320 What If Questions for Children and Students

Imagine a world where every ‘What If’ question opens a door to a new adventure, a burst of laughter, or a journey into the unknown.

Welcome to the magical realm of ‘What If’ questions, a place where curiosity leads the way, and imagination knows no bounds.

These ‘What if’ questions are not just a source of fun; they’re gateways to critical thinking and creativity, especially for young minds.

In this article, we’re going to explore a treasure trove of ‘What If’ questions, each designed to spark the imagination of kids and students aged 6 to 12.

So, let’s embark on this whimsical journey and discover the power of asking ‘What If.’

To make it easier to navigate these ‘What If’ questions you can click on the topics below to jump to a section – 320 is a lot of scrolling!

• Adventure and Exploration
• Fantasy and Imagination
• Everyday Scenarios with a Twist
• Science and Technology
• Nature and Environment
• Historical Hypotheticals
• Social and Emotional Scenarios
• Fun and Silly Scenarios

You can also download these lists in ‘What if’ Questions in PDF form if you want to keep a record. We have added the link under each section.

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1. Adventure and Exploration – ‘What If’ Questions

Let’s begin our ‘What If’ journey with a dash of adventure and a sprinkle of exploration.

These questions are designed to transport kids to far-off lands, uncharted territories, and even other galaxies.

From discovering new planets to embarking on daring expeditions, these questions will ignite the adventurous spirit in every child.”

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1. What if you could build a house anywhere in the world; where would it be?
2. What if you found a treasure map in your backyard; what would you do?
3. What if you could fly anywhere for a day; where would you go?
4. What if you discovered a new planet; what would you name it?
5. What if you could talk to animals; what would you ask them?
6. What if you could live underwater; what would your home look like?
7. What if you were the captain of a pirate ship; what adventures would you seek?
8. What if you could travel back in time; where would you go first?
9. What if you found a secret door in your house; where would it lead?
10. What if you could become an explorer; what would you like to discover?
11. What if you could create your own country; what rules would you make?
12. What if you could walk on the moon; what would you do there?
13. What if you found a magic carpet; where would you fly first?
14. What if you could be a character in any book; who would you choose to be?
15. What if you had a robot friend; what adventures would you go on?
16. What if you could climb the tallest mountain; what do you think you’d see from the top?
17. What if you had the power to shrink or grow at will; where would you explore?
18. What if you could turn invisible; where would you go unnoticed?
19. What if you could teleport; where is the first place you’d visit?
20. What if you could live in a treehouse; how would you design it?
21. What if you could jump as high as the moon; what would you see?
22. What if you could dig to the center of the Earth; what would you find?
23. What if you were an astronaut on a space mission; what would you discover?
24. What if you could ride a dinosaur; which dinosaur would you choose?
25. What if you had a time machine; what era would you visit first?
26. What if you could create your own island; what unique features would it have?
27. What if you found a lost city; what treasures would it hold?
28. What if you could be a master at any sport; which sport would you dominate?
29. What if you could breathe fire like a dragon; how would you use your power?
30. What if you had the ability to talk to sea creatures; what would you ask them?
31. What if you could design your own theme park; what would be the main attraction?
32. What if you discovered a new species of animal; what would it look like?
33. What if you were the ruler of a kingdom; what kind of ruler would you be?
34. What if you could create a new holiday; how would people celebrate it?
35. What if you could become a master chef; what dish would you be famous for?
36. What if you could live in any historical period; when would you choose?
37. What if you could invent a new mode of transportation; what would it be like?
38. What if you could design a new gadget; what problem would it solve?
39. What if you could live in a video game world; which one would you pick?
40. What if you found a way to travel to other galaxies; what do you think you’d find?

You can download this what if question list below

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2. Fantasy and Imagination – ‘What If’ Questions

Next, we delve into the world of fantasy and imagination. Here, dragons soar in the sky, magic wands wield incredible powers, and mythical creatures become our allies.

These questions encourage children to dream big, think creatively, and explore a world where anything is possible.

They’re perfect for inspiring stories, artwork, or just daydreaming about magical realms.”

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1. What if you could turn into any animal; which one would you choose?
2. What if you found a wand that could cast real spells; what’s the first spell you’d try?
3. What if you could fly like a bird; where would you soar?
4. What if you could make your favorite toy come to life; what would you do together?
5. What if you had a magic potion to give you any talent; what talent would you choose?
6. What if your drawings could come to life; what would you draw first?
7. What if you could live in a fairy tale; which story would you choose?
8. What if you woke up with superpowers; what powers would you have?
9. What if you could talk to mythical creatures; which one would you want to meet first?
10. What if you could build a castle in the clouds; what would it include?
11. What if you found a genie in a bottle; what would your three wishes be?
12. What if you could create a new holiday; what would it celebrate?
13. What if you could breathe underwater; what underwater adventure would you go on?
14. What if you could jump into any video game; which one would you pick?
15. What if you could control time; would you speed it up, slow it down, or stop it?
16. What if you could speak every language in the world; how would you use this skill?
17. What if you could transform into a mythical creature; what would you choose to be?
18. What if you could create a new planet; what would it be like?
19. What if you could have any mythical animal as a pet; which one would you choose?
20. What if you could create your own magical world; what would be the most magical thing about it?
21. What if you could grow wings and fly; where would your first flight be to?
22. What if you could create a magic potion; what would it do?
23. What if you could turn into a shadow; what would you explore?
24. What if you could walk through walls; where would you go first?
25. What if you found a book that could transport you to different worlds; which world would you visit first?
26. What if you could make things grow or shrink; what would you use this power on?
27. What if you had a pet dragon; what adventures would you go on together?
28. What if you could live in a world made of candy; what would you build your house out of?
29. What if you could turn day into night and night into day; when would you prefer it to be?
30. What if you could bring a fictional character to life; who would you choose?
31. What if you had the power to change colors of things; what would you change first?
32. What if you could become invisible; what would you do?
33. What if you could float like a balloon; where would you drift to?
34. What if you could enter dreams; whose dream would you visit?
35. What if you could control the elements; which element would you choose?
36. What if you could become tiny like an ant; what would you explore?
37. What if you could talk to the moon; what would you ask?
38. What if you could play music that makes people dance uncontrollably; what song would you play?
39. What if you could create your own superhero; what powers would they have?
40. What if you had a magic chalk that makes drawings real; what would you draw first?

You can download this what if question list below

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3. Everyday Scenarios with a Twist – ‘What If’ Questions

“In this section, we take the ordinary and turn it extraordinary.

What if your toys came to life? What if you could eat only one color of food for a day?

These questions take everyday scenarios and add a twist of the unexpected, encouraging children to look at the world around them in new, imaginative ways.”

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1. What if you woke up and you were the principal of your school for a day; what would you do?
2. What if your favorite toy could talk; what would it say to you?
3. What if you could swap lives with your pet for a day; what would you do?
4. What if every time you laughed, something funny appeared; what would you want to appear?
5. What if you could change the flavor of any food just by thinking about it; what would you eat first?
6. What if your clothes could change color based on your mood; what colors would you have today?
7. What if you could jump into any painting; which one would you choose?
8. What if your bed turned into a magic flying carpet at night; where would you go?
9. What if you could grow a garden with plants from fairy tales; what would you plant?
10. What if you found a key that could open any door; where would you go first?
11. What if you had a machine that could clean your room instantly; what would you do with your extra time?
12. What if every book you read turned into reality; which book would you read next?
13. What if your shadow had a life of its own; what do you think it would do?
14. What if you could change your hair color at will; what color would you choose today?
15. What if you could design your dream house; what special features would it have?
16. What if you could make any toy you wanted come to life; which toy would you choose?
17. What if you could turn into a cartoon character; who would you be?
18. What if you could create the ultimate ice cream flavor; what ingredients would it have?
19. What if you could control weather with your thoughts; what weather would you choose for today?
20. What if you had a pet dinosaur; which type would you want and what would you name it?
21. What if you woke up with the ability to fly; where would you go first?
22. What if every time you snapped your fingers, you could teleport to a different place; where would you go?
23. What if you could talk to plants; what would you ask them?
24. What if you had the power to make things larger or smaller; what would you change around you?
25. What if your dreams could be watched later like movies; which dream would you watch again?
26. What if you could taste colors; what do you think each color would taste like?
27. What if you could hear what your pets are thinking; what do you think they would say?
28. What if your favorite fictional character could visit you; who would you want it to be?
29. What if you could build anything with Lego and it became real; what would you build?
30. What if you could breathe underwater like a fish; where would you explore?
31. What if you could speak to famous people from history; who would you talk to?
32. What if you could create your own holiday; what would people do on that day?
33. What if you could invent a new game; what kind of game would it be?
34. What if you had a magic pen that made drawings real; what would you draw first?
35. What if you could turn any object into chocolate; what would you transform?
36. What if you could have any superpower for just one day; which one would you choose?
37. What if your favorite book characters came to life; who would you hang out with?
38. What if you could jump really high like a kangaroo; where would you go jumping?
39. What if you could have a robot to help you with homework; what else would you want it to do?
40. What if you could see in the dark like a cat; what nocturnal adventures would you have?
41. What if you could always pay for essay papers and never write them, what would you choose?

You can download this what if question list below

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4. Science and Technology – ‘What If’ Questions

Here, we venture into the realms of science and technology.

These questions spark curiosity about inventions, space travel, and futuristic possibilities.

They’re great for kids interested in science, encouraging them to think about technological advancements and their impact on our world.

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1. What if you could create a new invention to help people; what would it do?
2. What if robots became our best friends; what activities would you do with your robot friend?
3. What if you could visit a space station; what would you like to learn there?
4. What if you discovered a new star; what would you name it?
5. What if you could build a machine that could take you anywhere in time; where would you go first?
6. What if you could talk to aliens; what would you ask them?
7. What if you could design a video game; what kind of game would it be?
8. What if you could make a new animal species; what would it look like and what would you name it?
9. What if you could have a supercomputer in your brain; what information would you want to access first?
10. What if cars could fly; where would you travel in your flying car?
11. What if you could make an app for anything; what app would you create?
12. What if you could travel at the speed of light; where would you go?
13. What if you could invent a new sport; what would the rules be?
14. What if you discovered a planet just like Earth; what would you name it?
15. What if you could have a gadget that made you invisible; where would you go unnoticed?
16. What if you could create a robot to do your chores; what would you name it?
17. What if you could design your own spaceship; what features would it have?
18. What if you could create a new solar system; what would you put in it?
19. What if you could turn into a computer program; what program would you be?
20. What if you could have a device that lets you talk to animals; what’s the first animal you would chat with?
21. What if you could invent a new language; what would it sound like?
22. What if you could create an underwater city; what would life be like there?
23. What if you could control technology with your mind; what would you control first?
24. What if you could print anything in 3D; what’s the first thing you’d print?
25. What if you could build your own robot; what special features would it have?
26. What if you could live in a virtual reality world; what would it be like?
27. What if you could create a new planet; what kind of environment would it have?
28. What if you could make a machine that could change the weather; what weather would you create?
29. What if you could design a new type of computer; what unique feature would it have?
30. What if you had a gadget that could change your appearance; how would you use it?
31. What if you could invent a teleportation device; where would you teleport first?
32. What if you could create a pill that gives you any knowledge; what would you want to learn?
33. What if you could build a time-traveling car; where and when would you go?
34. What if you could design a new game console; what features would it have?
35. What if you could invent a device to communicate with past civilizations; what would you ask them?
36. What if you could create a machine that makes dreams come true; what would you dream of?
37. What if you could build a house on another planet; which planet would you choose and why?
38. What if you could invent a new musical instrument; what would it sound like?
39. What if you could create a robot that could learn and feel emotions; how would you interact with it?
40. What if you had a device that could translate your thoughts into music; what kind of music would your thoughts make?

You can download this what if question list below

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5. Nature and Environment – ‘What If’ Questions

These ‘What If’ questions focus on our natural world, prompting young minds to think about the environment, animals, and plants in imaginative and caring ways.

They offer a fun avenue to discuss important topics like conservation, ecology, and our planet’s diverse ecosystems.

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1. What if trees could walk; where do you think they would go?
2. What if you could change the color of flowers; what colors would you make them?
3. What if you could control the weather; what would your perfect day look like?
4. What if animals could talk; what would they say about humans?
5. What if you could breathe underwater like a mermaid; what ocean would you explore first?
6. What if you could make plants grow instantly; what would you grow?
7. What if the moon was made of cheese; would you want to visit it?
8. What if you could live in a jungle for a day; what animals would you like to meet?
9. What if you could turn into a bird; what type of bird would you be?
10. What if you found a magic seed; what do you think it would grow into?
11. What if you could stop pollution with a snap of your fingers; what would the world look like?
12. What if you could talk to fish; what would you ask them?
13. What if every time you planted a seed, a new type of plant never seen before grew; what would it look like?
14. What if you could create a new ocean creature; what abilities would it have?
15. What if you had the power to clean oceans; how would marine life change?
16. What if you could change the color of the sky; what color would you choose?
17. What if you could live with dinosaurs for a day; which dinosaur would you befriend?
18. What if you could hibernate like a bear; what would you dream about?
19. What if you could fly like an eagle; what landscapes would you like to see from above?
20. What if you could create a new type of flower; what would it look and smell like?
21. What if you could build a house in a tree; what kind of tree would you choose?
22. What if you had a garden that could grow any type of fruit or vegetable in the world; what would you grow?
23. What if you could make it rain candy; what candy would rain down?
24. What if you could ride on the back of a dolphin; where would you go?
25. What if you could control the movement of clouds; what shapes would you make?
26. What if animals could build houses like humans; what would they look like?
27. What if you could create a new season; what weather and events would it have?
28. What if rivers flowed in the sky instead of on the ground; how would that change our world?
29. What if you could grow to the size of a giant; what would you do to help the planet?
30. What if you could shrink down to the size of an ant; what would you explore?
31. What if you could design a park for animals; what features would it include?
32. What if you had the ability to regenerate forests; how would you use this power?
33. What if you could create a rainbow anytime; what colors would your rainbow have?
34. What if you could have a magical garden; what magical plants would be in it?
35. What if you could give animals superpowers; what powers would you give them?
36. What if you could live on a cloud; what would your cloud home look like?
37. What if you could create an island; what unique features would it have?
38. What if you could choose to be any plant; which one would you be and why?
39. What if you could dance with the wind; what dance moves would you use?
40. What if you could create a new type of weather; what would it be like?

You can download this what if question list below

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6. Historical Hypotheticals – ‘What If’ Questions

Travel back in time with these historical ‘What If’ questions.

They invite kids to explore different eras, meet historical figures, and imagine life in ancient civilizations.

These questions are perfect for supplementing history lessons with a fun, imaginative twist.

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1. What if you could go back in time and witness any historical event; which one would you choose?
2. What if you could meet a famous inventor; who would it be and what would you ask them?
3. What if you could live in ancient Egypt; what would you do there?
4. What if you could sail with pirates; what adventure would you seek?
5. What if you were a knight in medieval times; what would your quest be?
6. What if you could dine with a famous king or queen; who would it be and what would you talk about?
7. What if you could participate in an ancient Olympic game; which sport would you choose?
8. What if you could travel on the Silk Road; what goods would you trade?
9. What if you were an explorer discovering new lands; what would you name your discovery?
10. What if you could create your own empire; what would it be known for?
11. What if you could meet one of the great artists of the Renaissance; what would you ask them?
12. What if you could live in the world of the Vikings; what would your role be?
13. What if you could be a pharaoh in Egypt; what kind of pyramid would you build?
14. What if you could experience life in a castle; what would your daily activities be?
15. What if you could join a famous expedition; which one would you choose?
16. What if you could invent something in the past; what would it be and how would it change history?
17. What if you could be part of a famous battle in history; which one would it be?
18. What if you could meet a famous explorer; who would it be and what would you explore together?
19. What if you were a scientist in the past; what discovery would you want to make?
20. What if you could be a ruler in ancient times; what kind of ruler would you be?
21. What if you could be a musician in a royal court; what instrument would you play?
22. What if you could build a monument in ancient times; what would it represent?
23. What if you could be an artist in the Renaissance; what masterpiece would you create?
24. What if you could write a famous speech in history; what would it be about?
25. What if you could be a spy in a historical war; which war would it be and what secrets would you uncover?
26. What if you could travel with Marco Polo; what would you hope to discover?
27. What if you could decide the outcome of a historical event; which event would it be and what would you change?
28. What if you could be a famous writer in history; what book would you write?
29. What if you could be part of the construction of a famous landmark; which one would it be?
30. What if you could be a scientist during the Space Race; what would you contribute?
31. What if you could be a member of a royal family in the past; which family would it be and why?
32. What if you could invent a famous dance in history; what would it be like?
33. What if you could be a pioneer on the American frontier; what challenges would you face?
34. What if you could lead a famous revolution; which one would it be and what would you fight for?
35. What if you could be a famous author in the past; what genre would you write in?
36. What if you could change the outcome of a famous battle; which battle and what would the new outcome be?
37. What if you could be an advisor to a famous historical figure; who would it be and what advice would you give?
38. What if you could discover an ancient civilization; what would you find?
39. What if you could be a spy during the Cold War; what secrets would you uncover?
40. What if you could be a famous explorer in the Age of Discovery; where would you explore and what would you find?

You can download this what if question list below

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7. Social and Emotional Scenarios – ‘What If’ Questions

This section covers questions that delve into social dynamics, emotional intelligence, and ethical dilemmas.

They’re designed to help children explore their feelings, understand relationships, and develop empathy for others.

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1. What if you could feel what others feel; how would you use this to help people?
2. What if you could swap places with your best friend for a day; what would you learn about them?
3. What if you had the power to heal anyone’s sadness; who would you help first?
4. What if you could understand every language in the world; how would you use this ability?
5. What if you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow; what would it be?
6. What if you found a way to end all conflicts; how would you do it?
7. What if you could create a holiday that celebrates kindness; what activities would people do?
8. What if you could start a charity; what cause would you support?
9. What if you could have a conversation with your future self; what would you ask?
10. What if you could relive any moment in your life; which one would it be?
11. What if you could eliminate one world problem; which one would you choose?
12. What if you could bring one fictional character to life as your friend; who would it be?
13. What if you could grant everyone one wish; what do you think most people would wish for?
14. What if you could create a new school subject; what would it teach?
15. What if you had the power to spread happiness; how would you do it?
16. What if you could create a device that shows what animals are thinking; what do you think they would say?
17. What if you could live in any book world for a day; which one would you choose?
18. What if you could make everyone in the world laugh at the same time; how would you do it?
19. What if you could see into the future; what would you want to know?
20. What if you could change one thing about your school; what would it be?
21. What if you could invent a new game that everyone in the world would play; what kind of game would it be?
22. What if you could be president of your country for a day; what would you do?
23. What if you could have any famous person as your mentor; who would you choose?
24. What if you could communicate with someone who lived 100 years ago; what would you tell them about the present?
25. What if you could eliminate one school subject forever; which one would it be?
26. What if you could make one wish for the planet; what would it be?
27. What if you could be any character from a movie for a day; who would you be?
28. What if you could switch lives with a famous person; who would you choose?
29. What if you could create an invention to help people make friends; what would it be like?
30. What if you could write a letter to the world; what would you say?
31. What if you could meet an alien; what would you want to learn from them?
32. What if you could design a new toy for children around the world; what would it be?
33. What if you had the power to make one law; what would it govern?
34. What if you could give every child in the world one gift; what would you give?
35. What if you could live in any TV show; which one would it be?
36. What if you could start a movement to change the world; what would it be about?
37. What if you could turn any fictional place into reality; which place would you choose?
38. What if you could host a dinner party with any five people from history; who would you invite?
39. What if you could create a magic potion to solve any one world problem; what problem would you solve?
40. What if you could speak to your pet; what would you ask them?

You can download this what if question list below

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8. Fun and Silly Scenarios – ‘What If’ Questions

Get ready for some giggles and belly laughs! These lighthearted and silly ‘What If’ questions are all about having fun.

They encourage children to think outside the box and find joy in the absurd and whimsical aspects of life.

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1. What if you woke up one day and you were a superhero; what silly power would you have?
2. What if your hair turned into spaghetti; what sauce would you choose?
3. What if animals could do human jobs; what job would your pet have?
4. What if you could turn into a piece of furniture; what would you be?
5. What if your thumbs turned into chocolate bars; how would you use them?
6. What if your feet could talk; what would they say?
7. What if you could only eat one color food for a day; which color would you choose?
8. What if you had to dress in clown clothes every day; how would you style your outfit?
9. What if every time you sneezed, you changed colors; what color would you like to be?
10. What if you could jump as high as a house; what tricks would you do?
11. What if your voice sounded like a famous singer; who would you sound like?
12. What if you could only move by dancing; what dance would you do?
13. What if your nose was a carrot; how would you protect it from rabbits?
14. What if you could only speak in rhymes; how would you have a conversation?
15. What if your pet turned into a giant; how would you take care of it?
16. What if you could have any cartoon character as your friend; who would it be?
17. What if you could eat clouds; what do you think they would taste like?
18. What if you could turn into a bubble; where would you float to?
19. What if your bed was a trampoline; would you ever get out of bed?
20. What if you could wear a costume every day; what would you dress up as?
21. What if every time you clapped your hands, you teleported to a random place; where do you think you’d end up?
22. What if you had a tail; what kind of tail would you want?
23. What if you could breathe out fireworks; how would you use this on special occasions?
24. What if your hair changed color based on the weather; what color would it be on a sunny day?
25. What if you could only talk in movie quotes; what would be your favorite quote to use?
26. What if you could make any inanimate object come to life; what would you animate first?
27. What if you had wheels instead of feet; how fast do you think you could go?
28. What if you could grow to the size of a giant whenever you wanted; what would you do?
29. What if you could shrink to the size of an ant; where would you explore?
30. What if your laugh sounded like a musical instrument; which instrument would it be?
31. What if you could have any fictional vehicle to travel in; which one would you choose?
32. What if you could paint everything you touch; what colors would you use?
33. What if you could have an endless supply of any candy; what candy would you choose?
34. What if every time you burped, it sounded like a musical note; what songs could you burp?
35. What if you could live in a house made of something other than bricks; what would it be made of?
36. What if your eyes could take photos; what would you like to photograph?
37. What if you could have a super silly superpower; what would it be?
38. What if you could talk backward; what would you say first?
39. What if your favorite stuffed animal could grow big enough to ride; where would you go together?
40. What if you could turn into any food item; what would you be and why?

You can download this what if question list below

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Conclusion

As we wrap up our journey through these imaginative ‘What If’ questions, it’s clear that the power of asking questions can unlock a world of creativity, learning, and fun.

These questions are not just conversation starters; they’re tools for parents, teachers, and educators to engage with children in a way that nurtures their imagination and encourages them to think critically about the world around them.

So the next time you’re with a young learner, try asking a ‘What If’ question and see where their imagination takes you!

Call to Action

We hope you’ve enjoyed this collection of ‘What If’ questions. Now, we’d love to hear from you!

Do you have a favorite ‘What If’ question, or have you come up with one of your own?

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

Your creativity might just inspire others to ask ‘What If’ more often. And don’t forget to check out our other resources for more fun and educational content.

Further Resources

• https://healthyhappyimpactful.com/what-if-questions/
• https://games4esl.com/what-if-questions/
• https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/what-if-questions-for-kids/
• https://www.journalbuddies.com/journal-prompts-writing-ideas/what-if-writing-prompts/