Conversation Starters : Ages 8-13
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!
Make up three silly new traditions for our family. What would they be?
What’s the funniest or strangest thing that happened to you today?
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!
Make up three silly new traditions for our family. What would they be?
What’s the funniest or strangest thing that happened to you today?
What are you most looking forward to about a new school year (or fall)?
What’s the hardest thing about starting something new?
If you could freeze time so things never had to change, would you do it?
In the famous “Marshmallow Study” by Stanford University, children were presented with one marshmallow or other treat, which they could either eat immediately or not eat for 15 minutes in order to get more. What do you think you would do?
All of us lose our patience sometimes. Think of a recent time you lost yours. What happened?
Who is the most patient person you know? How can you tell they are patient?
What was your favorite book or movie from last year? What did you like about it?
Choose a situation from a book or a movie that you would like to find yourself in, such as visiting Narnia, playing Quidditch at Hogwarts or ___. Explain why you chose what you did.
What was the best vacation you ever had? Or the best you can imagine?
Talk about a time you tried something new. What was it? What happened?
What are 3 things you could give to or do for a close friend that would make him or her happy?
Have you ever volunteered? What did you do? Did you enjoy it?
Have you and your friend ever left someone out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
Can you think of a real person or a television, book or movie character who acts like a bully. How?
If you were principal of your school, would you change anything? What?
Would you rather go to your school, or Hogwarts. Why?
If you were a teacher and could teach your students anything at all, what would you teach them?
Do you have a favorite summer memory, whether from this year or another? What is it?
Did you do anything to help someone this summer? What was it? If not, what could you still do?
Are you a “summer” person? If not, what season do you think best represents you?
Why do we celebrate the 4th of July? What is your favorite part of the holiday?
Do you think you have too much freedom, or not enough?
Do you feel free to be yourself?
Talk about a person you admire, famous or otherwise, who has fought or fights for the freedom of others.
Talk about a time something changed for you, something beyond your control. Have your feelings about this event evolved over time?
If you could change one thing about your family or about school, what would it be?
Do you have a favorite movie, book or song that deals with change? Why is this your favorite?
“As soon as you get over caring what people think, you can have a nice time,” said actress Lara Flynn Boyle. Do you care what other people think? In what ways?
Questions to help you talk about the pop singer’s latest troubles.
Does this school’s zero-tolerance policy go too far?
In the movie Groundhog Day, actor Bill Murray’s character keeps living the same day over and over again. Describe in detail a day you’d like to live over and over again.
Spring is often said to be a time of regrowth or change. Is there anything you would like to change or do differently this season?
Pick someone you care about and talk about how you could put a “spring in their step” today.
Do you have a favorite love story? Is it from a book, movie or real life? Talk about it.
Who or what exemplifies the meaning of “love” to you?
Do you find it easy to say I love you, or hard? Are there times when it’s harder than others?
Create a brand new holiday along with new traditions for the world. Describe the what, when, why and how.
Have you ever participated in a tradition from a culture other than your own? What was it? How did you like it?
Pick someone you’d like to start a tradition with. Who is it? What would the tradition be? Anything goes.
Novelist Marcel Proust, “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Who are your ‘charming gardeners?’ Why?
When is it especially important to say ‘thank you?’ Do you notice when people thank you, or forget to thank you?
What is your favorite thing in the world to do? Why? How would you feel if you couldn’t do it anymore?
Is there someone you know who is having a hard time right now? What is that they are going through? What might you do to let them know you understand or want to understand how they are feeling?
“’Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” What does that phrase mean to you?
Choose your favorite book or movie character and explain how he or she feels. How does he or she show empathy?
Do you ever put off doing something you know needs to be done? Why? Can you give me an example?
Do you prefer to read or to hear?
Do you prefer to listen or to speak?
What would you do if you made the rules at home?
How do the Harry Potter books make an argument for tolerance? Or discuss another book that does.
What does ‘open-minded’ mean? Do you know someone who is open-minded?
Is there something that you do differently in your family that you are really proud of?
In addition to treating human beings well, what else can we as individuals show compassion for? What are some examples?
Describe someone you know who is truly compassionate.
Is it important to show compassion to people, even if they may not show compassion back?
What makes you a good friend? Sibling? Child?
Have you ever had to end a friendship? How did you know it had to end?
Who is your oldest friend?
Tell me something about you that you think I might not know.
Who is the one person you trust the most?
If a friend asks you to keep a secret that you don’t feel comfortable keeping, what would you do?
Is it always a good thing to be loyal? When might it not be?
Do you recall a time when it was hard to be loyal? An experience where you needed to make a difficult choice? A time when you needed to make sacrifices in order to show your loyalty?
Can you give me an example of a time you saw a friend, family member or stranger being treated unfairly? What did you do? If you can’t think of a real example, what might you do in such a situation?
If you could start a new family tradition, what would it be?
If you could have a character from a book as a best friend, who would it be?
How do you show someone that s/he is special to you?
What would you do if you saw your friend being bullied? What about if you saw a stranger being bullied?
What 2 qualities do you want all your friends to have?
What 3 words would you use to describe our family?
Think about someone your family knows who could use a pick-me-up or a helping hand. Who is it and what could you do for him/her?
What’s one act of kindness that you have done for someone in the last 6 months?
Outside of the family, who are the people in the world that care for you during a day or a week?
If someone gives you a present that you do not want or like, what are some ways to respond?
What do you miss (or not miss) about seeing friends at school every day? How do you keep in touch during the summer?
Milk or juice?
What is your best personality trait?
If you had to give everyone in the family new names, what would those names be?
What would you do if you made the rules at school?
Would you rather work in a group or by yourself?
Do you prefer to work in silence or with background noise like music?
When you’re studying, what do you find most helpful?
What has been your proudest moment?
Tell a story about a time you were really embarrassed.
What do you like about (school subject or activity)? Dislike?
Is what initially attracted you to (school subject or activity) still what appeals to you about it?
What initially attracted you to (school subject or activity)?
Have you ever been involved in a situation that violated your sense of right and wrong? Has anyone ever asked you to do something you believed was wrong? What did you do?
Do you have things that you worry about in your work? Any ethical concerns? Are your concerns shared by others? How would you like to see them handled?
What, if anything, would make you decide to leave the kind of work you do for something else?
What do you like about your work? Dislike?
Does the thing that attracted to you about your work initially still appeal to you now?
What attracted you initially to your area of work? Your particular subfield or area?
What is your job? What do you do every day?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
When you do something nice for someone else, how does it make you feel?
What does it mean to be inspired?
Who sets a good example for you? Do they inspire you to be a good person?
What makes you want to do good things?
How can I reward you for working hard in school?
What one thing would you change about the world if you had the power to do so?
Finish this sentence: “Someday, I’m going to be the first person in the world to…”
When is a failure a success?
What do you think is your greatest talent or ability?
Teddy Roosevelt once said “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” What does that mean to you?
Many famous writers, athletes and politicians didn’t find success until late in life. Who do you admire who didn’t give up on their dreams?
In the Spiderman series, Uncle Ben says “With great power comes great responsibility.” What power do you have? What great responsibility comes with it?
When people grow up, they are almost always responsible for something. What do you want to be responsible for when you grow up?
Imagine that you could meet either an historical figure or an imaginary character (from film, literature or TV). Who would you want to meet and why? What would you want to ask him or her? If you could plan a day together, what would you do?
Think of a famous figure you don’t admire. This could be someone you respected and have more recently lost respect for, or someone you have never admired. What is it about him or her that you don’t admire? Why?
Think of a famous person you admire, and describe why you admire him or her. What is it s/he does that you respect? Would you want to be like this person? In what ways?
What will be different in the year 2050? What will be the same?
Finish this sentence: “I wish the world…”
What fear would you like to overcome?
Where do you think you will live when you grow up?
What new skill do you wish you could learn?
What do you daydream about?
What qualities about your mom or dad do you hope to have when you’re older?
What do you think the world will look like if/when you have kids of your own?
If you never had to work for money, what would you want to do as an adult?
What is one thing you’d like to learn how to do in the next year?
If you did a self-portrait, what medium would you use (paint, clay, stone, pencil, etc.)?
If you could, would you eat ice cream for every meal? What flavor?
If you were a utensil, which would you be?
If you founded a new country, what would you call it? What would the flag look like?
Which planet in the solar system would you most like to visit?
If you could invent a machine to do something in your life, what would that machine do?
If you wrote a newspaper article about your day, what would the headline be?
If you could stay up all night, what would you do?
What would happen if the sun was always shining and it never rained?
If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be? Why?
If you could redecorate your room, what color would you paint the walls? What posters or pictures would you hang?
If you could be any character from any book you’ve read, what character would you be? Why?
If you assigned each emotion a color, what colors would represent which emotions?
If you joined the circus, what would your circus act be?
Invent a superhero who protects something you care about. What is s/he fighting for? How does s/he create change? (example: Captain Planet)
If you could give one present to the world, what would it be?
What Earth traditions would you bring to a new space colony? What are some traditions you would definitely leave behind? Why?
Imagine you’re leading a crew into space. What qualities do you think would make a good leader?
If you had the chance to leave Earth, would you? What are some things you’d miss the most?
Which friends would you want to get accidentally locked in school with overnight? What would you do?
If you could build your own school, what would the kids do all day?
Imagine you are in the woods by yourself for a whole day. Where would you sleep and what would you eat?
If you could design your own summer camp for kids your age, what would it be like? What’s the goofiest activity you’d have your campers do?
If we didn’t have to work or go to school all day in the middle of the week, what would you want to do with your day?
Can you give an example of a time you saw a friend, family member or stranger being treated unfairly? What did you do? (If you can’t think of a real example, what might you do in such a situation?)
Think of a time life didn’t work out how you expected. How did you respond? Would you respond differently now?
What are 3 things that you’re good at doing that took a lot of hard work and practice?
What are some things you count on other people to do for you? What would happen if they stopped doing those things?
What was the most surprising thing that happened to you this year?
What was your favorite thing that you learned this year (either in school or outside of it)?
What subject are you taking that you wish you could do more of?
During what part of your day do you feel most anxious and rushed? How could we change that?
Where do you feel most relaxed?
What is your favorite piece of art?
What is your favorite snack food?
What is your favorite way to travel? (Bike, car, on foot, plane, train, etc)
How do you define fairness?
Do you think your name suits you?
What personality trait has gotten you into the most trouble?
If I asked your teacher what subject is your best, what would s/he say?
Tell a funny joke.
What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?
If you could pack your own lunch every day, what would you pack?
If you had to write a book, what would you write it about?
What is the hardest thing about being # years old?
What is the best thing about being # years old?
Would you rather be good looking, smart, or athletic?
Would you rather be rich or famous?
What is your favorite form of exercise?
Unfortunately, there are lots of examples in the media of politicians, sports figures, businessmen and others acting unfairly. Can you think of someone you admired who acted unfairly? What did they do? How did this change your opinion of them?
At this point in life, do you believe life is or isn’t fair? What has made you feel this way?