• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

  • Home
  • Classroom Ideas
  • Technology
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Classroom Ideas
  • Technology
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

22 Middle School Debate Activities to Inspire Students

October 20, 2022 //  by Josilyn Markel

Debate is an activity that is perfect for middle school students because it combines critical thinking, communication skills, and creative skills. The debate can be a great way to explore a diversity of opinions, and it can help kids in real-life situations as they grow. It can also contribute to their future success since debate teaches and drills so many important communication skills.

If you want to see the benefits of debate for your middle schoolers, check out these 22 activities that will help your kids learn and thrive on the debate scene.

1. Intro to Middle School Debate

ee051aa4647a5a6e6f4ddd5a02e1200.png

This presentation does a great job of introducing the format, concepts, and vocabulary of middle school debate activities. It also looks at different ways to get students involved in the debate and how to boost their interest in the topics that they are debating about.

Learn More: Prezi

2. The Importance of Freedom of Speech

merlin_137104551_60d818b9-137f-4d8a-875f-73a2e50a8ef3-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp

This lesson plan teaches kids about the importance of freedom of speech and has them analyze their own thoughts and beliefs as well. It will get kids thinking and speaking about their rights, and it will encourage them to speak up and exercise those rights!

Learn More: NY Times

3. Tips for Public Speaking

Public-Speaking-Cover-1.jpg

This handy list of tips can help even your most shy students open up. These tips can help your middle schoolers develop their verbal and non-verbal communication skills through public speaking, and the list can help them connect their critical thinking and communication skills in a meaningful way.

Learn More: The Biz Bentley

4. Funny Debate Topics

ngcb196

When you're just starting out with a class, it's a good idea to start with lighter topics. These middle school debate topics will be sure to draw your students in and get them to open up about the fun and funny things in their daily lives. Here, the topic of the debate can grab kids' attention.

Learn More: Games 4 ESL

5. Debate Topics About Famous People

Screenshot 2022-10-19 075038

If your students love celebrities or the idea of being famous, then these questions will be sure to lead to constructive debate. They can also explore the competitive opportunities that the rich and famous have, and how that impacts their success. These topics are a great starting point for deeper debate on social issues.

Learn More: Gather Lessons

6. Eat, Drink, and Debate Merrily!

do-you-dip-your-pizza-in-ranch-dressing.jpg

Food and drink are universal topics: everyone has to eat, right? From favorite pizza toppings to the importance of cooking classes, there are many different ways to talk and debate about food. This list of topics will help your students develop arguments about food and drink.

Learn More: Business Insider

7. Money Keeps the Discussion Flowing

debate-money-boardgames-debating-argumentation_108712_1.jpg

Whether you're talking about different levels of pocket money or giving extra money to specific people or projects, there are so many different ways to bring money discussions into your class. It's also a great way to introduce financial education and literacy to your middle school students.

Learn More: ISL Collective

8. Debating about the Effects of Technology

Crestron-CCSU-eSports-Lab-660x400.jpg

The advent of technology in everyday life has led to many changes in the world around us. But how do these developments in technology transform our daily lives? That's the main focus of these debate and discussion questions to help your middle schoolers understand the societal changes prompted by tech and social media sites.

Learn More: The Tech Edvocate

9. Date Topics About Education

pexels-zen-chung-5538634.jpg

From debates about school uniforms to the merits of college education, these questions offer great learning opportunities for all students. It's also a great way for teachers to understand what their students think about the education and educational resources they're currently getting.

Learn More: The Ed Advocate

10. Arts, Culture, and a Lot to Discuss!

Types-of-Art-848x530.jpg

With this topic, students can explore everything from classical music to graffiti. They will examine their own beliefs about what art really is, and they'll have to express these beliefs with details and facts. This is a great way to let students' personalities shine in their middle school debate class.

Learn More: Topics Base

11. Deeper Topics: Crime and Justice

We-Need-an-Attitude-Shift-for-Criminal-Justice-Reform.jpg

These middle school debate topics are a level-appropriate approach to the different ways society handles crime and criminal justice. Students can explore the different ways that crime and the criminal justice system impact their daily lives and the lives of those around them.

Learn More: TED Power

12. Politics, Society, and Everything in Between

nathan-dumlao-ewGMqs2tmJI-unsplash.jpg

This list of topics covers everything from voting age to homeless people and what it means for the future of our country. It specifically explores policy decisions and how these choices impact the whole of society. Students will be able to explore problems and solutions in a new light when they debate these topics.

Learn More: The Ed Advocate

13. Debate in Foreign Languages

foreign-language-scarce.jpg?itok=GZemcHFb

Debate is a great way to practice listening and speaking skills in a foreign language classroom. It has been shown to improve motivation among language learners, as well. While students may not start with advanced debate in a foreign language, you can use fun, everyday topics to get them started.

Learn More: JSTOR.org

14. Writing an Effective Argument Essay

AdobeStock_109049479.jpeg

This activity can take the spoken arguments of your middle school debate students and bring it into a writing class. It focuses on how to translate data, facts, and debate points into an effective argumentative essay. This is an important skill for their higher education and professional lives to come.

Learn More: Masterclass

15. Tips for Teaching Middle School Debate

student-group-laptops-tablets-482x335-1.jpg

This is a handy list of tips and tricks for middle school teachers who want to incorporate debate activities into their lesson plans. These tips are great for teachers who are heading up the debate team as well as for those who just want to bring more interactive lessons to their everyday classroom.

Learn More: Getting Smart

16. Benefits of Debate in Middle School

8749e1_1f714e08006f4d99943746d86f4169bb~mv2.jpg

This article takes a deeper look at the skills and thinking patterns that debate at the middle school level can help develop in students. It also focuses on the long-lasting effects on students' communication and critical thinking skills as they continue their academic and professional careers.

Learn More: Bergen Debate

17. Body Language and Debate

This is a great video to help students understand and start exploring the importance of their body language, especially in a debate context. It will help them become more in tune with their own bodies, and it will help them start to notice the body language and non-verbal cues from other people, as well.

Learn More: Reading Pioneers Academy

18. How to Make an Informed Argument

This video dives into all the things that comprise a great informed argument. It looks at the different elements and qualities of informed arguments, and it offers helpful instructions and tips to help students when they write or present arguments. This is a fundamental skill for any debate class.

Learn More: The Hunt Institute

19. Online Debate Camp

image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprocess.filepicker.io%2FAPHE465sSbqvbOIStdwTyz%2Frotate%3Ddeg%3Aexif%2Fresize%3Dfit%3Acrop%2Cheight%3A372%2Cwidth%3A586%2Foutput%3Dquality%3A80%2Ccompress%3Atrue%2Cstrip%3Atrue%2Cformat%3Ajpg%2Fcache%3Dexpiry%3Amax%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fcdn.filestackcontent.com%2F7MNa1W9jSyKYoKW5MMUl&w=640&q=75

If your students are still in the e-learning swing, they can join an online debate camp. This is a great option for students who are homeschooled or who may live far from any debate club in their district. It's also perfect for kids who are just starting out, and who may be considering joining the debate club in the upcoming school year.

Learn More: Out School

20. The Secret Jar

Jar-of-notes-1.jpg?w=1000&ssl=1

This activity is great for one-by-one presentations. It gets kids to think quickly and develop a stable argument "on their feet" -- and it's also great for teaching kids how to listen actively to one another. Plus, since it draws on the students' own topics and ideas, it's great for boosting student motivation on slow days.

Learn More: ELT Connect

21. Games for Debate Club

debating-games-for-school-students-e1653389098933.jpg

Here is a list of great games to play with the kids in your debate club or middle school debate class. The games are designed to get kids talking about things they're passionate about while also developing their public speaking, critical reasoning, and body language skills.

Learn More: ESU.org

22. The Four Corners Game

online-surveys-piggy-bank-builder-creating-wealth-in-small-iEsxTy-clipart.jpg

This is a game to help kids define their position on an issue. It also makes for a great total physical response to lessons about defining the issue and taking a clear stand. This game is also useful for teachers since it allows them to quickly gauge where their students stand on specific middle school debate topics.

Learn More: Teach This

Related posts:

30 Under The Sea-Inspired Preschool Activities
38 Imaginative Children's St. Patrick's Day Books
15 Perfect Presidents' Day Activities

You'll also like:

No related posts.

Category: Classroom Ideas

Previous Post: « 20 Geology Elementary Activities
Next Post: Amplify your Fourth of July with 22 Kid-Friendly Activities »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • 23 Pyramid-Inspired Activity IdeasĀ 
  • 20 Writing Activities To Bring MLK’s Legacy To Life
  • 30 Egg-citing Easter Writing Activities
  • 7 Think Win-Win Activities For Older Learners
  • 20 Cute Crankenstein Activities For Kids
  • 20 Exciting Crime Scene Investigation Math Activities