Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Would You Rather Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Would You Rather Cards is a free printable card set for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children cut out the cards, take turns to choose between two silly options, and say why. Choices include a pet dragon or a pet unicorn, and a treehouse or a castle. It needs only paper, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, use page 1 for the cards and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a set of cards to cut out and use. Each card asks a would you rather question with two silly choices, such as flying like a bird or swimming like a fish, or always hopping or always skipping. Children listen to the question, pick one choice and explain their reason aloud. There is no right answer. Players pass the cards round in turn, so everyone gets a go at choosing and a go at listening.
- Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
- Would you rather eat pizza or pasta for every meal?
- Would you rather fly like a bird or swim like a fish?
- Would you rather live in a treehouse or a castle?
- Would you rather be tiny for a day or giant for a day?
- Would you rather have a robot helper or a talking dog?
- Would you rather always hop or always skip?
- Would you rather it snowed all summer or rained all winter?
Getting the most from the cards
Say because
Ask children to finish the sentence "I would rather... because...". This turns a choice into a full spoken sentence with a reason.
Listen first
Before anyone answers, the listener repeats the two choices. This helps children hold the question in their head and pay attention.
Pass the cards round
Take turns to read a card and to choose. Everyone gets to be both the reader and the chooser.
Add your own
Children can make up new cards with their own silly pairs. Inventing a good question is harder than answering one.
Why silly choices help children talk
Would you rather questions give children a small, clear decision with only two options. That makes them easy to start. Because the choices are silly, there is no fear of getting it wrong. Children can be funny and still practise real speaking skills: choosing, explaining and listening to another person's view.
At 6 to 7, many children can say what they like but find it harder to say why. Using the word because helps them build a full sentence with a reason inside it. Hearing a friend or grown up give a different reason shows that people can think differently and both make sense.
Skills and curriculum link
- Speaking in full sentences
- Giving reasons
- Listening
- Taking turns
- Making choices
- Using the word because
Ideas for the grown up
- Go first yourselfAnswer the first card out loud and give a reason. Children copy the way you speak, so a clear model helps them find their own words.
- Ask for one more reasonIf a child says "I just like it", gently ask what they like about it. Small nudges like this stretch their thinking without pressure.
- Welcome every answerThere are no right or wrong choices. Show interest in each answer, even when it is very different from yours.
- Keep it playfulSilly voices and big reactions help shy children join in. If a card is not working, skip it and move on to the next.
Key words
- ChoiceOne of the options you can pick from.
- ReasonThe thing that explains why you picked something.
- BecauseA word we use to give a reason. "I picked this because..."
- OpinionWhat you think or feel about something. Different people can have different opinions.
- Take turnsOne person goes, then the next person goes. Everyone gets a fair go.
- ListenPay attention to what someone says so you can understand it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is the card set for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown up.
- Cut out the cards. An adult can do the cutting for younger children, or help them with it.
- Work through the first few cards together. Read each one aloud and talk about both choices before anyone picks.
- Pass the cards round in turn. Each player picks a choice and says why, and the others listen.
- Come back to the cards another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence, and children often give new reasons the second time.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let younger children point to a picture they draw instead of answering. Draw the two choices together, then let your child point to the one they prefer. Once they are happy, ask them to say one word about why, and build up to a sentence.
To stretch confident children
Ask a follow up question after each choice: why did you pick that? Then ask the child to give two reasons, or to try to persuade another player to change their mind using a good reason.
Make it a game
Add three cards of your own and ask a grown up. Write two silly choices on each card. Then see whether the grown up can guess which choice you would pick before you say it.
Talk about it
- Which card was the hardest to choose, and why?
- Did anyone pick a different choice from you? What was their reason?
- Can you think of a reason that is silly and a reason that is sensible?
- If you could change one card, what would the two choices be?
- What would be the best part of your choice? What might be the tricky part?
- Can you make up a would you rather question about food, animals or a favourite place?
Take it off the page
Draw your choice
Pick a card and draw what you would choose. Add a label or a short sentence underneath to say why.
Car journey cards
Take the cards on a trip. Pass them round in the car or waiting room and take turns to choose and explain.
Make a family set
Ask each person in the family to write one new would you rather question. Mix them up and read them out at dinner.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first few cards and answer some yourself. Let them lead after that. Listen to their reasons and show interest, so they feel their ideas matter. The cards work well at dinner time, on car journeys and in waiting rooms.
Teachers
Use the cards as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. They support the spoken language strand of the National Curriculum for England, including listening, giving reasons and taking turns. They need no preparation beyond printing and cutting.
Home educators
Home educators and tutors can use the cards alongside books, outdoor play and everyday talk. They are free to print again for brothers and sisters. Children can also write their own cards, which links speaking to writing in a light way.
Where this fits
Before this, children in Year 1 and earlier practise listening to others, answering simple questions and speaking in short sentences. Would you rather cards build on that by asking for a reason as well as an answer.
After this, children go on to explain ideas in more detail, take part in discussions and give reasons in their writing. The habit of saying because is a useful step towards persuasive talk and writing in later years.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age are the Would You Rather Cards for?
They are written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with help and picture answers, and older children can use the stretch ideas on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise speaking, giving reasons and listening. They choose between two options, explain their choice aloud and listen to the reasons other players give.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or use it with a new group of children.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. The cards print well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can colour them in if they like.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards.
- What if my child does not want to choose?
Start by answering a card yourself and giving a reason. Then offer a picture answer: your child draws or points to the choice they prefer. Pressure to speak can wait until they feel ready.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and scissors, with a pencil for any drawing. It works well for quiet time, rainy days, car journeys and school holidays, and it gets children talking.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.