Debates and Theater Performances

How do students know they enjoy acting if they've never set foot on a stage? How do we form articulated thoughts off the fly? How does a student show they are listening?

Debate

7th-grade debates start at ground zero. We watch videos on what debates are and what skills one can gain from debating. We gather sentence frames and Flipgrid videos on tone.

9-12 grade debates need the same listening skills as middle school. What does it look like and sound like to talk at each other? What does it look like and sound like to show you've heard someone? What does it sound like to build thought and solutions with someone?

Theater and Debates

CA Standards

7/8

9/10

Debates during Covid

Teaching debates for the first time? Students are new to debates?
Where to start: Listening skills, tone, talking at each other vs building off each other.

Part One What is a debate? (you will see this part at another station FYI skip it when you get there).
Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LesGw274Kjo 5:00 minutes long

Answer the following questions which go in order of the video.
1)What are the different types of debates?
2)What is a claim? warrant? and impact?
3) If I don't reply/respond to something the opposing side brings up during a debate what did I just prove?
So instead of just stating my points during a debate what should I do?
4)What part of debating is hard?
5) How is a debate like Judo fighting?
6) Most people are waiting to say their argument but __________ is actually the most important.
7) Debating makes you ___________ ten times faster!
8) Read a source as credible. What does this mean?
9) Debating helps you know where others are ___________. It's important because (say here students what you think from your own mind).

Section TWO
How to speak in a debate

Here is a sample list of sentence frames below. Look at the four lists Timmons has provided. Collect 2-3 sentence frames from each link and type them onto a Google Document. You are going to use these to debate in section three. Turn these sentence frames into this assignment but make sure you keep a screenshot copy for you, as you'll want to use these not only in section three of this assignment but for your whole class debates coming up in the next couple of weeks.
“I agree with _____ because _____.”
● “I like what _____ said because _____.”
● “I agree with _____; but on the other hand, _____.”
“I disagree with _____ because _____.”
● “I'm not sure I agree with what ___ said because ___.”
● “I can see that _____; however, I disagree with (or can't see) _____.”

Part Three

1) What does tone mean? Watch this video from the start until 6:50 (6 minutes and 50 seconds).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPQyHXc1ksA

Answer the following questions in the comments section of this assignment, where everyone can see your comments.
What did you learn about tone in this video?
How might tone help your debate?

2) Next, go to Flipgrid and use this code: complete the activity TONE.

Monday's phrase is: Did you see that?
Monday's tones are 1)excited 2) frightened 3) anger

Tuesday's phrase is: You are asking the waitress or waiter for two items: "Can I get another refill on this soda? Oh, and I also need a new fork, this one is dirty."

1)You are going to say this first sincerely. 2) second time state this high annoyance and arrogance.

Wednesday's phrase: "See that plane?... right there!"

1)frightened 2)excited

Thursday's phrase: "Mom I finished the dishes and watched my baby sister, can I go out now with my friends?"

1)sweetly 2) in sarcasm

Part Four: Choose two topics below to practice with your partner on FlipGrid.

Choose one statement you both agree with. Create a film that shows you both supporting each other (as in you are on the same team for the debate).

The second statement is going to be debated between you both. One person needs to agree with the statement while the other person disagrees with it.

1. Strength of character is more important than physical strength.
2. One of the greatest accomplishments one could make is to learn about oneself.
3. The heroes/heroines of today are good role models.
4. It is better to be old and wise than young and foolish.
5. People don't change.
6. Any goal can be accomplished and any obstacle can be overcome with enough courage and determination.
7. People cannot escape their fates.
8. Hubris, or excessive pride, is the greatest downfall of humankind.

10 Grade Samples

7 Grade Samples

Theater Performances

My students learn how to read a play script and then how to write one. They know how to practice table reading, create a props list, and create and find costumes. They learn what it feels like to walk onto a stage and perform open-mic poetry or act in a play using microphones while a spotlight shines brightly upon them. We've also performed outside, creating a stage out of garden space and open concrete once a picnic table or bench is moved.

I've watched a student stand taller on stage than in the classroom. They create fight scenes and become the warriors we applaud on stage instead of the students told to sit down in the classroom.