Introduction to Debates Lesson Plan (JHS 3)

This is a lesson I did before starting debates with my JHS Grade 3s. It was their first time doing debates, so this is an introduction to the form of debates, their differences from discussions, and chances to practice debating skills.

This is very based on the One World 3 Debate structure. However, the question section was so confusing that my JTE and I took it out after they went poorly in the first debate. So, I would suggest the structure given in the second debate presentation.

I probably spent way too long on this PPT, but I hope it can be useful to someone out there!

Note: I posted a list of topics in a separate post to help you out if you're feeling stuck on discussion/debate topics!

Materials
- Powerpoint
- Textbook
- Worksheets

Lesson plan

1. PRESENTATION A. What is a debate?
2. Students look at the two photos in slide 2 and discuss with their partners what they think the differences are between a debate and discussion. You can ask students what they think afterward.
3. Explain the main differences between a debate and discussion (I have a comparison in there that made my students laugh).
4. Quick aside on debates in different countries, I'm from Canada so I showed Canada and Japan. B. Structure of a debate
5. Show debate structure and ask students to look at page 91 (in the One World 3 textbook) C. Example Debate

6. This is optional (and most helpful if your students are higher-level), but you can go through the example debate shown in the slides.

7. LET'S PRACTICE DEBATING!
   A. Listen to the ALT's speech and think of questions and attacks.
   B. Compare your questions and attacks to other students around you/other groups.
   C. Ask questions to the ALTs, listen to answers, then make attacks on the ALT's arguement.

Note: It's important that students understand the differences between questions and attacks (if you include both). It's also important to understand that attacks have to do with the arguement made, and not general disagreements you have with the topic. (For example, if affirmative team says school lunch is better because 1) it saves time and 2) it's hot, the negative team can't say "school lunch doesn't taste good" as your attack. It has nothing to do with the arguement made by the affirmative team.)

Files:

Small files

For ALTopedia JHS 3 Sample Speech.docx (16.5 KB)

For ALTopedia JHS 3 Sample Speech.pdf (386 KB)

Medium files (requires an account to download) -

More information

For ALTopedia Debate Exp..pdf (1.41 MB)

For ALTopedia Debate Exp..pptx (6.24 MB)