Printable This or That: Back to School Edition Worksheet

This icebreaker worksheet helps students share their preferences and build classroom community during the first week of school. By choosing between 12 school-themed pairs, students practice decision-making and identifying personal interests. The final reflection prompt encourages students to provide reasoning for their choices, bridging the gap between simple selection and opinion writing.

At a Glance

• Grade: 2-7 · Subject: ELA / SEL
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about school-related topics and personal preferences
• Skill Focus: Icebreaker & Opinion Writing
• Format: 1 page · 12 problems · No answer key needed · PDF
• Best For: First week of school icebreaker
• Time: 10–15 minutes

This single-page PDF features 12 "This or That" choice pairs presented in a clean, interactive layout with rounded boxes and visual icons. Each row offers two options, such as "Math or Reading" and "Library or Playground," with check circles for easy marking. The bottom of the page includes a structured reflection box where students explain the "why" behind one of their choices using a sentence frame.

Zero-Prep Workflow

• Print: Generate copies of the single-page PDF in less than 1 minute.
• Distribute: Hand out the worksheets as a morning warm-up or transition activity (30 seconds).
• Review: Facilitate a quick "stand up, sit down" discussion to share results with zero additional materials.

Total teacher preparation time is under 2 minutes, making this an ideal resource for the busy first week of school or as an emergency sub plan.

Standards Alignment

The primary standard for this activity is `CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1`, which focuses on participating in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade-level topics. While the worksheet is a written tool, it serves as the scaffold for oral communication and community building. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this worksheet as a "warm-up" activity on the first morning of school to lower student anxiety. After students complete the page individually, facilitate a whole-group discussion where students move to different sides of the room based on their choices. This provides a formative assessment of student interests and communication styles. Completion typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Who It's For

This activity is designed for students in Grades 2 through 7, with visual icons supporting younger readers or English Language Learners. It is an excellent pairing for a "Getting to Know You" anchor chart or a first-day read-aloud about school jitters. The simple format ensures all students can participate regardless of their academic starting point.

Research by Fisher & Frey (2014) emphasizes the importance of establishing a positive classroom climate through low-stakes collaborative tasks that encourage student voice. This "This or That" worksheet aligns with these findings by providing a structured yet flexible framework for students to express personal preferences without the pressure of a "correct" answer. By integrating a written reflection component, the activity transitions from a simple icebreaker to a foundational exercise in CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1, which requires students to engage in collaborative conversations. According to the RAND AIRS 2024 report, such social-emotional learning tools are critical for fostering student engagement and belonging in the early weeks of the academic year. This resource provides a high-utility, zero-prep solution for educators looking to build rapport while simultaneously assessing student writing readiness and oral communication skills in a diverse classroom setting.