Bell ringers
Bell ringer questions and a free daily bell ringer
Ready-to-use questions for math, science and English, plus three new puzzles every day for grades 2 to 7. No logins, and nothing to prepare.
What is a bell ringer?
A bell ringer is a short activity students start as soon as they arrive, before the lesson begins. It settles the room, gets students thinking, and gives the teacher a few minutes to take attendance.
Fun questions to start the day
- If you could add one subject to the school day, what would it be and why?
- Would you rather be able to speak every language or play every instrument?
- What is something you can do now that you could not do a year ago?
- If this class had a theme song, what would it be?
Math
- Which is greater, 3/4 or 5/8? How do you know?
- A shirt costs $20 and is 25% off. What do you pay?
- Write three different number sentences that equal 24.
- What comes next: 2, 6, 18, 54, ...? Explain the rule.
Science
- Why do you think we see lightning before we hear thunder?
- Name something that is a solid, a liquid and a gas in this room.
- What would change on Earth if the Moon were closer?
- Why does a metal spoon feel colder than a wooden one in the same room?
English and writing
- Rewrite this sentence so it is more interesting: "The dog ran."
- What is the difference between "affect" and "effect"? Use each in a sentence.
- Describe your morning in exactly ten words.
- What is the best opening line of any book you have read?
A daily bell ringer, by grade
Every student in a grade band gets the same word, math and pattern puzzle each day, so you can project it or run it live and talk through the answers together.
Questions teachers ask
- What is a bell ringer?
- A bell ringer is a short activity students start as soon as they arrive, before the lesson begins. It settles the room, gets students thinking, and gives the teacher a few minutes to take attendance.
- How long should a bell ringer take?
- About three to five minutes is typical. Long enough to get students thinking, and short enough to leave the lesson its time.
- What makes a good bell ringer?
- It is something every student can start without help, it connects to what you are teaching or reviews something recent, and it takes no setup.
- Are Brain Bell's daily puzzles free?
- Yes. There are no accounts and no ads, and once a device has visited, that day's puzzles work even when the Wi-Fi does not.