100 Circle Time Questions for Preschool, Just for Fun

A good circle time question is short, open and a little silly. It gives every child something to say, and it gives you a peek at how they think. Here are 100 questions to ask just for fun, with a free printable booklet to keep in your circle time basket. The first 50 use five kinds of questions: favorites, this or that, would you rather, if you could, and what would you do if. The other 50 are grouped by topic.

Download the printable booklet (PDF)

How to use these questions

• Pick one or two a day. A question works as a greeting, between songs or while the group settles. There is no right answer.
• Give thinking time. Ask, then wait. Some children answer right away, and some need a moment or a turn later.
• Offer other ways to answer. A child can point to a picture, sign, use a communication device, show with their body or give a thumbs up. Passing is fine, and so is listening.
• Answer it yourself first when the group is quiet. Your own silly answer often gets everyone talking.
• Say "Tell me more." A follow-up turns a one-word answer into a conversation.
• Repeat favorites. Children enjoy hearing a question again and comparing answers.
• "Show us!" questions invite a movement, a sound or a face. Any way of showing counts, including from a seat.
• "This or that?" questions are quick picks. Children can point, hold up one or two fingers, or move to one side of the circle.

These questions give children practice listening, taking turns and putting ideas into words. To see how that connects to language and social-emotional development, read The Early Learning Domains: A Teacher's Guide.

What's your favorite? (1 to 10)

1. What is your favorite color? Why?
2. What is your favorite animal? Why?
3. What is your favorite fruit?
4. What is your favorite song to sing?
5. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
6. What is your favorite story?
7. What is your favorite kind of weather?
8. What is your favorite way to move? Show us!
9. What is your favorite place on our playground?
10. What is your favorite thing to play with at school?

This or that? (11 to 20)

11. Frogs or ducks?
12. Slide or swings?
13. Crayons or markers?
14. Apples or bananas?
15. Rain boots or sandals?
16. Stars or clouds?
17. Blocks or puzzles?
18. Bubbles or balloons?
19. Clapping or stomping? Show us!
20. Lions or bears?

Would you rather? (21 to 30)

21. Would you rather have wings or a tail?
22. Would you rather be as tall as a giraffe or as small as an ant?
23. Would you rather play in the snow or in the sand?
24. Would you rather hop like a frog or waddle like a penguin?
25. Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet octopus?
26. Would you rather paint with your fingers or your toes?
27. Would you rather live in a treehouse or a castle?
28. Would you rather ride a train or a hot-air balloon?
29. Would you rather be a robot or a superhero for a day?
30. Would you rather talk to animals or talk to trees?

If you could... (31 to 40)

31. If you could shrink as tiny as a bug, where would you explore?
32. If you could build anything with blocks, what would it be?
33. If you could make up a new color, what would you call it?
34. If you could ride on a cloud, where would it take you?
35. If you could talk to one animal, what would you ask it?
36. If you could make it rain anything, what should it rain?
37. If you could pick a song for everyone, what would it be?
38. If you could visit any storybook place, where would you go?
39. If you could open a magic door, where would it lead?
40. If you could invent a new playground toy, what would it be?

What would you do if...? (41 to 50)

41. What would you do if you were a giant?
42. What would you do if your toys came to life?
43. What would you do if you found a dinosaur egg?
44. What would you do if it snowed inside our classroom?
45. What would you do if you woke up with elephant ears?
46. What would you do if a penguin knocked on our door?
47. What would you do if your shoes could talk?
48. What would you do if you had spaghetti hair?
49. What would you do if you lived on the moon?
50. What would you do if you could breathe underwater?

All about me (51 to 60)

51. What makes you laugh?
52. What is something you are really good at?
53. What would you like to learn how to do?
54. What do you like to do on a rainy day?
55. What is the best part of your day at school?
56. What makes you feel proud?
57. What is a sound you love to hear?
58. What is something new you tried?
59. What do you like to build?
60. What do you like to pretend to be?

Animals (61 to 70)

61. Which animal would make the best friend?
62. What animal would you like to see up close?
63. If a cat could talk, what would it say?
64. Which animal do you think is the fastest?
65. Where do you think fish sleep?
66. What would you name a pet elephant?
67. Which animal has the funniest walk? Show us!
68. If you had a tail, what would you do with it?
69. What sound does your favorite animal make? Show us!
70. Which animal would you like to be for a day? Show us how it moves!

Friends and feelings (71 to 80)

71. What makes a good friend?
72. How can you tell when someone is happy?
73. What do you like to play with a friend?
74. What could we do to help someone feel better?
75. What helps you feel relaxed?
76. What is something kind someone did for you?
77. What does your face look like when you're surprised? Show us!
78. What is a fun way to say hello?
79. What could you do if a friend wants the same toy?
80. What makes our classroom a happy place?

Silly and funny (81 to 90)

81. What is the silliest word you know?
82. What would happen if dogs could fly?
83. What would your silliest hat look like?
84. What is a silly name for a goldfish?
85. What would a dinosaur wear to a party?
86. If your socks could dance, how would they dance? Show us!
87. What is the funniest sound you can make?
88. What do you think a monster eats for lunch?
89. If a carrot could talk, what would it say?
90. What would you put on the world's biggest pizza?

Big wonders (91 to 100)

91. Why do you think the sky is blue?
92. Where do you think rainbows go?
93. How do you think birds know where to fly?
94. Where do you think puddles go when they dry up?
95. How do you think a seed grows into a plant?
96. What do you think clouds feel like?
97. Where do you think the wind goes?
98. Why do you think we have day and night?
99. What do you think the biggest animal in the world is?
100. What question would you like to ask everyone?

Make your own questions

The last page of the booklet has room for your class's own questions. Invite a child to choose tomorrow's question; their ideas are often the funniest. Pick topics every child can join in on, and skip questions about home life or other private matters.

Share a favorite answer

A favorite answer can make a nice line in a family update. The daycare daily report template shows one way to write it. Share children's words only through your program's approved communication process.

For more ideas, see 30 circle time activities and rainy day activities for daycare. Explore Bloomily for preschools for the broader daily workflow.

Download the booklet

Download the printable booklet (PDF). It has all 100 questions on 10 pages, one for each set, a page of tips and a blank page for your class's own questions. It prints on letter-size paper, in color or black and white.