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Fun Middle School Debates | Citizenship | Growth Mindset | Social Emotional SEL

Rated 4.72 out of 5, based on 45 reviews
4.7 (45 ratings)
;
Grade Levels
6th - 10th
Standards
Formats Included
  • Zip
Pages
79 slides, 20 pages of handouts, 52 pages of lesson plans
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This bundle contains one or more resources with Google apps (e.g. docs, slides, etc.).
Easel Activities Included
Some resources in this bundle include ready-to-use interactive activities that students can complete on any device.  Easel by TPT is free to use! Learn more.

What educators are saying

This resource is of professional quality, extremely well laid out and sparks great discussion. I love that it focuses on skills since that is what we are assessing in Citizenship. Thanks for providing a launch pad to my course and a resource I can tap into through the year.
I loved doing this last year with my kids! This sparked so many good debates and I even saved some for throughout the year when our advisory council didn't have anything for us. Thank you for this!

Products in this Bundle (4)

    Bonus

    START HERE - 6Cs Citizenship
    Also included in
    1. A Social Emotional Learning curriculum that isn't babyish or cheesy! Here are 90+ fun lessons to build Social Emotional Learning skills that help students succeed at school and in life! Reset classroom expectations by explicitly teaching students: character, citizenship, collaboration, communication
      Price $40.48Original Price $242.00Save $201.52
    2. This bundle includes every single resource in my TPT store. Watch the preview video to see how Educircles has been used by 1 million students. 100K DOWNLOAD SALE!This resource is on sale for $100 to celebrate 100,000 downloads across my TPT store. This Everything Bundle currently has 136 resources a
      Price $99.99Original Price $471.00Save $371.01

    Description

    If your Middle School students like classroom discussions, here are 17 Fun Student Debates to help them become active citizens.

    The slideshow lesson explores how active citizenship starts in the classroom:

    • FAIR does not always mean EQUAL.

    • How to be an active citizen in the classroom, at school and in the world!

    • How to COMMUNICATE and APPRECIATE differences in opinion.

    • This is a lifelong tool that you can use every year to train your students on how to communicate respectfully.

    • Fantastic sub plans for Middle School ELA because the lesson plan explains what to do.


    The 17 debate questions go through a series of "fun" questions to more "serious" questions.

    LESSON 1: Explore what a citizen is and set clear expectations for classroom communication (Section A)

    • Debate Question 1: Chips vs Chocolate (slide 8)
    • How to play (slide 9-13)
    • Debate Question 2: Early vs Night (slide 14)
    • Debate Question 3: Microwave vs Oven (slide 15)
    • Debate Question 4: Fork vs Spoon (slide 16)

    LESSON 2: Review classroom communication rules and use a worksheet graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas.

    • Debate Question 5: Only child vs Siblings (slide 19-20)
    • Debate Question 6: Left Hand vs Right Hand and videos (slide 21-23)
    • Debate Question 7: Sight vs Hearing (slide 29)
    • Debate Question 8: Dog vs cat (slide 30)

    LESSON 3: Remind students of classroom communication expectations and worksheet.

    • Debate Question 9: Vacation vs $500 (slide 32)
    • Debate Question 10: Social Media vs YouTube (slide 33)
    • Debate Question 11: 5 instruments vs 5 languages (slide 34)
    • Debate Question 12: Uniform vs No Uniform (slide 35-36)

    LESSON 4: Introduce more complex topics and discuss empathy and fairness.

    Debate on essential needs like water, medicine, food, and shelter.

    • Debate Question 13: Clean water vs Medicine (slide 44)
    • Debate Question 14: Food vs Shelter (slide 45)

    LESSON 5: Review respect and note-taking. Classroom debate about social issues.

    • Debate Question 15: Racism vs Sexism (slide 47)
    • Debate Question 16: Education vs War (slide 48)
    • Debate Question 17: Helping your students vs helping a country (slide 49)

    LESSON 6: Analyze a video to explore global citizenship issues in perspective: if the world was 100 people. (Section B)

    LESSONS 7 and 8: Consolidate learning. Use critical thinking to come up with criteria to identify what Citizenship is and isn't. There's also an optional review test. (Section C)



    Want to see exactly what you get before you buy this bundle?

    • Look at the BUNDLE PREVIEW PDF. (Click the “view preview” button underneath the product cover section at the top of this page.) 

    • It is a low-resolution version of the entire PDF resource.



    This unit is PERFECT to kick-start a unit on Persuasive Writing, Communication Skills, or Being an Active Citizen!

    The slideshow teaches everything. You just guide the class conversation!

    The 52 pages of lesson plans include talking points and possible student answers!


    These fun high-interest classroom debates as a safe but powerful way to teach students that we can have opinions, our opinions can be different, and both of our opinions can be equally valid.

    ✅ The slideshow lesson teaches the concepts.

    ✅ You can also EDIT THE FILES to fit your classroom needs.

    ✅ The slideshow lesson is comprehensive and teaches the lesson:

    • DISTANCE LEARNING or 1:1 LEARNING in Google Classroom
    • FACE to FACE LEARNING in your classroom


    SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL):

    Using these timeless citizenship debates is a perfect way to get students to think more about SEL:

    • who they are (Self-Awareness)

    • diversity and equity (Social Awareness)

    • communicating effectively (Relationship Skills)

    • Use these to help retrain your classroom community in the New Year (January 2024)

    • Build a classroom community that promotes Critical Thinking, Respectful Communication, and Active Citizenship skills (updated Sep 2023) 


    ❤️ Need to address some classroom issues?

    Do you find students don't always do the right thing or stand up for each other?

    • The best time to use this resource to train your students was at the start of the school year.

    • The second best time is right now. 

    • If we want students to improve, we need to train them. This 6Cs resource can help. 


    Real World Social-Emotional Learning that isn't babyish!

    • In my grade 8 class, we explored the 6Cs and social-emotional learning skills.

    • These skills didn't just help my students - they helped me rewrite my life story. They turned the hardest time of my life into something positive.

    • I've used my professional experience as a teacher and my own lived experience with tough times to create these lessons.


    Perfectly aligned to the Common Core!

    • The CCSS standards are listed at the top of this TPT product page!

    Perfect for teaching Transferable Skills in the new Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum!

    Use these Active Citizenship activities to help students demonstrate an understanding of how global citizenship and sustainability (transferable skill) is used in various language, literacy, and life contexts. 

    Look at the product preview to see how the activities in this resource line up with the Overall Expectations.

    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum A1. Transferable Skills
    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum A3. Application, Connections and Contributions

    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum B1. Oral and Non-Verbal Communication

    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum C1. Knowledge about Texts
    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum C2. Comprehension Strategies
    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum C3. Critical Thinking in Literacy

    • Ontario Language 2023 Curriculum D1. Developing Ideas and Organizing Content


    Use this life-long tool over and over again!

    • Use this lesson when students don't always do the right thing or stand up for each other.

    • Train your students at the start of the year, semester or term to set the tone for a year of learning!

    • Now is a great time to remind your students HOW TO DISAGREE respectfully.

    • Teach important lessons if you ever need to fill a period.

    • Use this anytime to hit the re-start button in your classroom community.

    • These debates are also a great way to kick off a Global Studies unit or English Language Arts unit on essay or persuasive writing!

    • Leave the detailed lesson plan for your substitute teacher to teach.
    • IN-PERSON or ONLINE LEARNING.

    • Have fun in June during END OF YEAR activities while learning important transferrable skills.

    The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second best time is now.

    DISCUSS the difference between equal and fair.

    BUILD classroom community as students explore the difference between a citizen and a good citizen (or active citizen) 

    REMIND students how to communicate respectfully, even when they disagree.

    EMPOWER students to reflect on their ideas and to think about how equal doesn't always mean fair.

    APPLY what they learn by asking students which groups of people are invisible?

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TEACHER FEEDBACK ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    • "My students love debating, so this resource was great!" (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely satisfied - Jennifer C)

    • "Very thorough and has built a community in my classes. Thank you" (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely satisfied - Mary S)

    • "This is an exceptional high quality resource that is worth more than it is, once I opened this product I was so impressed with the professionalism and dedication that was put into creating a high quality informational unit that is based on reliable sources throughout the entire package! I am very pleased with this purchase as my scholars are too, for they are the ones that receive this credible, reliable, and highly beneficial learning information that gracefully supports students through the learning process with rigorous content, that allows deeper learning opportunities for those that need that deeper level concepts for true engagement into their learning experiences! Highly recommend this phenomenal resource." (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely satisfied - Deanna S)

    • "This resource has been a real lifesaver to both my lessons and teacher training. Many skills are covered in this resource and I use it at any stage in my curriculum as lead-in for new topics, to end of units or to reinforce and supplement certain areas. We move from a local to global perspective, and this resource guides you through the entire process. I eventually got the entire bundle, and it is an added value to my teaching resources. Thank you for an excellent product." (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely satisfied - Josephine M)


    ..... Mar 18, 2024 Update:

    Do you need to get your class back into "work mode" after Spring Break / March Break?

    Problem #1: Students don't try, especially when things don't work right away. They give up.

    Problem #2: Students don't do the right thing or stand up for each other. Being part of a classroom means being an active citizen. We don't always agree, but it's important to speak up.

    Problem #3: Students don't know how to work in groups. Collaboration is not the same as teamwork. One person doing all of the work is not collaboration.

    Problem #4: Students are mean, especially when they're upset. Good communication isn't just about presentations. It's also about getting your point across when both sides are upset, and things matter!

    Problem #5: Students wait for someone else to solve their problems. Creativity is about connecting ideas in new ways. When you are faced with a tricky problem, we use creativity to create a solution. Creativity is a skill we can learn.

    Problem #6: Students believe rumors, gossip, and viral posts. They don't think for themselves.

    Problem #7: ALL OF THE ABOVE 

    • ➡️ Check out this CHALLENGE TASK. Can your class learn about a growth mindset while trying to stay in a growth mindset at the same time?

    My name is Mike Fuchigami. I'm the Grade 8 teacher behind Educircles. 

    • I taught middle school English Language Arts for 13+ years in Ottawa, Ontario.

    • I had a mental health crisis because of something that happened at school.

    • Social Emotional Learning skills (6Cs) literally saved my life. That's why I'm so passionate about this stuff.

    • I want to help your students develop Growth Mindset and Social Emotional Learning skills.

    Teachers around the world have DOWNLOADED 109,957 Educircles resources in over 59 countries!

    • I donate 10% of everything I earn to STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH organizations. It's a promise I made to get through some dark times.

    • Together, we've donated $15,520.51 (Check out the donation log.)

    SAVE HOURS OF PREP (and money) with a bundle!

    This is the TED talk that I will give one day. If you like this, then you will love my resources.


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    Questions? Email Mike@educircles.org or ask in the Question and Answer section

    Total Pages
    79 slides, 20 pages of handouts, 52 pages of lesson plans
    Answer Key
    Included
    Teaching Duration
    1 Week
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    Standards

    to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
    Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
    Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.
    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
    Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

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    Questions & Answers