Would you rather be excellent at one subject or be reasonably good at all of them?
Would you rather have the same teacher for everything or have a different one every lesson?
Would you rather sit at the front or sit at the back?
Would you rather have a four-day week with longer days or have a five-day week with shorter ones?
Would you rather do a presentation or sit a test?
Would you rather have every lesson outside or have every lesson with music playing?
Break, lunch and the playground
Where the real opinions are. (8 questions)
Would you rather have one long break or have three short ones?
Would you rather bring your own lunch or have whatever the canteen makes?
Would you rather have the best packed lunch in school or have the best seat at lunch?
Would you rather play the same game every break or try something new every break?
Would you rather have break in the rain or have no break at all?
Would you rather be first in the lunch queue every day or be last but get extra?
Would you rather have a friend in every class or have one best friend in none of them?
Would you rather be picked first for a team or be the one who picks?
New year, new start
Gentle enough for a first day. (8 questions)
Would you rather start the year knowing everyone or start it knowing nobody and make new friends?
Would you rather be the new person or be the one who shows the new person round?
Would you rather have brand new everything or keep your favourite old bag?
Would you rather know your timetable by heart on day one or get lost twice and remember it forever?
Would you rather be brave on the first day or be brave in the second week?
Would you rather have a long holiday and a hard first week or have a short holiday and an easy start?
Would you rather try something you might be bad at or stick to what you are good at?
Would you rather be remembered as kind or be remembered as clever?
Silly school questions
For when the room has warmed up. (8 questions)
Would you rather have a school with a swimming pool or have a school with a cinema?
Would you rather take the bus for an hour or walk for twenty minutes in any weather?
Would you rather wear a uniform you like or wear whatever you want and decide every morning?
Would you rather have a pet in the classroom or have a tree in the classroom?
Would you rather be able to teleport to school or be able to sleep in an extra hour?
Would you rather have lessons taught by robots or have lessons taught entirely outdoors?
Would you rather be head teacher for a day or be invisible in school for a day?
Would you rather have a school day that starts at midday or have one that ends at midday?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you run this with a class that will not talk?
Split the room instead of going round it: option A stands to the left, option B to the right. A child who will not speak in front of a new class will still stand up, and once everyone has moved twice the room is noticeably warmer.
How many questions should I use in one session?
Three is usually enough for a first form time. The point is to get everyone participating once, not to get through the list — save the rest for the rest of the week.
Are these suitable for secondary as well as primary?
Yes. The lessons and break sections work across both, and the new-start section is pitched to be gentle enough for a nervous first day at either. Nothing on the page singles a child out or requires them to reveal anything personal.