Random Emoji Wheel

The random emoji wheel picks an emoji at random, which turns out to be a surprisingly good writing prompt and a very good icebreaker.

Twelve emoji on the wheel, chosen to be specific enough to spark something. Vague ones make weak prompts.

Creative writing teachers use it as a story seed. Spin three times and the student has to write something connecting all three — a rocket, an octopus and a top hat is a far better starting point than "write a story", because the constraint does the work that a blank page refuses to do.

It also works as a quick icebreaker. Spin, and everyone says what the emoji reminds them of, or which one they would use to describe their week. Answers come faster than they do to a direct question, because responding to an image is easier than composing something about yourself.

For younger children it doubles as a drawing prompt. Spin two and draw them meeting. Add your own emoji to the wheel to match whatever you are teaching.