Do you ever feel like the emphasis on one-to-one devices in teaching has gone from one extreme to the other?
Just a few years ago, teachers were encouraged to bring more and more technology into our classrooms. Digital lessons, interactive activities, videos, and one-to-one devices became a regular part of the school day.
Lately, though, many schools and teachers have been looking for more opportunities to step away from screens. Technology can be a wonderful tool, but students also need opportunities to talk with each other, write on paper, work with a partner, and simply enjoy an activity without a screen in front of them.
That’s why I like having a few screen-free activities ready to go. When you want to put the devices away for a little while, you don’t have to come up with something complicated. A simple Would You Rather worksheet, card game or dice game can give students something fun to work on while also creating opportunities for conversation and connection. Would You Rather is the perfect game for screen-free learning and SEL time!
1. Keep Would You Rather Ready for Unexpected Downtime
If you’ve been teaching for any amount of time, you know that unexpected pockets of time happen. Maybe your class finishes an activity a little earlier than you expected, you’re waiting for another group to finish, or there’s a few minutes before the next part of your day begins.
Those little moments can be tricky because you don’t necessarily want to start another academic lesson, but you also don’t want everyone sitting around wondering what they’re supposed to do. That’s when having a few Would You Rather worksheets already copied can be really helpful.
Students can grab a worksheet, read through the questions, and choose their answers. You can have them work independently, compare answers with a partner, or turn it into a quick conversation activity.
The best part is that you don’t have to come up with something on the spot. It’s already there, ready to go, and you can use it whenever you need a simple activity to fill a little extra time.
And let’s be honest, having a few “just in case” activities in your teacher toolbox can make those unexpected moments so much easier.
2. Use the Worksheets Before a Would You Rather Dice Game
This is one of my favorite ways to use the worksheets because it works really well with the Would You Rather Dice Game. If you’re planning to play the dice game with students, you can give them the worksheet version first, which gives students a chance to see some of the questions and think about their answers before they start playing.
Then, when it’s time for the dice game, the questions already feel familiar. Students can roll their dice, find the corresponding prompt, and talk about their answers with their partner. Because they’ve already had a chance to think about some of the questions, they may feel even more comfortable jumping into the conversation.
It also gives you another way to use the same set of questions. Instead of using the resource only one way, you can use the worksheets for one activity and the dice game for another.
I love resources that give me options!
3. Use a Card Game When You Need a Change of Pace
Sometimes you simply want something that doesn’t feel like another assignment. Maybe you’re looking for something different after a busy stretch of academic work, or perhaps your students just need a few minutes to relax and enjoy a lighter activity.
Would You Rather cards are an easy option. Students can work in small groups or with a partner to choose cards and answer the questions on the card.
And there’s something nice about seeing students sitting together and talking about what they’re doing. They aren’t worried about whether their answer is correct; they’re simply sharing an opinion.
One student might choose one answer while their partner chooses the opposite. That difference gives them something to talk about, and sometimes those conversations are the best part. You may even hear a few very passionate explanations about why one choice is obviously better than the other!
4. Add Them to Your Emergency Sub Plans
I like having Would You Rather worksheets ready to go because they make a great addition to emergency sub plans. We all know that unexpected absences happen, and having a few activities that require very little explanation can make things easier for everyone.
A worksheet gives students something familiar and straightforward to work on. You can leave copies with your other emergency plans so that a substitute has an easy activity available if there is some extra time or if the planned lesson doesn’t fill the entire class period.
5. Give Students a Chance to Talk
One of my favorite things about Would You Rather questions is that they naturally create conversation. Think about the difference between telling students, “Talk to your partner,” and giving them an actual question to discuss.
The first one can sometimes lead to awkward silence. The second gives them somewhere to start.
Students can read the question, choose their answer, and explain why. Their partner can share a different answer, ask a question, or explain why they agree.
And suddenly, they’re talking. For some students, that little bit of structure can make a big difference because they don’t have to figure out how to start the conversation—you’ve already given them a topic.
6. Sometimes Simple Really Is Better
Print, grab pencils and dice, and you’re ready. Need I say more?
7. Keep a Few Copies in Your Teacher Toolbox
I think every teacher needs a small collection of activities that are easy to grab when the moment calls for them. Would You Rather worksheets fit nicely into that category. You can use them for unexpected downtime, as a screen-free activity, before a dice game, or as part of your emergency sub plans.
And because students are answering fun questions, they usually don’t feel like they’re doing “just another worksheet.” That’s a win for everyone!
Looking for an Easy Screen-Free Option?
If you’re looking for a simple way to give your students a break from screens while still encouraging conversation and connection, Would You Rather Worksheets might be just what you need. You can use them independently, with partners, or as a quick whole-class discussion.
And when you’re ready to add a little more movement and interaction, you can use the questions with the Would You Rather Dice Games, too.
😊Would You Rather: Middle and High School
Sometimes you don’t need another complicated activity. Sometimes you just need a stack of paper, a pencil, a fun question, and a few minutes to let your students talk.
And honestly, those simple moments can be some of the most enjoyable parts of the school day.
Happy teaching! 💜
Katie
