The best way to get better at a skill is practising it. Even better is to practise it in a low-pressure, fun context like a game. It’s why even the world’s best sportsteams will still play rondos in preparation for a match.
So this week, a game that invites students to practise connecting their arguments with what the last person said by reframing the point they’ve heard. Then, we show how to put this game into a “match” context by applying the same approach in a debate.
These are taken from a huge collection of videos that form part of our brand-new debating website that we’re excited to launch next week! Stay tuned…
Not to worry: The “game”
Pupils at St. Mark’s Junior School loved this so much in September, they carried on playing it after I left! Simply put everyone in pairs, play this video – and let them get on with it!
Putting the skill into action: “The match”
Now, we share how to demonstrate that same skill in a debate. Again, just play the video and get some debating going – either in pairs, or in small groups, or as a class. You can use the motion we’ve chosen as an example, or one of your own.
Watch this space for our very special announcement about our new debating platform next week – where these videos are just a fraction of what we’re offering schools.
What’s new in the Philosoverse?
On Monday, Tom visited Beacon Academy in East Sussex to deliver a special edition of their Debate Club, set up by teacher Jordon Keen. Learn more about our school visits.
Jason is spending today at Finton House School in London, returning for a series of workshops tied to theme of Curiosity, with Years 4, 5 and 6. Jason is being shadowed by Sanjna, a teacher from India. If you’d like to be put on the waitlist for a Masterclass day like this, drop us an email.
Whilst Jason’s there, Tom’s working hard editing our brand-new minibook on oracy (with this space too!), as well as running a mentoring session on Zoom for a teacher he worked with before the summer break. If you’d also like to invest in some one-to-one mentoring for your own professionally development, why not get in touch?