1. What are the best things you did this summer? 1 1

2. How did you get your name? Does it mean anything? Do you like your name? 2

3. Who is your family? (Hint: they may not all be relatives) 3

4. If you had to give up one of your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, or tasting) which would it be and why? 4

5. Make a list of people you could go to if you had a problem. 5

6. Nouns: people, places, things. List the nouns that make up your life. 6

7. If you could go anywhere, where would you want to travel? 7

8. If your house was burning down, and everyone was safe, what items would you grab? 8

9. What goals do you have for the school year, for high school, beyond? 9

10. If you had a time machine that only worked once, what point in the future or past would you visit? 10

11. If you were an animal, what animal would you be? 11

12. What five people, living or dead, would you invite to dinner? 12

13. What would be your dream pet? 13

14. What do you want more from a career: happiness or wealth? You can only pick one. 14

15. What is your favorite place? Why? 15

16. How much do you know about your family’s history? 16

17. Who is your role model? 17

18. What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? 18

19. Compare and Contrast: Dogs vs. Cats 19

20. If you could have one wish come true this year, what would it be? 20

21. What is your favorite movie? Why? 21

22. Ten years from now you are doing your dream job. What is it? 22

23. Would you borrow money from a friend? Would you lend a friend money? 23

24. Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? 24

25. If you had a fortune to donate, what causes or organizations would you support? 25

26. Would you rather be invisible or be able to read minds? You can only pick one. 26

27. Should professional sports players be able to break the law and keep playing? 27

28. Should parents limit how much time children spend on tech devices? Does the age of the child matter? 28

29. What do you hope to be doing the year after you graduate from High School? 29

30. Do you think you’re brave? 30

31. Would you ever go hunting? 31

32. Should texting while driving be illegal in every state? 32

33. Should french fries and pizza sauce count as vegetables? 33

34. Compare and Contrast: Fruits vs. Vegetables 34

35. Will humans live on mars someday? Would you ever live on Mars? 35

36. What are your opinions on cosmetic surgery? Is it good to be able to alter your appearance? 36

37. Are children growing up too fast? 37

38. Should cell phones be banned from school? 38

39. How well do you think standardized tests like the PARCC measure your abilities? 39

40. Should certain animals have some of the same legal rights as people? 40

41. Should you feel guilty about killing spiders, ants or other bugs? 41

42. Would you rather see the future or change the past? You can only pick one. 42

43. Will wearable technology, like the iWatch, ever really catch on? 43

44. Should all Police Officers wear body cameras? 44

45. What are you thankful for? 45

46. What do you look forward to most–and least– during the holiday season? 46

47. Would you keep a big secret from your parents, like getting married? 47

48. Is it possible to start out poor in this country, work hard and become rich? 48

49. Would you want to be home- schooled? 49

50. Should a college education be free? If so, who should pay for it? 50

51. Compare and Contrast: Movies vs. Books 51

52. __________ is the biggest problem with our school today. 52

53. Is the minimum wage too low? 53

54. What should be the purpose of prison? 54

55. How much should sports fans be allowed to distract opposing teams? 55

56. Are manners, like please and thank you, important? 56

57. What woman would you want to see on the $20 bill? 57

58. At what age should children be allowed to go places without adult supervision? 58

59. Should single-use plastic shopping bags be banned? 59

60. Do we still need libraries? 60

61. Should teenagers think twice before drinking energy drinks? 61

62. Should students be able to grade their teachers? 62

63. Would You Be Willing to Pay for Facebook or Google in Exchange for Your Privacy? 63

64. Should women’s basketball (WNBA) lower the rims? 64

65. How do you get your news? 65

66. Compare and Contrast: Cash vs. Credit 66

67. How do you measure success? 67

68. Would you want to be a space tourist, where you pay to go up into space? 68

69. Would you want your photo or video to go viral? 69

70. Do you have a dream car? 70

71. Have you ever donated your time, talents, possessions or money to support anyone in need? If not, would you? 71

72. Where would you most like to travel? 72

73. What are your favorite movies ever? Why? 73

74. What would you do on a snow day? 74

75. Are you a saver or a spender? 75

76. How do you think dinosaurs went extinct? 76

77. Do you have an idea for a business or app? 77

78. What would you do if you won the lottery? 78

79. What is your all-time favorite piece of clothing? 79

80. __________ is the biggest problem with our country today. 80

81. What sounds and/or smells annoy you? 81

82. What are your favorite restaurants? 82

83. Compare and Contrast: Friends vs. Family 83

84. What’s your favorite sandwich? 84

85. How do you deal with boredom? 85

86. Do you care what you wear? 86

87. Would you like to ride in a car that drives itself? 87

88. How hard is is for teenagers in your community to get a job? 88

89. Do you ever feel embarrassed by your family? 89

90. Describe the characteristics of a good leader. 90

91. Do you pay attention to nutrition information for food? 91

92. Has a book, movie, television show, song or video game ever inspired you to do something new? 92

93. What have you learned in your teens? 93

94. Would you most want to live in a city, a suburb, or the country? 94

95. Can too much power be a bad thing? 95

96. Which historical figure do you think made the most difference for you? 96

97. What would you create a TV show about? 97

98. Does technology make us more alone? 98

99. What local problems do you think your mayor should try to solve? 99

100. Compare and Contrast: Summer vs. Winter 100

101. Should parents make important decisions for teenagers? 101

102. Should tablet computers become the primary way students learn in class? 102

103. What is more important: our privacy or national security? 103

104. Should parents let their young children play football? If so, at what age? 104

105. Do we give children too many trophies? 105

106. Do schools provide students with enough opportunities to be creative? 106

107. Should video games be considered a sport? 107

108. Are some youth sports too intense? 108

109. How young is too young for an iPhone or other smart phone? 109

110. Should we rethink how long students spend in High School? 110

111. Should scientists try to help people beat old age so we can live longer lives? 111

112. Is it important to learn all about the past? 112

113. Do rich people get off easier when they break the law? Should they? 113

114. Should college football players get paid in addition to scholarships? 114

115. If you were governor of your state, how would you spend a budget surplus (extra money)? 115

116. Do kids need recess? If so, until what age or grade? 116

117. Compare and Contrast: McDonalds vs. Taco Bell 117

118. Does a championship game always need to have a winner (and a loser)? 118

119. Should the school day start later? 119

120. Should the United States care that it’s not no. 1? 120

121. When you are old enough to vote, will you? 121

122. How much do you trust online reviews? 122

123. Do you believe in ghosts? 123

124. What would you invent to make the world a better place? 124

125. Describe your favorite time of year using your senses. 125

126. What do you want to be doing when you’re 80? 126

127. If you had your own talk show, whom would you want to interview? 127

128. What rules would you like to see changed in your favorite sports? 128

129. Describe a Hero. 129

130. What role will robots play in our future? 130

131. Should computer games be used for classroom Instruction? If so, how? 131

132. Compare and Contrast: Cooking vs. Painting 132

133. Should all children be able to go to preschool for free? 133

134. How would you feel about a computer grading your essays? 134

135. What can older people learn from your generation? 135

136. When do you become an adult? 136

137. Can money buy you happiness? 137

138. Which is more important: talent or hard work? You can only pick one. 138

139. Have curse words become so common they have lost their shock value? 139

140. Do you think a longer school calendar with the same number of days off is a good idea? 140

141. Is ‘doing nothing’ a good use of your time? 141

142. Do you think a healthier school lunch program is a lost cause? 142

143. Do you worry colleges, coaches, or employers might read your social media posts someday? 143

144. Should the government limit the size of sugary drinks like soda? 144

145. Is cheating getting better or worse in school and sports? 145

146. What current musicians and bands do you think will stand the test of time? 146

147. Compare and Contrast: Christopher Columbus Vs. Neil Armstrong 147

148. In the military, should women be allowed to fight on the front lines? 148

149. Is school designed more for girls than boys? 149

150. What makes a good commercial? 150

151. To what company would you write a letter of complaint or praise? 151

152. What are the most memorable meals you’ve ever had? 152

153. Do you like scary movies and books? 153

154. What would you wait in line for? 154

155. What would you teach the world in an online video? 155

156. What five things can you not live without? 156

157. Given unlimited money, what scientific or medical problem would you investigate and try to solve? 157

158. Compare and Contrast: Teenager vs. Toddler 158

159. How would you change your mall? 159

160. What are your favorite junk foods? 160

161. What would you write a book about? 161

162. Do you spend too much time on your phone? 162

163. What should be the punishment for criminals who escape prison? Explain. 163

164. Who would be your ideal celebrity neighbor? 164

165. What job would you never do? 165

166. What would you do as president? 166

167. Is cheerleading a sport? 167

168. What video game would you like to redesign? 168

169. Can graffiti ever be considered art? 169

170. Are zoos and other places where animals are locked Up good places or bad? 170

171. Do you believe in equal rights for men and women? 171

172. Is it okay to lie? 172

173. Compare and Contrast: President Obama vs. President Washington 173

174. Create a new holiday and describe it. 174

175. What character from literature would you like to trade lives with? 175

176. Describe any part of nature using all five senses. 176

177. What jobs should make more money? 177

178. Redesign school. What would you change about school? What new classes would you have? 178

179. __________ is the biggest problem with our world today. 179

180. You are running for president of the United States. Write your slogan and explain it. 180

181. Compare and Contrast: Middle School vs. High School 181

182. What Are Your Summer Plans? 182