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🖥️ Two learners at the front, half a screen each

Split the front screen in two. Both learners work the same questions at the same time, nobody stands waiting, and the room watches two people think at once.

⏱ 18 minutes

The problem it solves

Calling learners up one at a time loses the other twenty-nine, and the one at the front is standing alone in front of everybody.

What you need

  • One screen or projector at the front
  • A touchscreen or tablet is ideal — if not, two learners can share the mouse, one side each

Run it like this

  1. 3min

    Open Head to Head, choose “two players, half a screen each”, and pick the question set that matches what you have just taught — brain teasers, quick maths, or opposites.

    “Two of you are coming up. Half the screen each, exactly the same questions, and you both start at once — no waiting.”

  2. 2min

    Call two learners up, one to each side of the screen. Do not pair your two strongest — pick from whoever has not been up yet.

  3. 8min

    Let the eight questions run. Do not cheer for speed — if the room starts shouting, the rule is “cheering yes, answers no”.

    “Whoever finishes first doesn't go anywhere — your side gets a ribbon and the other side keeps working until they're done.”

  4. 5min

    Read the result card out. There are two ribbons — finished first, and most right — and they are usually two different people. Ask the room which one they would rather have.

    “Quick and accurate are two different things, and today they're two different people again. Both are worth having.”

A way in for the learner who isn't ready

A learner who will not come up can be the one who presses start, or who reads the question aloud for the two players. They get to stand there without being looked at, and you invite them to play next time — most say yes by the third round.

When it goes sideways

The room shouts the answer

Pause where you are, no telling-off, say “this round we cheer only”, and carry on. The game will wait — there is no timer on it.

One side finishes long before the other

Do nothing — the game is built for this. The finished side locks with a ribbon and stops; the other side works on with nobody counting down at them.

Three wrong in a row

The screen offers that side a breath by itself. Let it appear — do not skip it — and have the whole room breathe along for ten seconds.

Open these

⚡ Head to HeadThe same eight questions, two players sharing one screen. Two honours at the end — finished first, and most right — because they are rarely the same person.⚔️ One vs OneTwo people, a side of the screen each, the sum in the middle. First right press takes the question, eight questions — a wrong press costs nothing, you just wait for the next one.🗂️ Camp by the CardTurn the order card over and drag things along the trail to swap them, until the camp matches the card. One player, or two on half a screen each.

If the screen fails you

Write the same questions on two sheets and have two learners work them side by side on the board. Same rule: the first to finish does not end the game.