Teachers are always asking for bellringers that are easy to use, flexible across grade levels, and actually get students thinking. Over time, I realized I had built up a whole collection of go-to activities that I kept pulling from again and again. So I started thinking of this as my warehouse of bellringers. A place where you can grab a quick warm-up, a brain break, or something to spark meaningful discussion.
Below you’ll find a variety of puzzle-style bellringers, each with a slightly different focus but the same goal. Low prep, high thinking, and easy to drop into any classroom routine.
This, Not That
Two new editions have been added to This, Not That.
Think of This, Not That bellringers as mind-challenge puzzles. Each puzzle includes five statements, and the goal is to figure out the common thread connecting them.
The phrases that come after the “but not” portion of each statement sometimes help point students toward the solution. Other times, they are intentional distractions that require deeper thinking.
Most This, Not That puzzles follow one of two solution paths. The connection may be based on shared features or attributes of the items in the statements, or it may be based on shared features or patterns found in the words themselves. For more detailed information, please see this blog. And don’t forget if you need the answers, please email me at preimers@tcea.org.
Canva Links to the Bellringers
Google Slides Links to the Bellringers
Fast Fourteen
Each activity page presents students with 14 fun prompts, asking them to list three words per category. Think:
“Things that roll”
“Foods that are sweet”
“Things that spin”
There are three differentiated levels, and each level includes three different activity pages:
- Brain Breeze (Easy) – Light and easy-peasy
- Brain Boost (Medium) – A step up in challenge
- Turbo-Charged (Challengin ) – Designed for deeper thinking
More information on Fast Fourteen can be found here.
Bye-Bye Oddball
BRAND NEW! Bye-Bye Oddball presents students with groups of four related words, where one word does not belong. Students identify the odd one out and then repair the list by adding a word that correctly fits the category. You’ll find four main activity pages, plus bonus STEM and Disney-themed sets.
Think:
- apple, carrot, banana, grapes
- triangle, square, cube, circle
- eagle, dolphin, squid, shark
Junior Connections
Usually, I don’t create activities for the littles, but a teacher reached out with a specific request, and I couldn’t resist. That’s how Connections Junior came to be. If you’ve read my blog before, you know I have a soft spot for the NYT Connections puzzle.
Connections Junior is a simplified, kid-friendly version designed with early learners in mind. Instead of 16 words, this version uses a 3 x 3 grid with nine images, all created using Emoji Kitchen.
The activity was built in Google Slides, so teachers can easily make a copy and students can drag and move the images into the correct rows based on shared characteristics. It’s intuitive, visual, and perfect for building early categorization and reasoning skills without requiring reading fluency.
Holiday Connections
I’ve also created holiday-themed Connections games that can be used in the classroom. These versions are designed in Canva and follow the same reasoning and pattern-based thinking students love from the original Connections-style puzzles.
Each set includes a themed grid and answers are provided after each game, making them easy for teachers to use as bellringers, small-group challenges, or whole-class discussions. They’re festive, and flexible.
For the Rest of Your Life
This bellringer is designed to get students thinking about choices and tradeoffs. Similar to a “Would You Rather” prompt, each question asks students to commit to one option and explain their reasoning. The choices are intentionally varied and sometimes a little silly, which makes the discussion engaging and accessible for all grade levels.
There is no single correct answer. What matters is how they justify their choice, listen to others, and reconsider their thinking. It’s a simple way to encourage critical thinking, conversation, and perspective-taking at the start of a lesson.
“What’s Going On in This Picture?”
“What’s Going On in This Picture?” is a visual thinking routine where students analyze an image without any background information or captions. They describe what they notice, explain what they think is happening, and support their ideas with evidence from the image.
Instead of searching for a single correct answer, students practice observation, inference, and discussion. The routine encourages students to explain their thinking, listen to others, and refine their ideas, making it an easy, low-pressure way to build critical thinking and communication skills.
To learn more about the strategy, check out my colleague Diana Benner’s original blog post. For access to my photo bank of ready-to-use images, email me at preimers@tcea.org and I’ll share the link.
Think of this collection as a mix-and-match warehouse. Choose the bellringer that fits your students, your time, and your energy that day.
Whether you need something quick, visual, or discussion-based, having a reliable stash of bellringers can make the start of class feel purposeful instead of rushed. I hope one or two earn a permanent spot in your classroom toolbox. And remember if you have questions or comments, please send me an email.
