Debate Topics For Kids

MissBrattified · #1 09-24-2008, 09:27 AM

SooooooOOoooo....we are going to hold our own political debates in the house. I'm trying to decide several things:

1. Should I assign an individual topic to each person and allow research first?
2. Should I assign a list of topics for joint research, and then have them draw (from a jar or whatnot) the side and topic they'll actually be arguing?
3. Should we all participate or just the girls participate?
4. What topics will be appropriate for 11 and 13 year olds?

This afternoon we're going to do a quick review on what each candidate stands for and why (and I'm going to TRY to be unbiased *choke*)

I plan on having the girls watch the debates Friday night, and then using them as a guideline for our own debates Sunday after dinner.

Any suggestions? Help? Ideas?

Any other ways to include them in the election process, other than watching the news?

Should they take notes on the candidates points or stances during the debates? Maybe a pre-printed sheet with a list of major issues that they can listen for and fill-in-the-blank?

Admin: You might want to move this to the Election Section.

rgcraig · #2 09-24-2008, 09:30 AM

Let them catch fire-flys in the field!

No, I think it's never too early to get them involved in real life!

Pressing-On · #3 09-24-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

SooooooOOoooo....we are going to hold our own political debates in the house. I'm trying to decide several things:

1. Should I assign an individual topic to each person and allow research first?
2. Should I assign a list of topics for joint research, and then have them draw (from a jar or whatnot) the side and topic they'll actually be arguing?
3. Should we all participate or just the girls participate?
4. What topics will be appropriate for 11 and 13 year olds?

This afternoon we're going to do a quick review on what each candidate stands for and why (and I'm going to TRY to be unbiased *choke*)

I plan on having the girls watch the debates Friday night, and then using them as a guideline for our own debates Sunday after dinner.

Any suggestions? Help? Ideas?

Any other ways to include them in the election process, other than watching the news?

Should they take notes on the candidates points or stances during the debates? Maybe a pre-printed sheet with a list of major issues that they can listen for and fill-in-the-blank?

Admin: You might want to move this to the Election Section.

I like your number two idea as the kids like to feel that they are in charge of something important. Let them choose.

You could be a ready moderator when you feel they've hit a snag or need a little encouragement to move forward in the discussion.

I would try to tie in a concept they are currently studying in Social Studies with the debates and election. That way it won't be over their heads.

I am against Sunday afternoon debates.

Blubayou · #4 09-24-2008, 09:45 AM

I just wrote you a long answer and lost it!!!! Here is the short version.
Keep it narrow- Kids get overwhelmed with this kind of project if the topic is too broad.
Look for topics that the candidates differ on:
Pull out of troops
Reponse to the War on terror
Economy
Give money to industry vs give money to the people
Taxation-
Tax and let government take care of you vs give money to the people to spend and cut taxes
Big topics - you will need to simplify the some. Just some ideas. Great Civics lesson.

Carpenter · #5 09-24-2008, 10:13 AM

You could give them a lesson how party trumps person.

Let them have a discussion on what constitutes a LIE.

Then ask them how they can know if politicians are telling the truth. Teach them that if their name is followed by a D-(state), then they will know absolutely.

It should make a good debate, I wish I could be there to see what happens.

mizpeh · #6 09-24-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Any other ways to include them in the election process, other than watching the news?

Should they take notes on the candidates points or stances during the debates? Maybe a pre-printed sheet with a list of major issues that they can listen for and fill-in-the-blank?

Have them look at their prior Congressional voting records.

MissBrattified · #7 09-24-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I like your number two idea as the kids like to feel that they are in charge of something important. Let them choose.

You could be a ready moderator when you feel they've hit a snag or need a little encouragement to move forward in the discussion.

I would try to tie in a concept they are currently studying in Social Studies with the debates and election. That way it won't be over their heads.

I am against Sunday afternoon debates.

LOL!!!! Well, we don't have Sunday PM church, so it's really our only free time. Saturdays are usually really busy.

Sarah's Social Studies is kind of boring right now (to me) --Henry Ford and Model T's...and Hannah's studying the Renaissance Era (14-1600's). I don't know how to tie those in.

ummmmm...maybe we could discuss who was elected President on or around 1908? (When the first Model T was built)

Renaissance....hmm...

Issues:

The Economy (I'm not sure on this one....)
Healthcare (government provided healthcare vs. private insurance)
Abortion (pro-live vs. pro-abortion or pro-choice)
Taxes (higher vs. lower, and personal income vs. business)
The War (pre-preemptive strikes vs. reactive & pro-war vs. anti-war)
Energy (should we be allowed to drill on American soil? Why or why not?)
National Security (not sure....)
Guns (2nd Amendment)
Immigration (Open borders vs. closed or controlled)
Education (Public Schools vs. Private/Homeschool, address vouchers)

Other?

MissBrattified · #8 09-24-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubayou

I just wrote you a long answer and lost it!!!! Here is the short version.
Keep it narrow- Kids get overwhelmed with this kind of project if the topic is too broad.
Look for topics that the candidates differ on:
Pull out of troops
Reponse to the War on terror
Economy
Give money to industry vs give money to the people
Taxation-
Tax and let government take care of you vs give money to the people to spend and cut taxes
Big topics - you will need to simplify the some. Just some ideas. Great Civics lesson.

Good suggestions! Keep 'em coming!!!!

MissBrattified · #9 09-24-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpenter

You could give them a lesson how party trumps person.

Clarify that for me....please?

Quote:

Let them have a discussion on what constitutes a LIE.

GREAT suggestion!

Quote:

Then ask them how they can know if politicians are telling the truth. Teach them that if their name is followed by a D-(state), then they will know absolutely.

haha. I'm going to TRY to be non-partisan, but it will be hard. *gag*

Quote:

It should make a good debate, I wish I could be there to see what happens.

Maybe we can video it and put it on YouTube. They'd probably like that.

Carpenter · #10 09-24-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Clarify that for me....please?

I believe that party trumps person. This means that it doesn't matter to me who is running Republican, I vote for them.

I believe the worst Republican is STILL better than the best Democrat.

You could also have some fun teaching them about what liberalism is.

You could go and have them pick their favorite 10 toys then go at random and pick 5 and tell them you are taking them to the Goodwill (you can't even choose who to give them to. The Goodwill represents the gubberment).

You could also tell them that Barak Hussein Obama's financial plan is stealing from Jesus. They will like that too.