bell work assignments

Elementary Assessments

101 Excellent Bell Work Questions

Prompt students to get into learning mode using these engaging bell work questions that focus students fast.

What Are Bell Work Questions?

Bell work questions are brief assignments given at the beginning of a class period that students respond to before the bell rings.

The purpose of bell work questions is to help transition students into a learning mindset as they enter the classroom.

The questions are meant to be completed as students settle in.

Bell work questions serve as essential components of a good classroom management plan because they provide students with routine and structure.

This means that they are more likely to be on task from the start of class and throughout.

Bell work questions are also beneficial for academic reasons because by using them, students review concepts or explore new ideas.

From another perspective, utilizing bell work questions provides teachers with extra time to take care of administrative tasks such as attendance or distribution of graded papers.

Bell Work Questions

Following you will find a collection of engaging bell work questions that may be used for a variety of bell work activities.

1. What are the steps for conducting a science experiment? 

2. How would you make an argument for or against a mandatory summer reading list for your grade level? 

3. Which classroom helper job do you think is the most important and why?

4. What are some things your teacher doesn’t know about you?

5. How would you summarize yesterday’s lesson in (insert subject area)?

6. If you had to go without electricity for a while, how would you keep yourself entertained?

7. What is the most wonderful field trip you’ve ever taken? Describe it.

8. How does figurative language make writing come alive? Give examples. 

9. What are the benefits of knowing how to swim?

10. What’s your most interesting memory from kindergarten?

11. Why do you think it’s important for students to recite positive affirmations daily?

12. In what ways have you changed since the start of the school year?

13. What are your favorite things to do during breaks from school?

14. How can someone use context clues to define unfamiliar words?

15. What makes you stand out from others?

16. How would you describe your state’s flag?

17. What do you most look forward to learning in school today?

18. How are your talents unique?

19. What’s your favorite thing about school?

20. Are you more extrinsically or intrinsically motivated? Explain. 

21. Who has a positive impact on your education and how?

22. How would you summarize the main idea of a recent lesson?

23. What makes you feel grateful?

24. If you could be any animal, which would you be and why?

25. What career would you like to have when older? Why?

26. What is something that you have difficulty accepting and why?

27. If you could create any new law, what would it be and why?

28. When is a time that you felt proud of yourself?

29. How would you compare and contrast any two cultural traditions? 

30. What topic are you eager to learn about in class this semester and why?

31. What would cause you to distance yourself from a friend?

32. Why do you think people prefer junk food over healthy food? Explain. 

33. What is your greatest academic weakness, and how can you improve in this area?

34. In what ways are fractions represented in our world?

35. How would you describe your favorite place to play? 

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36. So far, what has been your favorite year in school? Why?

37. What is your favorite subject or class and why?

38. If you were a chef, what would be the most important part of your job and why? 

39. How is music a form of art?

40. Where do you feel most safe and why?

41. What questions would you ask a 100-year-old person about their life experiences?

42. Which is your favorite day of the week, and why?

43. How can you explain how to write an acrostic poem? 

44. What does your city or town look like on a cloudy day? 

45. What are some of your hidden talents? When do you use them?

46. How can local politicians convince residents to stop littering?

47. What kind of place is best for relaxing?

48. Do you think standardized testing is necessary? Why or why not?

49. What’s your favorite type of music and why?

50. What is a memorable moment from Field Day last year?

51. Why is it necessary to have rules?

52. What are your big dreams for the future?

53. Why do we celebrate holidays, and what is the significance of doing so?

54. Why is it important to have a growth mindset ?

Fun Bellwork Questions

55. What does it mean to have a good sense of humor?

56. What would life would be like if everything was made of candy? 

57. How are you similar to your best friend?

58. What’s the funniest Halloween costume you’ve ever seen?

59. If you could switch places with any celebrity, who would it be and why?

60. What’s the funniest movie you’ve ever seen?

61. What makes you feel energized?

62. Which emoji do you feel like today and why?

63. If you were president for one day, what laws would you make and why?

64. What food could you eat for the rest of your life and why?

65. Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

66. If you could be a color, which would it be and why?

67. Would you rather be a participant in the talent show or the science fair? Why?

68. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received, and what made it so great?

69. If you joined a circus, what would be your act?

70. Would you rather be a teacher or a principal? Why?

71. What are the steps for subtracting two-digit numbers?

72. Imagine that bats rule the world. What things will they make humans do?

73. If you were to write a book, what would it be about?

74. What suggestions would you give to the teacher for rearranging the room?

75. Compose a poem in which your pencil is personified. 

76. How would you summarize your favorite brain break activity?

77. What makes your friends so great?

78. Pretend that you are on your way to a friend’s birthday party but fall into a puddle. What happens next?

79. What’s your superpower? 

80. What is the funniest-looking animal you’ve ever seen?

81. When have you ever been mischievous? Tell about the experience.

82. What’s your favorite board game and why?

83. Who in the celebrity world is a good role model for students? Why do you think this?

84. What’s the funniest joke you have ever heard?

85. If you were in charge of planning the school’s lunch menu, which healthy foods would you serve each day?

86. What’s your favorite quote? What does it mean?

87. How would you describe a beach to someone who has never visited one?

88. What type of adventures and challenges would you face if you became a roach for one day?

89. Why do you think people sometimes use humor to lighten a situation?

90. What is a lesson that you learned from a past mistake?

91. Why is it important to laugh at yourself sometimes?

92. Who is the funniest member of your family? Why do you say this?

93. What’s the best sitcom or cartoon you’ve ever watched? What makes it so?

94. When you have time off from school, what activities do you enjoy doing at home?

95. What do you think your life will be like when you’re 100 years old?

96. Would you rather have a brand new cell phone or a collection of video games? Why?

97. Why is your school the best?

98. What instruments will you use if you decide to start a band? Why do you select these instruments?

99. If you could change your middle name, what would you change it to and why?

100. What three wishes would you like to be granted?

101. If you had to give up one of your senses, which would it be and why?

102. What’s a silly memory from one of your birthdays?

Final Thoughts

Establish a tone of productivity and learning as soon as students enter the classroom using these fun and engaging bell work questions.

If you’re teaching remotely or want to make digital bell work questions, consider using Quizlet to display these questions.

No matter the grade or subject you teach, you’re likely to find a question here to serve the needs of your class.