Question of the Day
Low-stakes “This or That” prompts for speaking, reasoning, and weekly participation tallies
🔥 harmless debate • 🗣️ spoken discourse • ✅ class-number tally
Mrs. Durso
ROUTINE
How today works
1
Choose A or B
2
Be ready to explain your reasoning
3
When you speak, I tally your class number
Goal: everyone contributes spoken discourse during the week.
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
ROUTINE
Debate norms
Argue the idea, not the person.
You can disagree and still be kind. You can change your mind. You can pass once, then try later.
Best discourse move today: give a reason, example, or counterpoint.
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
ORIGINAL CLASSICS
#1 Toilet paper should hang…
🧻
A
Over
🌀
B
Under
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
ORIGINAL CLASSICS
#2 Is water wet?
💧
A
Yes. Obviously.
🤔
B
No. It makes things wet.
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
FOOD FIGHTS
#3 A hot dog is…
🌭
A
A sandwich
🌮
B
A taco
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
FOOD FIGHTS
#4 Pineapple on pizza is…
🍍
A
Delicious
🍕
B
A crime
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
FOOD FIGHTS
#5 Cereal is technically…
🥣
A
Soup
🚫
B
Not soup
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
ETIQUETTE WARS
#6 The middle seat on a plane gets…
✈️
A
Both armrests
💺
B
One armrest, like everyone else
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
STYLE WARS
Crocs are appropriate for…
🩴
A
Every occasion
👟
B
Only some occasions
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
TEEN LIFE
People under 16 should have…
📱
A
Smartphones
☎️
B
Flip phones only
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
CREATURE LOGIC
A giraffe should wear a tie…
🦒
A
High on the neck
👔
B
Low near the chest
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
CREATURE LOGIC
A horse wears pants on…
🐴
A
All four legs
👖
B
Only the back legs
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
REASONING
Are there more…
👀
A
Eyes in the world
🦵
B
Legs in the world
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Science folder color should be…
🟢
A
Green
🔵
B
Blue
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
FOOD FIGHTS
Chili is…
🌶️
A
Soup
B
Stew
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
DAILY ROUTINES
When making cereal…
🥣
A
Cereal first
🥛
B
Milk first
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
DAILY ROUTINES
Getting ready order is…
🧦
A
Sock-sock-shoe-shoe
👟
B
Sock-shoe-sock-shoe
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
MEDIA & LEARNING
Listening to an audiobook…
🎧
A
Counts as reading
📖
B
Does not count as reading
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
DEFINITION DEBATES
#23 A chair must have…
🪑
A
A back
🛋️
B
A place to sit is enough
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
DEFINITION DEBATES
#24 A tennis ball is…
🎾
A
Green
🟡
B
Yellow
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
SCHOOL LIFE
Naps at school should be…
😴
A
Mandatory
⏰
B
Never mandatory
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
SCHOOL LIFE
Homework…
📚
A
Helps learning
🚫
B
Does not help learning
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
DEFINITION DEBATES
#27 Chess is…
♟️
A
A sport
🏆
B
A game, not a sport
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
FOOD FIGHTS
#28 Boneless wings are…
🍗
A
Chicken nuggets
🐔
B
Still wings
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
WOULD YOU RATHER
#29 For the rest of your life, use only…
🥄
A
A spoon
🍴
B
A fork
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
LOW-STAKES OPINIONS
#30 Best pet debate…
🐶
A
Dogs are better
🐱
B
Cats are better
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
GROWTH MINDSET
#31 What matters more?
✨
A
Talent
💪
B
Effort
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
REASONING
#32 There are more…
🛞
A
Wheels in the world
🚪
B
Doors in the world
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
WOULD YOU RATHER
#33 Who wins?
🦆
A
100 duck-sized horses
🐎
B
1 horse-sized duck
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
CREATURE LOGIC
#34 An octopus would wear…
🐙
A
Gloves
🧤
B
Shoes
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
THROWBACK DEBATE
#35 The dress was…
👗
A
Blue/black
✨
B
White/gold
Sentence stems
I agree with ___ because… • My evidence is… • I hear you, but… • A counterpoint is…
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”
OPTIONAL
Teacher quick-use notes
Use 1 slide per day, or pull 3–5 slides for a first-week speaking circle.
Tally idea: call class numbers, mark a quick check when students speak, and add a star when they give evidence, a counterpoint, or invite another student in.
Optional sentence frame upgrade: “At first I thought ___, but now I think ___ because ___.”
Speak once = tally your class number • Add reasoning when you can: “I choose ___ because ___.”