It's Up for Debate!
Engaging in Critical Thinking
Why Debate? Worth Watching...
Resources to Get Started
Useful planning templates for upper elementary and middle school students participating in formal debates such as a classroom or district competitions:
Roles of Speakers in Debate
Debate Time Limits
Grab 'n' Go Debate Unit
Debate and Persuasive Writing - Comprehensive resource for elementary students
Four Types of Evidence - A one sheet explanation of the types of evidence
CER Graphic Organizer - Claims, evidence, reasoning
Debate and Persuasive Writing - comprehensive resource to teach elementary students the debate process. Ready to use templates are included.
Primary Debate Handbook - this guide from Ireland has some great ideas to get young students started with debate - topics, introduction activities, structuring a competition, etc...The focus is on research, communication/delivery and refutation/rebuttal.
This Debate Website has useful ideas to get started.
Four Types of Evidence - A one sheet explanation of the types of evidence
Watch an Elementary Debate in Action
Why Teach Speaking? A Stepping Stone to Debate
Persuasive Writing - Preparing for Debate
Here are a few resources to help with persuasive writing instruction.
- Persuasion Map - ReadWriteThink and accompanying persuasion lessons for all grade levels
- Oreo Opinion Writing - graphic organizer
- One page graphic organizer from Scholastic
- Planning Template for Persuasive Writing
- Make a Point - one sheet planning page from ReadWriteThink
- Persuasive Writing Prompt Ideas
Finding Elementary Debate Topics
Text Project has some ready to print and read texts with debate topics. Use as stand alone texts or in combination with other student research and sources. Writing prompts are included.
How Much Time Should We Spend in School?
Should Junk Food be Banned in Schools?
Books with Ethical Issues
The Institute for Humane Education provides a nice list of books as well.
DOGO News - https://www.dogonews.com/
Newsela - https://newsela.com
Tween Tribune - http://tweentribune.com/
Youngzine - youngzine.org
Here, There, Everywhere - http://htekidsnews.com/
Debate Strategies for Elementary Students
The Education World site has some simple lessons on how to introduce debate in the elementary classroom.
Lincoln Douglas Debate Format - Standard debate format plus ten strategies for engaging students in debate! (3-12)Role Play Debate - Students assume the roles of various stakeholders in debates on issues of high interest. (3-12)
Using Fairy Tales to Debate Ethics - Three fairy tales challenge students to think about honesty, right and wrong, and other questions of ethics. (K-8)
Four Corners Debate - A strategy that gets kids thinking and moving. Debate topics included for all grades. (K-12)
Inner Circle/Outer Circle Strategy - The inner/outer circle debate strategy emphasizes listening to opposing views and writing an opinion essay. (3-12)
This Join the Debate Guide is for upper grades (MS/HS) but provides good information to adapt for all levels.
Mini-Court Grades k-2
Think about Starting with Philosphy
The Center for Philosophy for Children at the University of Washington also has several children's literature ideas. The Lesson Plan page has several lessons to introduce philosophical thinking.
Getting Started with Books - a Few Examples
Use Humor to Persuade
George Bellows, Painter with a Punch
Is it Really Art? What Makes an Artist?
Persuasion vs. Argument - Moving into Debate
In persuasive writing, students passionately defend their point of view, relying upon opinion, personal experience, anecdotes, data, and examples. Argumentative writing, however, seeks to offer a more balanced approach, as it acknowledges points from the opposing view.
Opinion vs. Persuasion vs. Argumentative Writing - a useful reference chart