Years 4-6

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3 Ways to Involve Students in Choosing a Debate Topic

When students are debating topics that are of interest to them, their enthusiasm, engagement and participation is much higher.

7 Tips for Great Rebuttal

Rebuttal is often the skill in debating that students find hardest. Students are required to listen to opposing speakers during the debate.

What Does “Defining the Topic” Mean?

Defining the topic is a very important part of a debate, but one that is often misunderstood or overlooked entirely.

How Does Australasian Debate Scoring Work?

In traditional Australasian debating, each speaker is given a score out of 100

8 Benefits of Debating

Debating covers a range of subject areas and outcomes, as well as helping build social and emotional skills, critical thinking and more.

Is Debating for Primary School Students?

People often consider debating as a high school activity – or perhaps the domain of politicians!

What is Manner, Matter & Method?

Manner, Matter and Method are the three main components of debating.

6 Tips for Writing Great Debate Topics

Have you ever attended a debate where children were debating whether smoking should be banned?

3 Ways to Explain Debating to Students

When we say ‘debating’ we are talking about a formal discussion between people who disagree over important ideas.

Fostering an "I Can Do It" Attitude

Where you put your focus has a powerful effect on the attitude of your children or students.

The Art of Asking Questions

Sometimes in our hurry to encourage students to find information for their debate, we forget the importance of asking questions first.

Are You Underestimating Your Debater?

Students have the capacity to surprise us if we're open-minded! Some students are not always as they seem...

BTN Debating Resources

Behind the News provides a great source of inspiration for debate topics, as well as some handy debating resources.

4 Ways to Use Mind-mapping in a Debating Class

Debating isn't just about standing up and speaking in public. It's also about preparation, research and exploring a topic.

The Power of Introverts

People often think that debating is just for extroverts. This is not the case...

How Much Expression is Too Much?

Showing expression when you speak in public is important. No-one wants to listen to a boring speaker, but how much expression is too much?

Movies about Speaking Up

Looking for a good film about debating or public speaking? Movies about speaking up can be a great source of inspiration for young debaters.

6 Techniques for Great Palm Cards

Palm cards might seem simple - but there's an art to creating effective palm cards for public speaking or debating.

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