Kids debate issues all of the time. One can hear them in the classroom, on the playground, or in the lunch room and know that they take sides for or against issues at home, in the community and in other aspects and activities of their lives. Teaching children how to debate more effectively and efficiently as part of the school curriculum will give them essential skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and organization. It will also help them understand the importance of research. Language Arts and Social Studies National Standards can be addressed as an adjunct to the debate process, along with developing skills in the following areas:

      • analytical thinking
      • abstract thinking
      • point of view
      • persuasion techniques
      • distinguishing between fact and opinion
      • clarity
      • ethics
      • etiquette
      • teamwork and cooperation

Debating in the Middle Grades is designed so that students can learn the debate process and procedures as well as how and when to apply these learned strategies to a variety of debate activities and formats. The goal is to ignite an interest in and fascination with debating for students so that they may use the skills in everyday situations and possibly in the future in curricular and extra-curricular activities and in their career choices.

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Grades 5–8.

The lessons and activities in this book align with the following Common Core State Standards*:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1-5.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1-6.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.1-8.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.1-8.6

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade-level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Summarize the points a speaker makes and explain how each claim is supported by reasons and evidence.
Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation.


*Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers
Title: Common Core State Standards English Language Arts
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C.
Copyright Date: 2010