There are some days in the classroom when everyone is ready to learn, work hard, and check things off the list. And then there are the other days—the special days, the days surrounding holidays and celebrations, or those times when you just want to do something a little different.

Those are the days when I love having a few simple classroom games ready to go. Sometimes students need a little fun, and honestly, sometimes teachers do, too!

One of my favorite things to keep handy is a Would You Rather Dice Game. It’s incredibly simple, requires very little preparation, and gives students an easy way to have fun while talking and getting to know one another.

All you really need is one copy of the dice game and a set of dice for each pair of students. That’s it!

Sometimes You Just Need a Change of Pace

Teaching can be very routine. We have lessons to teach, assignments to finish, transitions to manage, and approximately 4,000 things happening at once.

So when there’s an opportunity to change things up a little, I think it’s fun to take it. Classroom games can be a great way to bring some energy into the room without requiring you to completely reinvent your day.

You don’t have to plan an elaborate party or spend hours preparing special activities. Sometimes a simple game is enough to make the classroom feel different for a little while, and students definitely notice when something fun is happening.

You can practically see the excitement spread across the room when you say, “We’re going to play a game!”

That’s one of the reasons I love activities that are easy for teachers but still feel special to students.

Why I Love Would You Rather Dice Games

The setup couldn’t be much easier. You make one copy of the dice game and give each pair of students a set of dice. Students roll the dice, find the corresponding Would You Rather prompt on their game board, and then talk about the question together.

One student might roll the dice and find a question asking whether they’d rather have one superpower or be able to travel anywhere in the world. They choose their answer, their partner chooses theirs, and then they talk about why.

And that’s it!

But while it feels like a game, students are also getting opportunities to practice communication, listening, sharing opinions, and taking turns. I love when an activity can be that simple.

It Gives Students Something to Talk About

One of the hardest parts of getting students to interact with someone new is figuring out what to say. You can tell students, “Talk to your partner,” but sometimes that’s not quite enough.

A Would You Rather dice game solves that problem because the question is already there. Students don’t have to come up with a conversation starter, and they don’t have to worry about whether they’re asking the “right” question.

They simply roll the dice, find the prompt, and start talking.

And because the questions are fun, the conversations usually feel pretty natural. Students might agree with each other, completely disagree, laugh at an answer, or ask, “Why would you pick that?”

Suddenly, two students who may not normally spend much time together are having a conversation. That’s a pretty great outcome for a simple game.

A Great Choice for Special Classroom Days

There are certain times when a regular lesson just doesn’t feel quite right. Maybe you’re celebrating something in your classroom, having a special activity day, or looking for something fun to do around a holiday or classroom celebration.

The days surrounding a school break can also be perfect for a game. The day before a break, students may be excited and ready for something a little different, while the day after a break can be a great time to ease back into classroom routines without jumping straight into a heavy academic lesson.

Those are the days when having a few activities that are already prepared can make things so much easier. You don’t need to spend hours searching for something to do, create complicated directions, or gather a giant pile of supplies.

You can simply pull out the game, make your copies, hand out the dice, and let the students play. And because the game gets students talking and working together, you’re still creating meaningful classroom connections while everyone gets to have a little fun.

That means you get to enjoy the activity, too. And I don’t know about you, but I think that’s important!

Games Can Help Students Connect, Too

The best part of a game like this isn’t necessarily who wins. It’s the conversation that happens along the way.

Students are getting to know each other while they’re playing. They may discover that they have the same favorite things, completely different opinions, or some very funny reasons for the choices they make.

Those little discoveries can help students feel more comfortable with one another. And when students feel comfortable, it’s often easier for them to work together in other situations.

A game doesn’t have to be labeled an SEL lesson to support social-emotional skills. Sometimes students are practicing communication and relationship-building simply by having a conversation with a classmate.

Partner Games Are Great for Mixing Things Up

Another thing I like about partner games is that they give you an easy opportunity to mix up your usual partnerships. Students don’t always have to play with their best friend. In fact, it can be fun to pair students with someone they don’t normally work with.

Give them a little structure, a fun question, and something to do together, and you may be surprised by how easily the conversation starts.

Maybe they discover they both love the same sport. Maybe they have completely different opinions about every single question. Maybe they end up laughing so much that they forget they didn’t know each other very well before the game started.

Those are the moments I love.

You Don’t Need a Winner for Everyone to Have Fun

One of the things I especially like about Would You Rather games is that there doesn’t have to be a winner. There’s no pressure to get the right answer and no complicated scoring system.

Students are simply answering questions and talking about their choices. That makes the activity feel much more relaxed.

Some students love competition, and there’s certainly a place for that in the classroom. But sometimes it’s nice to play a game where the goal is simply to have fun and connect with the people around you.

Everyone can participate, everyone has an opinion, and everyone’s answer can be different.

How to Play a Would You Rather Dice Game

The setup is simple enough that you could have students playing in just a few minutes.

1. Make one copy of the dice game for each pair. You don’t need a separate game board for every student. One copy can be shared by two students.

2. Give each pair a set of dice. That’s really the only additional supply you need.

3. Students take turns rolling the dice. The numbers they roll tell them which Would You Rather prompt to find on the page.

4. Students read the prompt and choose their answers. Each student gets a chance to share what they would choose.

5. Encourage them to explain their choices. This is where the conversation really begins. Students can ask each other why they chose their answer or compare their choices.

6. Keep playing! They can continue rolling and answering questions for as long as you’d like.

It’s easy to shorten the game if you only have a few minutes, or let students keep playing when you have more time.

Keep a Few Simple Games in Your Teacher Toolbox

I think every teacher needs a few activities that are easy to grab when the moment calls for something fun. Not because every minute of the school day needs to be entertaining, but because sometimes a little fun is exactly what a classroom needs.

A simple game can give students a chance to relax, laugh, talk to someone new, and enjoy being together. And when the activity requires almost no prep from you, even better!

The day before a school break, the day after a break, special classroom days, and those unexpected moments when you just need something fun are all great times to have a simple game ready to go.

That’s why I love keeping Would You Rather Dice Games handy. One copy, a set of dice for each pair, and you’re ready to go.

If you’d like to try them with your students, you can find the Would You Rather Dice Games here:

Click Here for a Full Selection of Would You Rather Dice Games

Whether you’re looking for something fun for a special classroom day, a way to mix up your usual routine, or simply an easy partner activity that gets students talking, a dice game can be a great little addition to your teacher toolbox.

And sometimes, the best classroom memories come from the simplest activities. A few dice, a silly question, a lot of laughter, and a classroom full of kids enjoying being together can make for a pretty great day.

Happy teaching! 💜

Katie