Debate is a great way to help students internalize what they have learned in class and for them to get emotionally involved in what they are learning.
On the surface it looks like they are only doing research, writing speeches and presenting; but in reality, they are doing so much more. They are learning to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses and step in to help one another. They learn to integrate what they have learned with real world situations. For example, the grade 7s debated on the motion “BC should stop logging old growth trees” and they looked extensively on the impact of deforestation. Some students have even reduced their napkin usage by a lot during lunch and asked about the option of recycled napkins.
When students are passionate about a topic, they bring what they have learned to other situations too. The Grade 8 students had to reenact the Confederation by choosing a figure who was pivotal in Canadian history. They were able to see how many people were excluded in having their voices heard in Confederation. Some became personally involved in how the indigenous peoples were robbed of their rights and were able to sustain the same passion in other topics, such as the North-West Resistance. Of course, being able to dress up for the part was a bonus!
The same three boys who played the indigenous chiefs in the Confederation debate argued their case in the North-West resistance.
One Grade 8 student even dressed up as Louis Riel, Father of Confederation for Manitoba.
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