Host A Space Debate

Have a go!

Debate activity

1. Set up the activity (5 mins)
   1. Divide everyone up into small groups of 3 or 4 people.
   2. Give each group one side of one of the topics to prepare:
      1. ​Space should be explored by humans, not robots.
      2. We should not spend taxpayer's money on the space industry.
      3. Pluto should still be a planet.
      4. There is life elsewhere in the Universe.
      5. Humans should colonise Mars.
          
2. Brainstorm ideas (10 mins)
   1. Each person silently comes up with their own ideas and writes the keywords for each argument on a sticky note.
   2. The group share all their arguments and stick them all on a large sheet of paper.
       
3. Organise ideas (10 mins)
   1. Make sure everyone in the group understands what you are setting out to prove.
   2. Remove any duplicated arguments.
   3. Discount any off-topic arguments.
   4. Group similar ideas together to make stronger arguments.
   5. As a group, identify the strongest arguments from all your ideas (try and come up with 5 or 6).
       
4. Prepare speeches (10 mins)
   1. Decided who will present each argument.
   2. Use the Structure Your Argument Sheet (PDF) to plan a speech for each argument (this can be done as a group, or by the person who will be presenting).
       
5. Prepare rebuttals (5 mins)
   1. Think about what the opposing team may use as their arguments.
   2. Come up with ways to rebut their argument (use the Example Rebuttal Sheet (PDF) for inspiration).
       
6. Host the debate (20 mins per topic)
   1. Debate each topic - speakers from opposing teams take it in turn to present their arguments and rebut opposing arguments.
   2. At the end of each debate, the rest of the group votes for the team they found most persuasive.