How it works
These debate questions for middle schoolers and younger classes come on 164 cards a teacher can run without a note home, such as Should school start later? Each card gives an opening line for both sides and counts a show of hands.
Vote, debate, vote again
Press Next question and read the card out. Tap a side for every raised hand and write the count on the board. Press Start round for a two-minute clock and swap speakers at 1:00. Each speaker uses three sentence starters: I think (the claim), because (the reason), for example (the example). Then press Clear votes, vote again and see who changed their mind.
Two grade bands, six themes
The Grade or theme row leads with Elementary school (81 cards, such as Do cats make better pets than dogs?) and Middle school (83, such as Do zoos do more good than harm?). Six themes follow, from School life to Community and the planet.
Tips
- Assign sides by seat, not by opinion: the window half argues Yes. Arguing a side you did not choose is the skill.
- The A and B lines are openers, not scripts. Ask every speaker for one reason the card does not give.
- Pick a grade band and press Print questions for a topic list that students can choose from.
Questions and answers
What are good debate questions for kids?
Pick Elementary school and Easy: Should recess be longer? Do cats make better pets than dogs? Are jokes better than riddles? These need no research, because every child already has an opinion and a reason from their own week.
How do I use these as agree or disagree questions for students?
Play four corners. Label the corners strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree. Read the card as a statement, such as Zoos do more good than harm, and students walk to a corner. One speaker per corner gives a reason, then anyone may move.
Which debate ideas for middle schoolers need no research?
Pick Middle school with Easy or Medium: Should homework be banned at weekends? Is marching band a sport? Students argue from experience. Keep the 29 Hard cards, like lowering the voting age to 16, for a lesson with time to read first.
Which topics are left out?
Religion, party politics, bodies, dating and named people. No card asks about a group of people, and neither side's opening line puts anyone down, so a class can disagree without it turning personal.