Would You (Rigorously) Rather ...?
Would You (Rigorously) Rather ...?
October 2, 2024|Education, Florida, B.E.S.T. Standards, Florida's Standards
We have a dilemma for you…a delicious dilemma. Imagine standing in front of a table and on display is an array of homemade cookies — chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, and peanut butter. Your mouth waters, but your brain is in overdrive. Another decision to make today? What do you choose? Not only are you weighing options, but you could be considering past experiences (remember that time you bit into a raisin thinking it was a chocolate chip?), and predicting the future, which in this case is a satisfying bite of the freshly baked delight.
In the spirit of National Homemade Cookie Day (October 1), which would you choose?
The why behind your choice is where the rubber really meets the road with the “Would You Rather” strategy. I suppose some of you are even selecting “None of the Above”, even though that wasn’t an original choice, and once you attach your reasoning, it offers insight into factors influencing your decision, providing valuable information and appreciation.
While we started with a non-academic example, these types of ‘Would You Rather’ questions have their place in classroom settings. They help students get used to the routine and get to know one another. However, we can take this to the next level by leaning into challenges and incorporating ‘Would You, Rigorously, Rather’ scenarios.
Let’s explore a bit more:
Why?
Incorporating engaging and interactive strategies in the classroom can significantly enhance student learning and participation and using the “Would You (Rigorously) Rather” activity hits the mark. This approach doesn’t require a trip to the copier and can even get students up and moving, making it a perfect fit for dynamic classroom environments. By adding rigor through activities that require students to use lesson vocabulary to defend their answers, we can further deepen their critical thinking and reasoning skills.
“Would You (Rigorously) Rather” is an activity that is versatile and can be easily adapted to balance consistency and novelty and is applicable to all subject areas. Students are encouraged to make choices, justify their decisions, engage in meaningful discussions, and appreciate alternative perspectives. In addition to the content standards, it infuses vocabulary and argument, too (that’s V.1.1 and R.2.4 for our Florida friends). This strategy promotes higher-order thinking, as students must analyze options, consider consequences, and articulate their reasoning. When students are engaged in these activities, they are also immersed in retrieval practice, a powerful learning tool.
How?
Here are some implementation tips to get you started:
1. Visual Prompts: Display two (or more) images on the screen and ask students to discuss which one they prefer and why. This can be a great way to start a lesson, introduce a new topic, or have students reflect on choices after being immersed in an ongoing unit.
In the example below, students in a kindergarten class have learned about the lives of Mae C. Jemison and George Washington Carver as part of their unit on positive influences and contributions by African Americans (SS.K.AA.1.1). Students now can share which hero they admire more and why, having them effectively retelling and retrieving learning from these social studies lessons.
Would You (Rigorously) Rather in Kindergarten with social studies standard SS.K.AA.1.1
Click the image to grab your copy.
2. Defend Your Choice: To increase rigor, have students defend their choices. This can be done through written explanations, group discussions, or presentations. Encouraging students to provide evidence and reasoning for their decisions helps to develop their critical thinking skills.
3. Analyze the Arguments:
As a class, discuss the development of the arguments (from number 2 above). Was the argument convincing? Were the claims valid? Were the reasons compelling? Was the evidence credible? Were the appeals effective? For our Florida friends, this ties into R.2.4 and can be scaled up or down depending on the grade level. Take a look below at our Student Anchor Chart for ELA.9.R.2.4 from our High School Roadmaps.
4. Vote with Your Feet: Get up and get moving! Present four options (A, B, C, D) and have students walk to a corner of the room representing their choice. This physical movement helps to energize the class and encourages active participation.
While there, have students collaborate on their argument for why their choice is the best. Consider chart paper or the use of slides so students can present their arguments with clear evidence and reasoning.
Check out this science example of SC.5.N.1.1 below:
There is no right answer. Denote an area of the room for A, for B, and so on. This example uses a Nature of Science standard (SC.5.N.1.1) to engage students in debate.
5. Infuse Vocabulary: As educators we are looking for ways students can use and infuse vocabulary throughout the day. Challenge students to use relevant vocabulary and increase accountability by pairing this with the tally-mark protocol for vocabulary usage.
6. Incorporate a Continuum: So many decisions are nuanced and exploring where students land on a continuum can be a way to welcome the spectrum of ideas sparked by a seemingly simple “Would You (Rigorously) Rather” prompt. From “extremely disagree” to “completely agree”, or “this sounds just like me” to “this sounds nothing like me”, continuums can be a launchpad for some real reflection related to topics.
Literary example for dystopian settings.
8. Consider Content Areas: While this strategy lends itself to community building, it also is a powerhouse across content areas. See below for some suggestions!
History example of Would You (Rigorously) Rather?
Click the image to go to this blog.
9. Rank and Reason: Instead of selecting just one choice, students can rank all of the options. This encourages critical thinking, especially when students need to articulate their reasons for eliminating certain options. Check out our Ready, Set, Rank blog for more details.
10. Value ALL Voices: One of the best ways we can boost student engagement is to engineer environments where every voice is valued. This fosters an inclusive environment where every student feels respected and heard. Diverse perspectives enrich discussions and learning experiences for everyone.
More Examples Across the Subject Areas
Reading
Character Comparison: “Would you rather be Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter or Tess Durbeyfield from Tess of the d’Urbervilles? Why?” This question encourages students to compare and contrast characters, considering their motivations, challenges, and outcomes.
Literary Preferences: “Would you rather be the Pigeon from the ‘Don’t Let the Pigeon…’ series or one of the animals from the ‘If You Give a _____ a _____’ series? Why?” This prompts students to think about character traits and story elements.
Math
Problem-Solving Methods: “Would you rather solve a problem using multiplication or repeated addition? Why?” This helps students to reflect on different mathematical strategies and their efficiencies.
Real-Life Scenarios: “Would you rather receive $50 now or $5 every week for a year? Why?” This question integrates financial literacy and requires students to calculate and compare the total amounts.
Science
Scientific Preferences: “Would you rather explore the depths of the ocean or the far reaches of space? Why?” This encourages students to think about the challenges and discoveries associated with different scientific fields.
Environmental Choices: “Would you rather live in a world with only renewable energy sources or one with unlimited fossil fuels? Why?” This question prompts discussions about sustainability and environmental impact.
Social Studies
Historical Contexts: “Would you rather live in America during the American Revolution or in France during the French Revolution? Why?” This helps students to compare historical events, considering the social, political, and economic contexts.
Cultural Comparisons: “Would you rather be a citizen of Ancient Rome or Ancient Greece? Why?” This encourages students to explore different aspects of ancient civilizations and their contributions to modern society.
Wrapping it Up
Strategies that are easy to implement with the potential for significant impact are always a win. Have fun using our suggestions or taking this in a direction of your own, leaning into your craft and creativity. Find us on the socials and share your ideas!
If you read all the way to the end, we have a bonus resource for you! Grab a free slide deck of some of the images and "would you rather"s from this post PLUS some extras. CLICK HERE for those freebies.
Share this post:
