What this lesson teaches
This activity sharpens critical thinking and persuasive speaking skills through structured debate. Children learn to organize their thoughts, anticipate counterarguments, and speak confidently in front of an audience.
Public Speaking
Can you finish debate like a leader! in about 30 min?
Debate Like a Leader!
You will this activity sharpens critical thinking and persuasive speaking skills through structured debate.
Duration30 min
Age GroupAges 12–13
DifficultyIntermediate
SubjectPublic Speaking
See how this hands-on lesson works
Sign in to start the full activity flow, save this lesson, print a learner version, and track XP. The preview below is public so parents and educators can evaluate the activity before joining.
What you need
How the activity runs
The learning connection
Engaging in debate fosters embodied cognition as children physically practice articulating their ideas. The collaborative feedback from peers promotes the zone of proximal development, enabling them to refine their arguments and presentation skills.
Try it with your learner
1. Choose a relevant topic for debate, like 'Should school uniforms be mandatory?'. 2. Gather family members to form teams — affirmative and negative. 3. Each team prepares points for and against the topic for 10 minutes. 4. Take turns presenting your arguments, using clear examples. 5. Allow a rebuttal round where teams respond to each other's points. 6. Conclude with a family vote on which argument was more convincing.