Debate it Out!

Debate it Out! Programme
Curriculum for Excellence guides pupils to become successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals. Debates capture these core values of Curriculum for Excellence by promoting critical thinking, communication, research and enquiry skills. Pupils are motivated to independently research and discuss topical issues of political, economical, cultural and social aspects, encouraging thinking in new contexts. Debating emphasises responsible citizenship by giving pupils the opportunities of understanding other views. It also gives pupils the confidence to advocate their ideas and opinions in a clear, logical and constructive manner.

The Debate it Out! programme allows participants to debate about current ethical topics. The debates may also be suitable for Philosophy and Personal & Social Development Groups. Bring your class to Dundee Science Centre and choose the GM Crop Debate to meet real scientists and debate the ethics and uses of genetically modified organisms. Alternatively choose the Meet the Gene Machine Debate for an engaging drama presentation to stimulate discussion and debate about the future of genetic science, and the ethical and social implications. Would you want to know what your genes can say about your future?

You can also Debate it Out! in your classroom too. We have provided some resources which will help get you started.

Getting started in the Classroom

The resources below will help teachers to develop and use a variety of debate techniques which can be used in the classroom. These activities can be adapted to suit your chosen topical discussion.

Physical Continuum Activity
This is a great method to initiate a discussion as it will give you, the facilitator, an idea of the views the group currently hold on a particular issue.

Around the world Activity
Around the world Activity resource pack
The aim of this activity is to create an awareness of the spectrum of countries’ policies on a particular topic.

Ballot box Activity
Some topics can be controversial, and as a result people may not wish to publicly air their views because either it is something they feel strongly about, or because it is a bit too close to home. The ballot box activity allows participants to share their views anonymously.

Picture it like this Activity
This activity is a great way for pupils to express themselves creatively.

Tops and Pants Activity
Tops and Pants resource pack 1 of 2
Tops and Pants resource pack 2 of 2
This is a great activity to do either at the start of a discussion in a similar manner to the Physical Continuum Activity or at the end of a discussion, as participants will be able to use all the information they have collated in previous activities to make an informed decision together as a group.

Policy making Activity
The aim of this activity to is to create a government policy on a chosen topic. This is a great activity to do at the end of a discussion, as participants will be able to use all the information they have collated in previous activities to make an informed decision together as a group.

You can visit the LTS website for more ideas on facilitating discussions.

We also offer twilight CPD courses for teachers to develop their skills in facilitating discussions in the classroom.

For more information and details of our Debate it Out! resources and programme, please contact Shabnam Wasim, our secondary school Science Learning Officer on shabnam.wasim@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk
Direct line: 01382 868609