Lesson video

Hello everyone.

My name's Mrs. Riley and I'll be teaching you this lesson today.

Today we are going to be looking at debating.

Let's get started.

The outcome of today's lesson is to use a motion to start debating.

These are our key words for our lesson today.

I'm going to say each one and I'd like you to repeat it back to me.

Debate, Debate.

Motion.

Motion.

Thank you.

A debate is a structured argument between two teams. A motion is the name for the belief or proposal that is being debated.

So the motion is the name for the belief or proposal that is being debated.

In our lesson day, we have two learning cycles.

First we're going to look at what is a motion and then we're going to look at using motions to start debating.

So let's get started with what a motion is.

A debate is a structured argument between two teams. A debate is a great way to settle an argument in a formal way.

Often in front of an audience.

An audience watches and listens to a debate.

And in a debate people will give their opinion and justify this with reasoning.

And there are lots of reasons why people might debate.

It might be to settle an argument.

It might be to make decisions, it might be to give their opinions, it might be to practise their speaking skills.

So all of these are reasons why you might have a debate.

Let's check what we've learned so far.

Which two of these are reasons why people might have a debate.

A, to settle an argument, B, to create conflict.

C, to make decisions or D to shout loudly, pause the video while you find your answer.

Well done, the correct answers are A, to settle an argument and C, to make decisions.

These are two reasons why you might have a debate.

So we know that debate is a structured argument between two teams and the two teams need a topic to debate.

They're not just going to argue about anything.

They have to argue about a certain topic.

And the topic that is being debated is called the motion.

That's our key word.

And you can't have a debate without a motion.

A debate motion starts with the words "This house", which might seem a little bit strange to you, but the reason that that it starts with "This house" is because debating has origins in the British parliament.

That means that's kind of how it started.

That's where it came from.

And politicians used to meet in important buildings to discuss and debate current affairs.

And when they wanted to talk about an idea, they would start by saying, "This house" to show that everyone in the room was involved in that decision.

So it's not just one person standing up and saying, "I believe" it's like a way of saying this house believes, we all believe this together.

So a debate motion will be either something the house is proposing to do or change.

For example, "This house would shorten the school day for all primary school pupils".

So there's an example of a motion.

You'll notice it starts with this house and this in this example, it's proposing to do or change something.

So shortening the school day.

It could be something the house thinks or believes.

For example, "This house believes that school uniforms should be compulsory for all students." If something is compulsory, it means you have to wear them.

You don't have a choice.

So which words come at the start of a motion? A, I believe, B, we think, C, this house or D, this room.

Can you remember which words come at the start of a motion? Pause the video while you choose your answer.

Well done, the correct answer is C.

The words that come at the start of a motion are always this house.

So I would like you now, I've just given you quite a lot of information.

So I would like you now to pause the video and discuss what makes an effective debate motion.

That's quite a tricky question.

So if you are struggling with it, maybe come up with some examples, like "This house believes." And then you could do an example and you could start thinking, "Well would that be effective or would that not be effective and why?" And that might help you.

So pause the video and turn to your partner and have a discussion now.

Okay, well done, let's come back together.

It was really nice to hear some of your ideas there.

So an effective debate motion is essential for a debate to be successful.

So that means that we have to have an effective debate motion.

Otherwise the debate won't really work.

We'll look at what that means.

An effective debate motion should be clear and easy to understand.

It should be able to provide both sides an opportunity to make a fair point.

It should be relatable and important and it should always be respectful.

So we're now going to discuss whether this is an effective debate motion and use the criteria below to help you.

So here's the motion.

"This house would ban homework in primary school." Do you think that would be an effective motion? Now here's the checklist.

Is it clear and easy to understand? Would both sides have an opportunity to make a fair point? Is it relatable to to pupils at school and important and is it respectful? Pause the video and discuss that now with your partner.

Okay, lovely, let's come back together.

So hopefully in your discussion, you thought that this is an effective motion because it's very clear this house would ban homework in primary school, that's clear to understand what the motion is about.

And it could be argued from both sides.

You know, one side might say that it would be good to ban homework because pupils need to have a rest after school and need to have time to do different activities.

But equally some another argument could be that homework is really essential and important to help pupils consolidate their learning.

So both sides would be able to make some good points.

It's relatable as most children know what homework is.

So this would be an effective debate motion.

So we'll go again.

Let's have a look at another one.

This time the motion is, "This house believes eating only crisps for lunch is good for you." So again, is it clear and easy to understand? Would both sides have an opportunity to make a fair point? Is it relatable and important and is it respectful? Pause the video and discuss this motion with your partner now.

Okay, let's come back together, well done.

So this is not a good motion because it cannot be argued from both sides.

Everyone knows that eating only crisps isn't good for you.

So if this was the motion and you were put on the team that had to say that this house does.

That they agree, this house does believe that eating only crisps for lunch is good for you, it would be very difficult to come up with some good ideas or good reasons why they think that would be the case.

So this is not a very effective debate motion.

So now it's time for your first task today.

For this task you are going to discuss with a partner these debate motions and you are going to put them into two different categories and explain your reasoning.

So the two categories are effective debate motions.

So debate motions that you think would be really effective and good.

And not effective debate motions, ones that wouldn't work like the one about eating crisps at lunchtime that we just looked at.

So read each motion, discuss it with your partner and decide which category you think it should go into.

So here are the motions.

This house would ban mobile phones for under 12s.

This house believes that chocolate is healthier than fruit.

This house believes that summer holidays should be longer and this house would make sure that all adults can work from home three days a week.

Now remember this is a motion.

These motions should be for children or pupils at school for a debate.

So which of these do you think would be effective debate motions for them and not effective debate motions for them? Pause the video while you complete this task now.

Okay, brilliant.

Let's come back together.

I loved hearing all of your discussions and hearing you saying things like "I agree" or "I disagree" and giving your reasons why you had your opinions.

So these hopefully were the categories that you got.

So the effective debate motions would be this house believes that the summer holiday should be longer and this house would ban mobile phones for under 12s.

These are clear, they are relatable for pupils because it involves children, summer holidays and having mobile phones under 12.

And both sides could.

You could argue both sides each, there would be good points to make on each side.

So this house believes that summer holidays should be longer, is a good motion because it is relatable for children and could be argued from both sides easily.

Now these are not effective debate motions.

This house believes that chocolate is healthier than fruit.

Well I think we all know that chocolate isn't healthier than fruit.

So that would be really difficult for one side to argue that point.

This house would make sure that all adults can work from home three days a week.

That potentially could be an effective motion, but it's not something that children can relate to because it's about adults' jobs.

So whilst that would be perhaps a good motion for adults, it wouldn't the best for pupils or children to be debating.

Okay, well done.

Well hopefully we all feel confident now with what a motion is.

And remember it always starts with "This house".

So now we're going to be using motions to start debating.

Before we do that, let's all just have a quick movement break and perhaps get comfy where you are sitting, maybe a little stretch, maybe breathe in and bring your shoulders to your ears and exhale.

Okay, are you ready for the second part of our lesson? Using motions to start debating.

So an effective debate motion is essential for a debate to be successful.

We've just looked at ones that wouldn't work and ones that would work.

An essential factor of a motion is that both sides have an opportunity to make a fair point.

You may agree with some motions and you may disagree with some motions.

When you state whether you agree or disagree with a motion, it is important to explain why you have that opinion.

You'll be giving a reason and reasons help us to understand and explain things.

And we can use the word because to give a reason why we agree or disagree with a motion.

So here is a motion for a debate.

This house believes that everyone should walk or cycle to school.

No one should drive, no one should go on public transport.

We should only walk or cycle to school.

That's the motion.

Someone may agree with this motion and someone else may disagree.

Whatever you think, you need to give a reason.

So for example, you might say, "I agree with this motion because cycling or walking is much better for the environment than a car." Or you might disagree.

"I disagree because some children might have to go on busy roads which are dangerous to walk or cycle on." Now both of those are really good points.

So we can see how you could agree or disagree.

But what's really.

Makes those points really good is that they both give a reason why they have that belief, why they agree or disagree.

And we can see in both of those examples, they use the word because.

"I agree because.

." "I disagree because.

." So I'm going to do an activity now.

We're going to swap roles.

You are going to be the teacher and I want you to tell me if I'm doing this activity correctly and then you are going to have a chance to do exactly the same thing in a moment.

So here's the activity, discuss, do you agree or disagree with this motion? And I have to give a reason using because, so make sure check that I do that because sometimes I forget.

"This house believes that break times should be longer." "This house believes that break time should be longer." Okay, let me just have a think about whether I agree or disagree with that.

This house believes break time should be longer.

I'm gonna say I agree because I think a longer break would help children to focus better in class.

So I first thought about whether I agreed or disagree and I agree, and then I gave a reason why I agree using that word because.

"I agree because.

." Are you ready to swap roles? Now it's your turn.

So you are going to discuss, do you agree or disagree with this motion and then give a reason using because.

So this house believes that break time should be longer.

Do you agree or disagree and why? Pause the video now.

Okay, lovely, well done.

Here's a potential answer you could have said.

So you might have said, "I disagree because lessons need to be long enough to help us complete the learning".

Okay, it's time for your second task.

In this task you need to discuss the following motions with a partner.

You need to tell your partner if you agree or disagree with the motion and give a reason using because.

So here's the first one A, this house believes that children should choose what they learn at school.

Just have some bit of thinking time there.

This house believes that children should choose what they learn at school.

So children should turn up at school and they should be able to say, "I don't want to learn about that.

I don't wanna learn that in history.

I want to learn about this in history", or "I don't want to learn English, I want to learn.

I don't want to do any English, I don't like it.

I want to do science all day today".

So that's what the first motion is.

B, this house believes that students should be allowed to bring toys to school.

So again, have a think about that.

So imagine you've got a toy that you really want to bring in and play at break time or show your friends.

So this house believes that students should be allowed to bring toys to school.

And C, this house believes that every family should have a pet.

That every single family should have a pet.

So I've read the three motions to you.

So you are going to first discuss each one with a partner and then you'll going to say if you agree or disagree with a motion, giving a reason why, it's really important.

I don't to hear people just saying, "A, this house believes that children should choose what they learn at school.

I agree." And then moving on, you need to give reasons why.

"I agree because", and then make sure you are listening to your partner.

And then you might say, "I agree with you because", or "Actually, I disagree because", so you need to be making sure that you are doing really good speaking and loud speaking, loud and clear and using that word because, but also that you are doing really good listening because this is a discussion that you are having with a partner.

So good luck with this activity.

I hope you enjoy it.

Pause the video now.

Okay, lovely.

Let's come back together.

So did you agree or disagree with the motion and did you agree or disagree with your partner? So here's an example for "This house believes that children should choose what they learn at school".

Maybe you said "I agree because if children have chosen what they learn, they'll be more interested and focused in lessons".

That's a really good point.

I hadn't actually thought about that.

But you might have then said, your partner might have said, "I disagree with you because teachers know what is important for children to learn to help them prepare for their future." So there are two really good examples in a debate where people are giving different opinions, but both of these opinions are backed up or justified with their reasons why, using that keyword because.

So let's summarise what we have learned today.

We've learned that in a debate, the topic that is being debated is called the motion.

And you can't have a debate without one.

We've learned that an effective motion should be relatable.

So if it's for children, it's got to be relatable for children, and important.

And both sides should have an opportunity to make a fair point.

So we looked at that example where "This house believes chocolate is healthier than fruit." Well that's not going to be really fair because both sides won't be able to make fair points.

We can use the word because to give a reason why we agree or disagree with a motion.

And finally, a debate motion will either be something the house is proposing to do or change or something the house thinks or believes.

So thank you for joining me for this lesson today.

I hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about debating and that you feel confident now with what a motion is and how they are used in debates.

Hopefully I'll see you for some more learning another time.

Bye.