Family Debate Club: Ethical Dilemmas
A structured discussion activity where participants take turns arguing different sides of pre-selected ethical or social topics, promoting critical thought and civil disagreement.
- Takes
- 1–2 hr
- Your setup
- 15 min prep
- Ages
- Ages 9 and up
- Mess
- No mess
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- Indoors
How to do it
- 1Select a topic and assign sides (even if participants disagree with their assigned position).
- 2Establish rules: strict time limits, respectful language, no interruptions.
- 3Run the debate in three phases: Opening Arguments (3 mins per side), Rebuttal/Cross-Examination (5 mins), and Closing Statements (2 mins per side).
- 4After the debate, hold a civil discussion about the strongest points made by both sides.
What they're practising
- Critical Thinking
- Verbal Persuasion
- Logic Development
- Active Listening