Questions for Middle School Students

Teenagers have a lot to say when the question takes them seriously. These cards start with theme songs, substitute teachers and future jobs, then move on to peer pressure, rumors, online life and how to disagree with respect. Nothing asks students to rate each other or share what they'd rather keep private.

Good for: Teachers and youth workers with ages 13 to 15 who want real discussion in class or homeroom.

Play 70 cards

Tips for playing

Give students a minute to think before anyone answers.
Let them talk in small groups and share one point with the class.
Disagreement is fine; keep it about ideas, not people.

Depth: lightLight questions

Easy to start with. Good for warming up.

Which song would you pick as our class theme song?
What do you do when you need a break from screens?
Which job would you try for a week if you could pick any?
If you could get rid of just one invention, which would it be?
Which movie or series should everyone in our class watch, and why?
What problem at school could our class solve if we worked on it together?
What should school teach us that it doesn't today?
Which book, podcast or video taught you something you didn't learn at school?
Which craft or language would you learn in one summer if you could pick anything?
What time of day is your brain sharpest?
Which class memory do you think you'll still be telling people about as an adult?
If our class got a day off together, what should we do?
Which subject has surprised you most since you started middle school?
What do you think teens 30 years from now will laugh at when they look back at us?
What would you do with a whole day without screens?
What job do you think will exist when you're an adult that doesn't exist today?
What do you think a school day was like for a 14-year-old a hundred years ago?
If you were in charge of the next spirit week, what would the themes be?
What would you ask a world leader if you had five minutes?
If young people could make one law, what should it be about?
If you gave a talk to the whole school, what would it be about?
What would make lunch and free periods better for the older students?
What do you wish a robot could help with at school?
What do you hope you'll know how to do by the time you're 18?
What's a small thing at school that makes the day better?
Which famous person would you want as a substitute teacher for a week?
If our class made a documentary about itself, what would it be called?
Which book or story you've read in class do you remember best, and why?
What would you change if you were principal for a week?
What has a teacher or coach said to you that you still remember?
What do you like to do most on a weekend with nothing planned?
Where in the world would you like to live for a year when you're grown up?
What's the best thing about being in middle school?
Which app or website shouldn't exist, and why?
What should everyone get to try before they leave this school?

Depth: mediumA bit more personal

For when the conversation is flowing.

What do you think adults get most wrong about teenagers today?
What matters most in a friendship now, and what mattered most when you were eight?
When did you last say what you thought, even though not everyone agreed?
What can we do in class to make it easier to say a wrong answer out loud?
What do you hope our class remembers from these years once we've moved on?
What makes a good discussion when people disagree?
What would it take for you to change your mind about something important?
How can you be a good friend to someone who's having a bad day?
How can you say no to peer pressure and still be part of the group?
What makes a teacher good to learn from?
Which kind of school or career are you curious about right now, and why?
What would make a job feel worth doing for you?
What's easier for young people today than 30 years ago, and what's harder?
What do you do to take a break from your phone when it starts taking over?
Which school rule makes sense, and which one should be changed?
When is a joke funny for everyone, and when is it only funny for some?
How can you show respect to someone you completely disagree with?
What have you learned from a mistake you made at school?
What makes a group strong when the people in it are very different?
What advice would you give the students starting middle school next year?
What can our class do so no one is left out on a trip or in a project?
What helps you keep a cool head before a test?
When do you think someone becomes an adult?
What experience has changed how you see something?
Why do rumors spread so fast, and how can you stop one?
How can you help someone who seems to be struggling without making a big deal of it?
What should politicians listen to young people about more?
What's the difference between being popular and being good company?
What have you learned about working together in group projects?
When is it okay to say no to a friend?
What should you think about before you post something about other people online?
What do you think you'll miss about this school?
How can adults and young people get better at understanding each other?
Ten years from now, what would you like to be able to say about your middle school years?
What's a good way to give a classmate a compliment?

70 cards in this deck.