Debate - should we import food?

 This afternoon, Giraffes applied their debating skills into a more formal context.

'A debate is a formal discussion where arguments are given for or against a matter, or motion, that usually ends in a vote'.

We appointed Isaac as 'Speaker of the House'. He chaired the debate but not take part or vote.

We appointed Isabel and Elsie as 'tellers', who counted the votes at the end.

The children were then divided into 2 groups: the proposers (those in favour of the motion) and the opposers (those against the motion).

The motion was then presented to the class: ‘People should always buy and eat food that is grown in their own country.’

We followed our 'rules of debate' closely, with children showing respect and the Speaker managing the debate. 

Finally, children voted whether, after listening to all arguments, they were for the motion or against it. The Tellers counted the votes and the found that the majority of Giraffes class were against the motion that People should always buy and eat food that is grown in their own country.

The Proposers

The Opposers

Speaker of the House chairing the debate

The first proposer to speak (as decided by their group)

The first opposer to speak

Children could ‘intervene’ politely at any point, as many times as they like. These interventions could be to ask questions about the point being made or to challenge the point. 

When the children wanted to present their argument during the debate, they stood up when someone had finished speaking and waited for the Speaker of the House to select them. 

The children worked on giving good eye-contact when speaking. 

The children voted by moving to the 'aye' or 'no' side of the room and the tellers counted the votes.