1. Using debating to encourage critical thinking about global issues
Kate
0-5 mins
Eve Morgan-Lace & Kate Wesley
Earlsfield Primary School, London

2. Workshop Aims:
To introduce debating as a way to explore human rights and global issues with children
To share children’s experiences of debating
To introduce warm up games to develop early debating skills
To demonstrate how to plan for a debate
To progress debating skills from a mini debate to a full debate
To share ideas for broadening skills through debating
Kate
0-5 mins

3. Why Debating?
Promotes talking into writing. Starting the children with a debate really helps their persuasive writing
Promotes Spoken Language
Promotes critical thinking
Engages children in topics involving
global issues and human rights
Making children argue for something they don’t believe in helps them to see things from different points of view
And it’s fun…
Kate
0-5 mins

4. The children will explain why they enjoy debating…
Year 6
Kate
Film clip. Why do they like debating?
2 mins
Insert film clip

5. Activity 1: I couldn’t disagree more… This house believes that every country should … (e.g. adopt English as its official language)
Insert flip clip of chn debating I couldn’t disagree more
…only buy locally produced food
…donate money to less wealthy countries
Eve
Show a film clip of I couldn’t disagree more. Warm up games. Then audience try using a different theme- 3 different themes. In small groups.
5 mins
…grant asylum to refugee children

6. Activity 2: What’s in the bag?
How can you use the items in this bag to work towards meeting one of the global goals?
Eve
Then audience have a go at “what’s in the bag?”. Prep items for the bag.
5 mins

7. Getting Started
“This house believes…that internet access should be a human right.“
Brainstorm as many thoughts as you can around the motion...
How many points can you think of that support the motion?
How many points can you think of that are against the motion?
Do you have any questions?
Eve
Post it notes. Then share feedback
Discuss with group how to brainstorm – planning process
5- 10

8. Trio debate – this ensures that every child gets to speak
In your threes: One person to propose the motion for 1 minute One person to oppose the motion for 1 minute One person to be time keeper Now swap roles until everyone has had a go in each role.
Eve. Mini debate. 5 mins
Any feedback?
“This house believes…that internet access should be a human right.“

9. (Full debate examples here)
Kate. 5 mins

10. Other forms of debates:
Full (parliamentary) debate - This is a formal debate with a Chair, speakers for the Opposition and Proposition, Summaries and questions from the floor Balloon Debate - Each pupil represents a person, object or idea and must present a speech in their defense (to prevent them being thrown out of the balloon) Public Speaking - Speaker selects a topic for a speech. There is a Chair who introduces the speaker and the topic and sums up the discussion following questions, the Questioners as the speaker questions after the speech Role Play – e.g. town council – children are given roles and must stay in role to defend their point of view on a certain topic Alley debate – the group is divided into 2 – good and bad consciences – one child stands between them. Taking turns on each side every member of the group gives a short speech to persuade the individual to join their side.
Eve.
2 mins

11. What to debate? This house believes…
History
The Vikings fully deserve their violent reputation
Henry VIII was right to divorce Catherine of Aragon
Geography
It is better to live in the country than in the city
The centre of towns should be pedestrianised
Science
All fast food should be banned
Rights and Responsibilities
All children should be able to go to school
No child should have to go to work
Kate. 2 mins
Other ideas:
This House believes that the EU should make English its common language • This House would join the Euro • This House would admit Turkey to the European Union • This House believes nuclear weapons make the World a safer place • This House would prohibit international adoption • This House would never go to war

12. Skills to develop P – make your point E – explain your point
Teach how to make a rebuttal
Introduce PEEL: this reminds the children how to structure their argument
P – make your point
E – explain your point
E – provide some evidence to back up your point
L- link your argument back to the motion
Encourage your children to speak confidently
Play ‘Just a Minute’
Um and Err - divide the children into teams and give them a topic to talk about for 30 seconds. Keep a tally of ums and errs and the team with the least points wins
Eve. 5 mins
Play rebuttal cards
Divide the group into 2. Hand out argument cards to everyone in one group and rebuttal cards to the others
Ask each person in turn with an argument card to read out the argument. As each card is read out – ask who thinks they have the appropriate rebuttal.

13. What next? Any questions? Thanks for coming
Hold a Model United Nations General Assembly
Set up a Debating Club
Include debates in lesson planning across the curriculum and age ranges
Enter debating teams in local competitions
Find out more from: English Speaking Union, Noisy Classrooms, Debate Mate
Have some fun!
Thanks for coming
Any questions?
Kate. 2 mins