Halloween would you rather: an ESL speaking game for grades 6–8

1. Teach the frame first. Write: "I would rather ___ than ___ because ___." Model one: "I would rather carve a pumpkin than bake pumpkin bread because I like to make faces." Point out that "would rather" is followed by the base verb: carve, not carving.
2. Students stand. Read a question and point to each side of the room: "Left wall for the first choice, right wall for the second."
3. Once students move, they turn to someone on the same side and say their full sentence. Then they find someone on the other side and ask, "Why did you choose that?"
4. Use these questions, or invent your own: Would you rather be a bat for a day or an owl for a day? Wear a costume that glows or one that plays music? Go to a fall festival or a costume parade? Pick pumpkins in the rain or in the cold? Hand out treats or go trick-or-treating? Live in an old castle or a tree house? Eat only candy corn or only caramel apples for a day?
5. After four or five questions, add a follow-up frame: "Really? I'd rather ___. What about you?" Students must use it once per round.
6. Finish with a quick-write: each student writes their favorite answer in a full sentence with a reason.

Not celebrating Halloween? Swap in fall questions: rake leaves or plant bulbs? Hot cider or cold cider? A forest hike or a pumpkin patch? Students can also say, "I don't celebrate it, but I would rather…"

Differentiation: for newcomers, allow a short answer first ("Bat, because it can fly") and give a picture for each choice. For advanced students, add a second reason with "and also" or a contrast with "but," and ask them to use "I'd rather" and "would you rather" naturally. For students who are shy about speaking in front of others, keep the conversations in pairs. For students with mobility needs, use left and right hands instead of walls.

Quick check: each student says one complete sentence with "would rather," a base verb and "because."

If you try it, tell us which question got the longest debate in your class.