The Question Ball: A Student Favorite

I am always looking for activities to get my students moving and engaging with each other. One of their favorites is the Question Ball. It is a spin on hot potato that builds community. The premise is simple: I play music and students pass the ball around the circle. When the music pauses, whoever is holding the ball has to answer the questions closest to their right thumb. (Yes, sometimes we have to review our lefts and rights in middle school!) It can be a lot of fun, but I quickly learned it can get out of hand. Here are some of the things I have integrated into this game to make sure it is successful in my classroom:

• Students may only pass the ball to the person next to them. If anyone throws or kicks the ball, they have to sit out for two rounds. My first time playing, I let the students pass anywhere in the circle. That was a mistake. The question ball was flying everywhere!

• When the music stops, the voices stop. The point of question ball is to get to know each other, so talking needs to stop before a question can be answered. It is a great lesson in active listening and showing respect. I often talk with my students about the importance of listening when someone shares something important to them. Even if it isn't important to us, we want to support people who share.

• Pause strategically. You won't be able to pause on specific students, but make sure you are pausing in different parts of the circle. You can't learn about all of your students if you're pausing in the same spot. And I have learned plenty about students in this game....sometimes a little too much.

• Make sure your questions are inclusive. I made sure to make my questions ones most students could answer. Topics like family, money, and experiences are what I stayed away from. Stick to low-risk questions like "Crayons or markers?" and "What is your favorite pizza topping?" to ensure students feel safe answering in front of the class. I included pictures of my question ball below as an example.

I just happened to win the ball I used at an arcade, but any ball can be used! You just need a permanent marker to write your questions down with. My younger students in particular ask for the activity regularly. I hope you have as much fun with it as we do!