If you need This or That Questions for a Classroom Morning Meeting, the goal is simple: give students quick, low-pressure choices that help them speak, listen, and start the day together. The best prompts are easy to answer, age-appropriate, and varied enough to keep the routine fresh.
Below you’ll find ready-to-use questions, grouped by theme so you can pick one that fits your class mood, your time limit, or the day of the week. Most are friendly for elementary classrooms, but many work well for middle school too.
How to use this or that questions in morning meeting
Read one pair of choices aloud and have students respond with a hand signal, a quick vote, a turn-and-talk, or a one-word share. Keep the pace moving so the activity feels energizing rather than lengthy.
- For quick check-ins: Ask students to raise one finger for the first choice and two fingers for the second.
- For discussion: Invite students to explain why they chose their answer in one sentence.
- For shy groups: Let students point, whisper to a partner, or hold up a card.
- For older students: Ask them to defend their choice with a reason or a real-life example.
Easy warm-up questions
These are simple, light, and good for the first few minutes of the day.
- Pizza or tacos?
- Sunrise or sunset?
- Dogs or cats?
- Reading quietly or reading aloud?
- Pencils or pens?
- Math or science?
- Indoor recess or outdoor recess?
- Draw or paint?
- Morning person or night owl?
- Rainy day or snowy day?
- Chocolate or vanilla?
- Library book or classroom book?
- Working alone or working with a partner?
- Spelling or handwriting?
- Music or art?
Questions that get students talking
Use these when you want a little more conversation without making the activity feel heavy.
- Would you rather have a four-day school week or a longer recess every day?
- Would you rather read a mystery or a funny book?
- Would you rather build with blocks or create with clay?
- Would you rather have a classroom pet or a class garden?
- Would you rather write with bright colors or classic black ink?
- Would you rather have a desk by the window or near the teacher?
- Would you rather learn something new by watching a video or by doing it yourself?
- Would you rather have a class party or a class game day?
- Would you rather take notes by hand or type them?
- Would you rather solve a puzzle or play a word game?
- Would you rather have a silent classroom or a chatty classroom with rules?
- Would you rather be the class helper or the line leader?
- Would you rather have more art time or more PE time?
- Would you rather share your answer first or last?
- Would you rather have a fresh notebook or a fresh pack of markers?
School-day and classroom-themed choices
These fit the morning meeting setting especially well because they connect to school life, routines, and learning.
- Whiteboard or chalkboard?
- Group project or solo project?
- Typing or handwriting?
- Brain break or stretch break?
- Morning work or afternoon work?
- Reading corner or math center?
- Flashcards or practice games?
- Class discussion or partner talk?
- Listening carefully or speaking clearly?
- Notebook paper or graph paper?
- Story problems or number puzzles?
- Fact practice or creative writing?
- Science experiment or science video?
- Map skills or timeline skills?
- Learning a new song or learning a new game?
- Class jobs or class compliments?
- Extra time to think or extra time to share?
- Using crayons or using colored pencils?
- Neat work or fast work?
- Partner reading or independent reading?
Seasonal and weather questions
These are useful when you want your morning meeting to feel connected to the day outside the classroom.
- Warm weather or cool weather?
- Snow day or sunny day?
- Umbrella or raincoat?
- Leaves changing colors or flowers blooming?
- Apple picking or pumpkin picking?
- Beach day or camping trip?
- Hot cocoa or lemonade?
- Boots or sandals?
- Thunderstorm or light drizzle?
- Early spring or late fall?
- Ice cream cone or popsicle?
- Frosty morning or breezy afternoon?
- Jumping in puddles or crunching leaves?
- Building a snowman or flying a kite?
- Watching clouds or watching stars?
Fun and imaginative questions
These work well when you want to spark creativity and hear unexpected answers.
- Fly like a bird or swim like a fish?
- Live in a treehouse or a tiny castle?
- Have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
- Be able to teleport or be able to time travel?
- Have super speed or super strength?
- Explore space or explore the ocean?
- Talk to animals or talk to plants?
- Become invisible or read minds?
- Have a robot helper or a magic backpack?
- Live in a candy world or a toy world?
- Have a secret tunnel or a hidden treehouse?
- Be a famous inventor or a famous explorer?
- Ride on a rocket or ride on a submarine?
- Have a classroom made of Lego bricks or pillows?
- Have the power to pause time or rewind time?
Questions that build community
Morning meeting is a good time to help students notice what they have in common. These prompts encourage listening and respectful sharing.
- Would you rather help someone quietly or cheer them on loudly?
- Would you rather give a compliment or receive one?
- Would you rather work with a partner you know well or meet someone new?
- Would you rather solve a problem by talking or by writing?
- Would you rather be encouraged by a friend or by a teacher?
- Would you rather celebrate a small win or a big win?
- Would you rather say good morning with a wave or with a smile?
- Would you rather ask for help or offer help?
- Would you rather be part of a team or lead a team?
- Would you rather listen first or speak first?
- Would you rather share a favorite memory or a favorite goal?
- Would you rather encourage others or be encouraged by others?
- Would you rather have a calm start or an energetic start?
- Would you rather make someone laugh or make someone feel included?
- Would you rather learn from a mistake or learn from a success?
Quick ways to keep the activity fresh
A good this-or-that routine stays interesting when the format changes a little from day to day. You do not need a new game every morning; you just need a new way to ask.
- Use themes by day. Try “Food Monday,” “School Supply Tuesday,” or “Would You Rather Wednesday.”
- Invite partner talk. After students choose, have them explain their answer to a neighbor in ten seconds.
- Let students ask one another. Once a week, invite a student to read the prompt.
- Connect to lessons. Use science, reading, or math-themed choices that match the day’s subject.
- Track class favorites. Notice which answers get the most votes and use them to spark a later discussion.
Tips for making this or that questions work well
Keep the choices balanced. If one option is obviously better, students may stop thinking and just follow the crowd.
- Use familiar words that every student can understand.
- Avoid questions that might embarrass students or pressure them to share personal details.
- Keep the tone upbeat and inclusive.
- Mix concrete choices with imaginative ones.
- Repeat a favorite question later, but not too often.
Sample five-day morning meeting set
If you want a ready-made plan, here is a simple week of prompts you can use right away.
| Day | This or That Question |
|---|---|
| Monday | Chocolate milk or regular milk? |
| Tuesday | Read a mystery or read a comic? |
| Wednesday | Group project or solo project? |
| Thursday | Rainy recess or snowy recess? |
| Friday | Class game day or class art day? |
Final ready-to-use prompts
If you want a few extra choices to keep on hand, these are especially easy to drop into any morning meeting.
- Cookies or brownies?
- Bike ride or scooter ride?
- Story time or game time?
- Markers or crayons?
- Ocean animals or jungle animals?
- Soft music or quiet reading?
- Big notebook or small notebook?
- Fresh start or second chance?
- Bright colors or pastel colors?
- Listen to a story or tell a story?