Yep, “rebuttal” is just a fun word to say.

Teaching kids rudimentary debate format and skills is another really fun way to think, learn, and process a year’s learning as we all stretch through late May and into June.

I usually just teach “argument”, “rebuttal”, and “conclusion”.

Simple structure:

• Ask a Question
• Form Teams
• Mini Prep Time
• Timed Arguments and Rebuttals until “done”
• Conclusions

Preparation

• Teach three terms, with modified meanings for simplicity:
  • An argument starts a discussion.
  • Rebuttal- must address the argument of the other team
  • Conclusion- most cogent points of each team wrapped up
• AWESOME kids debate podcasts that you may want to listen to before or after:
  • Smash Boom Best– Seriously, SO much fun
  • Pickle Podcast– some intense questions, really good

Details:

• Ask a question with two answers, like
  • Pizza or Tacos
  • Equilateral, Isosceles, or Scalene (yes, three groups)
  • Learn Spanish or Learn Chinese/Cantonese
  • Non-fiction or Fiction
  • Independent or In Groups
  • Train or Airplane
  • Cats or Dogs
  • Study History or Study AI
  • Museum or National Park
  • Peanut Butter or Nutella
  • Tiny House or Tent
• Keep asking until you get somewhere close to half and half.
  • Resources for loads of debate topics:
    • Bored Teachers’ 150 Debate Topics for Kids
    • We Are Teachers Funny Debate Topics- good for all ages
    • We Are Teachers Middle School Debate Topics
    • ClickView Debate Topics for Kids
    • Time for Kids’ Debate Topics for Kids (with sample debates included)
    • Debate Mate Discussion Topics- broken into age level ideas
    • College Transitions Debate Topics for Middle and High School
• Some of the Ground Rules I used- take them or leave them
  • Each argument gets a rebuttal from the other team.
  • The rebuttal can be followed by another argument or a rebuttal to the rebuttal.
  • No one gets a second chance to speak until all members have spoken. (This encourages discussion among team members- sometimes feeding of ideas. It’s okay.)
  • Every team member makes at least one argument or rebuttal.
  • An argument or rebuttal can be concise but must be a full sentence.
  • The conclusion is made either when things wind down or when set time is up. (Maybe have a few quick debates, depending on how they do.)
  • I allow a team meeting before the conclusion and a team-chosen person for the conclusion.
• They choose their stances, stand on opposite sides of the room with desks in the middle.
• A fun wrinkle- switch entire teams so that they defend the opposite of their opening opinion.
• I usually provide a 5-10 minute, in-team discussion time before debating begins- with white boards so they can share ideas with speakers on their teams.
• I am usually the moderator- but even better if you have a student do it.
• Timers can be helpful- 30 seconds max per argument or rebuttal

Go on, argue and rebut!