Conversation Starters : Ages 14-100
September 17 is Constitution Day, a national day of observance in the United States that celebrates the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and those who have become citizens throughout the history of the nation. The occasion is observed on September 17 as a nod to the Constitutional Convention, at which delegates signed the original document on the 17th of September, 1787.
In honor of Constitution Day, we’re sharing these conversation starters developed with our friend Christopher Phillips, creator of the Democracy Cafe and Socrates Cafe concepts. These ideas should help you frame a discussion with older kids, probably ages 10 and up, about the nature of our rights and responsibilities. Use them on Constitution Day or any day!
What is your most unusual talent? Demonstrate it!
If you could create a school dedicated to fun, what would it be like? What classes would be taught there?
September 17 is Constitution Day, a national day of observance in the United States that celebrates the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and those who have become citizens throughout the history of the nation. The occasion is observed on September 17 as a nod to the Constitutional Convention, at which delegates signed the original document on the 17th of September, 1787.
In honor of Constitution Day, we’re sharing these conversation starters developed with our friend Christopher Phillips, creator of the Democracy Cafe and Socrates Cafe concepts. These ideas should help you frame a discussion with older kids, probably ages 10 and up, about the nature of our rights and responsibilities. Use them on Constitution Day or any day!
What is your most unusual talent? Demonstrate it!
If you could create a school dedicated to fun, what would it be like? What classes would be taught there?
Endings aren’t all bad! Can you think of a time when an ending was positive?
Albert Camus said, “In the depth of winter, I learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” What do you think he meant? Can you connect this to your own life?
Do you think it’s possible to change one’s self? How have you changed over the years/decades?
What’s the best thing you ever waited for?
The poet Saadi is quoted as saying “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” Have you found this to be true in your life?
What was the best year of your life so far? Explain.
Steven Spielberg is quoted as saying, “All of us every single year, we’re a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all our lives.” Do you agree?
Tell a story about a “first” experience (e.g. first memory, first movie, first trophy, first kiss, etc.)
Recall an experience that changed your mind about something, or helped you see the world or someone differently. What happened?
Are there lessons you have learned about giving that you could share with those younger than you?
Who is the most generous person you can think of? How are they generous?
Can adults be bullies? Explain your answer with a specific example.
Share a story about bullying from your childhood. Were you the bully, the bullied, a bystander?
Who is/was your favorite teacher? Why?
How is this year at school different from last year?
Can someone be “educated” if they haven’t gone to school? Explain.
What place/activity/memory best captures “summer” for you as a child? How did it make you feel?
“Freedom lies in being bold,” said poet Robert Frost. Talk about a time you were bold.
What political freedoms have you witnessed come to fruition in your lifetime?
Talk about the most difficult transition you’ve experienced in your lifetime.
The poet Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” What do you think she meant by this? Have you ever had to do this?
What is the most caring thing you’ve ever done? Or what is the most caring thing someone has ever done for you?
Margaret Mead is quoted as saying “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” Can you give an example of this from your lifetime?
Questions to help you talk about the pop singer’s latest troubles.
Does this school’s zero-tolerance policy go too far?
As spring is associated with hope, what is something you hope for…for yourself, or someone you love, or the world?
Actress Marilyn Monroe once said, “Designers want me to dress like spring…I don’t feel like spring. I feel like a warm red autumn.” What season do you feel like? Why?
Do you have a favorite memory of spring from when you were younger? What is it?
Who was the first person you fell in love with? ( or “Talk about your first love.”)
What one lesson about love would you share with those younger than you?
One of the Beatles’ most famous songs is “All You Need is Love.” Do you think that’s true? What other necessities might you throw in there?
What traditions or rituals do you practice in your life right now?
What was your favorite tradition when you were a child? Have you passed that down to future generations? Will you?
“I’m content to stand on tradition. I’m even more content to wipe my feet on it,” said author Aaron Allston. What do you think he means? Have you ever felt that way?
How has your understanding of gratitude changed over the years? What did you feel most grateful for when you were younger? And today?
Gertrude Stein said, “Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone.” Describe the most creative way you’ve ever expressed thanks to someone, or someone has expressed thanks to you.
At what age do you think you first understood the true meaning of empathy? Why—what happened?
Do you have a role model for empathy? This can be someone you know personally, or not. How is he or she a role model?
Actor Javier Bardem said, “I think we are living in selfish times…we live in the so-called ‘first world,’ and we may be first in a lot of things like technology, but we are behind in empathy.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
Talk about a time when your adaptability or open-mindedness really helped you in a situation.
In general, do you think we as a society are more or less tolerant toward one another than we used to be? Why or why not?
“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.” How might this quote by Malcolm X apply to your own life?
Is it possible to be too compassionate? Why or why not?
Tell a story about someone who showed compassion to you when you were younger. What did they do? How did it affect you?
Albert Schweitzer said, “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” Do you agree, or do you think this is just sentimental? What is the relationship between peace and compassion?
What jobs require the most compassion? Do you think you can be a good nurse or doctor without compassion? Can you be a compassionate person and yet distance yourself professionally? Why might this be important? Are there some jobs where too much compassion might harmful, either to the work or to the individual carrying out the work?
What is your favorite childhood storybook? What is special about it? Who used to read it with you?
Finish this sentence: “Everyone knows that my worst habit is…”
What is your favorite family tradition? Why?
Describe the ideal boy/girlfriend.
How do you feel about social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat)? How do they affect your relationships with others?
Do you stay in touch with friends you can’t see every day? How?
Do you believe in love at first sight?
What is one thing you can do for yourself in the next week that would help you take care of yourself?
Talk about a time when you did something thoughtful for someone else. What was it? How did it make you feel? How did it make the other person feel?
Who at school do you feel most excited to see in the morning?
What is the strangest word you’ve ever heard? What does it mean?
What chore did you especially dislike when you were young?
What was the happiest day of your life so far?
Tell me about the first time you fell in love.
What makes you laugh?
Can you tell me one thing that you learned today that you think I might not know?
“Have I told you about…?” Tell stories about yourself and your extended family! For example, you could ask “Have I ever told you about my first job?” or “Do you know the story of how your grandparents met?”
Think of a project or an assignment that you disliked. How was the quality of your work affected by your feelings about the process?
Think of a project or an assignment that you enjoyed. Do you believe the end result was affected by the way you felt about the work?
What makes some individuals “good workers,” others average workers and still others poor workers?
What determines the quality of someone’s work?
Are there any dangers in being truly passionate about your work? If so, what are they?
Is passion for work the same thing as enjoyment of work?
Mark Twain said, “Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.” What’s the difference between the two, and how would you demonstrate each?
What is your proudest moment so far?
Is it better to talk about your accomplishments or keep them to yourself?
What does it mean to be successful?
Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
The actor Christopher Reeve, who played Superman and later suffered from a spinal cord injury, once said, “Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy prevent us from realizing our potential, or embrace the fact that when we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless.” What do you think he meant?
What qualities does a resilient person have? Is it possible to cultivate these qualities over time? How?
Former First Lady and human rights advocate Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves…The choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” What 3 choices have you made in the last year that have shaped who you are and who you will be?
In the movie Jurassic Park, scientists decide to bring back dinosaurs, but aren’t able to control them. What is the film saying about society’s responsibility when it comes to scientific discoveries? Do you agree?
What is being done to improve your neighborhood right now? What could you do to join the effort?
Who is a role model for you as a caring person? How could you incorporate some of their thoughtful behavior into your life?
Think about a time when you have changed something in your life for the better. What was it and how did you do it?
If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?
If you had the power to cure one disease, what would you cure?
In the year 2030, what do you hope we will have discovered that will change the world for the better?
If you could make money doing whatever you love to do, what would you want to do for a living?
When you retire from your job or graduate from school and people talk about you, what do you hope they say about you?
What is your most vivid dream?
What do you want your life to look like in 10 years? In 50 years?
If you could go to any college or university, which would you choose?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Think of a time you really wanted something, like a part in a play or to be on a sports team, but it didn’t work out. How did you handle the situation? Did it stop you from trying again? Why or why not?
How do you want to impact the world in the next year?
What about the next year are you most excited about?
If you were showing a foreigner around your hometown, where would you take them?
If you had the President over for dinner, what would you serve him?
If you made up your own national holiday, what would it be called and how would we celebrate?
In a movie about your life, who would play you? Who would play your best friends? Your family?
If you went back in time 100 years (or 200, or 1000 years!) and could only bring 3 things with you, what would they be?
You have a sailboat big enough to sail around the world: chart your path. What countries would you visit? For how long?
If you had to teach one of your classes for a day, which class would you want to teach?
If you had one week, a car full of gas, a cooler full of food and your 2 best friends, where would you go and what would you do?
If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would you be?
What would the title of your autobiography be?
If you could live during another time in history, when would you want to live? Why?
If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 books would you bring with you?
If you could spend the day with someone special doing something you both love, who would it be? What would you do?
If you started your own charity, who or what would it help?
What if you were invited to a pool party that sounded really fun, but already had plans with a friend who was not invited? What would you do?
How would your day change if you didn’t have internet or a cell phone?
How do you think the way we demonstrate loyalty changes (or should change) as we get older?
When athletes change teams or people change jobs and go to work for a competitor, is that disloyal? Why or why not?
At this point in life, do you believe life is or isn’t fair? What has made you feel this way?
We use lots of words every day that aren’t in the dictionary. What’s your favorite made up or slang word?
What is the greatest song ever written?
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
What is the one thing you couldn’t live without?
Can you name the 7 wonders of the world? Do you agree with them? What would YOU say were the 7 wonders of the world?
How would you describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
Where in the world do you feel the most comfortable?
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Do you have a favorite piece of clothing? What makes it so special?
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Did anyone read anything today in the newspaper or online that was surprising, upsetting or interesting?
Can you think of a time when you were responsible for doing something and didn’t do it? What happened? How did the other people involved feel and how did you feel?
What was your favorite new story from this year?
What school subject do you think helps you the most in every day life?
What’s the most fun summer trip you’ve ever taken?
Lots of people picnic on public beaches and in public parks. Why do we have public spaces?
What’s something you love to do and haven’t done in awhile because you were too busy?
Have you ever missed a chance to do the right thing because you were rushing too fast? What was it?
If you were ever involved in a protest, what would it be for?
Which school subject do you think will be most helpful to you in the future?
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Martin Luther King, Jr. Have you ever taken on an injustice in your community or in the world? What was the issue, and what happened?
Can you think of someone from your own life who demonstrated acts of great fairness? In what ways did he or she do this?