Lesson video

Hello everyone.

My name is Mr. Brown and I'm going to be your teacher for today's lesson and it's an English lesson and it's all about debating.

A really important skill that you can keep with you and use for the rest of your lives.

So let's get started on today's lesson.

Your learning outcome for today's lesson is, I can justify an opinion using reasoning.

And here are our key words.

Debate, opinion, reasoning, justify, convincing.

And here are their definitions.

A debate is a structured argument between two teams. An opinion is a view, or belief that a person has.

Reasoning is explaining why a person has a certain opinion.

To justify an opinion means giving clear reasoning, convincing someone will make them agree with your opinion.

Now don't worry if some of these words are new to you.

We're going to be learning all about them, in our lesson today.

Here's our lesson outline.

We're going to have a look at three different learning cycles.

We're going to start with what is a debate.

We'll then be moving this on to giving an opinion.

Finally, finishing our lesson with justifying yourself.

But let's start with, what is a debate? So welcome to your debating lessons.

These lessons will be a little bit different to the others that you might have learned before, and they will be filled with lots and lots of speaking and listening, which we all know is great fun.

There are some important rules in our debating lessons, some rules that perhaps you might think are a little bit different to some of the other lessons that you've done.

Number one, when someone else is speaking, you must track the speaker with your eyes, listen and be silent.

So tracking the speaker means looking at them.

Wherever they go, your eyes will go, your eyes will follow them.

Tracking the speaker.

When you are speaking, you must stand up.

Just as in a real debate, you would stand up to deliver your speech and we are gonna be doing that in all of our lessons.

Anytime you are speaking, you should be standing up.

When someone has finished speaking, you must applaud to acknowledge their effort, even if you disagree with what they have said, this is a respectful thing to do.

So let's do a check for understanding.

When someone else is speaking, you must A, look away from them and not listen.

B, speak to a friend.

Or C, track the speaker, listen and be silent.

Which one do you think it might be? You can pause the video if you need some time to think about this.

So the correct answer for our check for understanding is, C, when someone else is speaking.

You must track the speaker, listen and be silent.

This is a way to show respect for the speaker and you will expect the same when you are speaking.

You will be doing lots of speaking in these lessons.

Here are some top tips to help you be a successful speaker.

Stand up straight.

It's so important when you are speaking to be able to stand up straight, to speak loudly and proudly and look like you are professional and authoritative.

So standing up straight is a great way to start that.

Speak in a loud, clear voice so the audience can hear you.

I always think about the size of the room that I'm in when I'm speaking.

If you are in a big school hall, you are going to need to speak louder, than if you are in a smaller classroom.

So speak in a loud clear voice, so the audience can hear you, especially if you're in bigger spaces.

Make eye contact with the audience.

Now eye contact is when your eyes will meet the eyes of someone else.

You'll look at them and they'll look at you.

So make sure you are making eye contact with as many members of the audience as you can.

Keep your feet grounded and flat on the floor.

It is really important when you're making a speech in a debate that you aren't shuffling from foot to foot, from side to side.

This can be something that people do when they get nervous, so keep your feet flat on the floor and grounded.

Again, this will help you to look professional and authoritative and make people listen to your voice rather than think about why you might be shuffling from side to side.

Do not fiddle with your hands.

It's really common that sometimes people fiddle with their hands when they're nervous.

It might be that you start fiddling with a piece of your clothing.

It's okay to be nervous when speaking in front of an audience.

If you would like, you could put your hands behind your back and then if you do fiddle, nobody is going to see.

But do not put your hands in front of you and fiddle because it will be very distracting for the audience.

Introduce yourself when you start speaking and thank the audience when you are finished.

A quick check, true or false.

Successful speakers use a loud, clear, voice.

Is it true or false? Pause the lesson if you need some time.

Well done to everyone who said true.

Successful speakers, use a loud, clear voice.

Now justify your answer.

The audience must be able to hear the speaker.

That's A, the audience must be able to hear the speaker.

B, the audience does not need to hear every word.

Which one do you think A or B? Well done to everyone who said A.

Of course, the audience must be able to hear the speaker.

It's essential that they can hear every word you're saying when you're making your speech.

There are lots of reasons why people might debate.

To settle an argument, there might be a disagreement between two teams, and this is a great way to settle that argument.

To make decisions.

Of course, this is one of the most famous ways that debates are used in the houses of parliament.

Politicians and prime ministers have decided important decisions across years and years in our country and to give their opinion.

Debates are an excellent way for people of all ages to give their opinion to say what they think or believe.

To practise their speaking skills.

I can promise you one thing, your debating lessons will improve your speaking skills.

Every time you stand up and speak in our debate lessons, you will be getting better and better.

Which two of these reasons, 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.

D, to shout loudly.

Which two of these are reasons why people might have a debate? Pause the lesson if you need to and make your decision.

Which two of these are reasons why people might have a debate? Okay, well done if you said A, to settle an argument and C, to make decisions.

A debate is a structured argument between two teams. It is not an argument that you might have in a playground or at home with a sibling.

A debate is a structured argument, it follows a pattern.

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.

In a debate, people will give their opinion and justify this with reasoning.

Some of our key words coming up.

True or false, a debate is a structured argument between two teams. True, or is that false? Well done it's true, let's justify our answer.

A debate has two teams which share differing opinions.

That's A or B.

A debate has two teams who agree with each other.

Is it A or B? Yes, it's of course A.

A debate has two teams who share differing opinions.

They will think differently.

Debating is such an important skill for children to have for so many different reasons.

It helps them know how to give their opinion.

It's essential that even children know how to say what they think and what they believe.

It teaches them how to convince people.

It will help people to make changes in the world.

So many things that we will look at in our debating lessons, are built around changes that perhaps people would like to see made.

I would love for all of you when you finish our unit on debating to feel confident that you have the skills to be able to give your opinion, to justify that with reasoning, to perhaps make changes in the world, or your world, or your school.

Which two are reasons why debating is an important skill for children to have? Is it A, it helps them to be argumentative? Is it B, it helps them to know how to give their opinion.

Is it C, it helps them to make changes in the world.

Or D, it helps them to always get their own way.

And remember, we are looking for two reasons why debating is an important skill for children to have.

Pause the lesson if you need to and select your answers now.

Okay, a bit trickier this one.

Well done if you said B, it helps them know how to give their opinion and C, it helps them to make changes in the world.

Let's start by playing a game.

And this game is called, The Best School Trip Ever.

It's an opinion giving game that's going to test your speaking and listening skills.

So first you introduce yourself.

For example, I would say, good afternoon or good morning, my name is Mr. Brown.

Then you share your opinion.

You share the thing that you think or believe.

Try and use all of our top tips to be a successful speaker.

And here is an example.

Hello everyone my name is, hmm, and I believe The Best School Trip Ever would be to, and then you would give your best school trip ever.

So follow this talk scaffold to help you be able to play this game.

The Best School Trip Ever over to you.

Well done everyone.

I am sure that you were doing some successful speaking, but let's reflect on how successfully you were able to follow our top tips.

Did you stand up straight? Did you speak in a loud, clear voice so the audience can hear you? Did you make eye contact with the audience? Did you keep your feet grounded and flat on the floor? Did you not fiddle with your hands? And did you introduce yourself when you started speaking? And then thanked the audience when you were finished.

We didn't put that in our talk frame, did we? I wonder if you remembered to thank the audience when you were finished.

Well done if you did.

So take a moment now to reflect on how you spoke.

Did you do all of these things or are there some things you need to work on next time? Let's move to our next learning cycle, giving an opinion.

A key part of debating is being able to give an opinion.

Now an opinion is a view, or belief that a person has.

You will have lots and lots of opinions.

Everything from what you think is the best food to where you like to go on holiday, to which football team you think is the best.

All of those things are opinions.

Now, an opinion is something you think or feel it is personal to you.

Nobody can tell you that your opinion is wrong.

An opinion is just what you think, it is not a fact.

It is not a fact.

For example, London is the capital city of England.

That is a fact, it cannot be argued with, it's not an opinion.

If I were to say London is the best city for visiting the theatre, that would be an opinion because other people might disagree with me.

Which of these is an opinion? Which of these is an opinion? A, I like to play tennis.

B, I am 10 years old.

C, I believe that maths is the best subject.

Or D, I live in the United Kingdom.

Which of these is an opinion? Pause the lesson.

Now have a think and decide which one you think is an opinion.

A, B, C, or D.

Okay, well done to everyone who said C, I believe that maths is the best subject.

That is someone's opinion.

Everybody might have a different opinion about which is the best subject.

I wonder what your opinion is about which is the best subject at school.

Here are some examples of opinions.

Do you agree or disagree with them? And remember what I said, an opinion isn't wrong, it's just what someone thinks or believes.

But you can agree with that opinion or you can disagree with it.

Homework should be banned.

Being a teacher is a better job than being a doctor.

Chelsea are the best football team.

Three opinions, but do you agree or disagree with them? Pause the lesson and have a think now.

Okay, I wonder if you agreed or disagreed with these opinions.

Now which is a fact rather than an opinion? We're looking for a fact here now.

Something that cannot be argued with.

Is it A, the best sport in the world is football, is it B, dogs are better pets than cats? Or is it C, London is the capital city of England, which is a fact rather than an opinion? Yes, well done, if it was C that you went for.

London is the capital city of England.

As we said earlier that is a fact, it cannot be argued with.

Let's revisit our game, The Best School Trip Ever.

But this time we are going to change the rules.

Instead of your best school trip, you can say what your best sport, book, film, or food is.

And here is a talk scaffold to help you.

Hello everyone my name is.

And this is where you'll say your name and I believe the best film ever is.

And you'll tell us what you think the best film ever is.

But remember, you can choose sports, book, film, or food, over to you.

Okay, welcome back.

So let's reflect again on your own speaking, or you can give feedback to another pupil in your class.

Remember, these are our top tips for successful speakers.

Did you stand up straight? Did you speak in a loud, clear voice so the audience could hear you? Did you make eye contact with the audience? Did you keep your feet grounded and flat on the floor? Did you not fiddle with your hands? Did you introduce yourself when you started speaking? And thanked the audience when you finished? I've given you an example of how you might start your reflection to another pupil in your class.

You might want to say thank you for sharing your opinion.

One thing I noticed which was great was, and then you can say something positive, something fantastic that you noticed about the way that another pupil in your class spoke.

And then you can give them something to improve on by saying to improve next time, try to.

And it might be that you say, next time, try to make eye contact with more members of the audience or next time try to not fiddle with your hands or next time try to stand up straight.

Over to you, let's move to our last learning cycle and it's all about justifying yourself.

An important aspect of debating is justifying opinions.

I'm gonna say that one more time because it's so important.

An important aspect of debating is justifying opinions.

Now justifying is someone explaining why they think a certain way, why they think or believe something.

An argument outlines someone's opinions and their justifications.

Fill in the gaps using these words, opinions, justifying, argument.

I want you to fill in the gaps in these sentences using one word for each of these sentences.

An important aspect of debating is justifying, what.

An important aspect of debating is justifying what could that word be? Well, well done if you said opinions and important aspects of debating is justifying opinions.

Okay, the next one's tricky 'cause it's the first word we're missing.

So something, what could that word be? Is someone explaining why they think a certain way? Is someone explaining why they think a certain way? Well, congratulations if you said justifying.

Justifying is someone explaining why they think a certain way.

Which must mean that our last one is, an argument.

An argument outlines someone's opinions and their justifications.

Well done if you've got any of those correct that's brilliant work.

When someone is justifying their opinion, they use reasoning.

Reasoning outlines the reasons someone holds their opinions.

It explains why they think or believe something.

In a debate one speaker's reasoning may be more convincing than the opponents.

True or false to get the audience to agree with them a speaker's reasoning must be more convincing than their opponents.

Is that true or is that false? Pause the lesson if you need to have a think and decide.

Okay, it's true, congratulations to everybody who said that.

To get the audience to agree with them a speaker's reasoning does have to be more convincing than their opponents.

And let's justify our answers.

Is it A? A speaker's opinion is enough to convince the audience.

So is the opinion alone enough or B, the reasoning for an opinion is what convinces an audience? What do you think? Well done to everyone who said B.

The reasoning is the important part.

An opinion is brilliant to have, but an opinion alone will not convince the audience to agree with them.

It's the reasoning for that opinion.

There is an important word that is often used in debating.

It signals to the audience that a speaker is sharing their reasoning for their opinion.

That word is? Because.

Because it is such an important word in debating which word signals the start of the reasoning in an argument.

And so because what do you think? Select your answer now.

Well done if you said because.

Yes, because is the word that you will use to signal you are starting to give reasoning to explain your opinion.

Use because to give reasoning for this opinion, I believe that dogs are better pets than cats because you can take them for walks.

Here's my example.

I have used because to explain why I believe dogs are better than cats.

And the reason I've given is that because you can take dogs for walks, which you don't really do with cats.

You can take a dog for a walk.

Now it's your turn.

Use because to give reasoning for this opinion, I believe that homework should be banned because.

Over to you to explain why homework should be banned by giving one reason, just one.

I believe that homework should be banned because.

Over to you.

Well done I'm sure you came up with lots of great reasoning why homework should be banned.

Some reasons for your opinion can be more convincing than others.

Let's compare these two arguments.

I believe football is the best sport 'cause it involves lots of running, which keeps you fit and healthy.

I believe football is the best sport because it's my favourite.

Here we have two opinions that have been justified with reasons, but some reasons are more convincing than others.

Which one do you think is the most convincing of these two arguments? Now I believe that this first argument provides clear reasoning for their argument.

It says that football is the best sport because it involves lots of running, which keeps you fit and healthy.

A really good point to make football is a great sport because it will keep you fit and healthy.

That is a big positive.

Now this second argument doesn't give any significant reasoning.

It's the same opinion, I believe football is the best sport, but it says because it's my favourite.

Now that may be true, but that's not enough to convince an audience.

The reasoning there is not enough.

The reasoning is clear in this argument because it shares how playing football will keep you fit and healthy, which is a positive thing.

And you can see there it says because it involves lots of running, which helps you to keep fit and healthy.

That is the reasoning which is so convincing.

So let's revisit our game, The Best School Trip Ever, one more time.

But this time you will use the word because to add reasoning, to justify your opinion.

The more convincing your reasoning, the better your speech will be.

That's what we are listening out for.

And here is a talk scaffold that will help you get started.

Hello everyone my name is, and I believe The Best School Trip Ever is, because, and then you'll explain why you think that place is The Best School Trip Ever.

Over to you, enjoy the game.

Well done I'm sure you gave lots of excellent reasons there.

Here's an example that I'd like to share with you.

I believe the best school trip ever is to the seaside because there are lots of fun things to do, such as running on the beach, making sand castles, and even swimming in the sea.

Now have you used reasoning to justify your opinion? Well, absolutely.

Sophia has justified her opinion with clear reasoning.

She has said that there are lots of fun things to do, which appeal to everyone.

She's given three really cleverly chosen examples, running on the beach, making sandcastles and swimming in the sea.

And finally, let's summarise all the brilliant learning you've done today.

A debate is a structured argument between two teams. An an opinion is a view, or a belief that a person has.

In a debate an opinion must be justified with reasoning.

And to be successful in a debate, the reasoning behind your argument must be convincing.

Well done everyone.

What a excellent first lesson on debating.

This will be a brilliant time to complete your exit quiz and I will see you for another lesson very soon.