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Classroom activity: Debate – Can a war ever be just?
From Iraq: war and peace online
resource
Age group: 8 to 16 year olds
Aims:
To promote critical thinking skills in pupils
and allow them the opportunity to formulate and express their
views To listen to and hear others’ views To raise pupils’ self-esteem
What to do:
Divide the class into two teams, one for the motion, and one against
it. (They don’t have to actually support the argument of their
team – they just have to present a good argument for the debate.)
Sub-divide each team into smaller groups so that each group can
come up with a statement to bolster the argument their side is supporting.
Hold the debate, encouraging the pupils to use the points from their
small groups, and elect a spokesperson from each group to do this.
When all the points have been presented, ask those pupils not directly
involved in the debate to vote for whichever side was the most convincing.
After the debate, make sure all the pupils who want to are able
to share their thoughts on how they felt about what was said, especially
if they were representing a view during the debate which differed
from their own real view. Also discuss how convincing people can
be, even if they actually don’t believe something. Do politicians
ever do this? Do the pupils have any evidence for this? Perhaps
they could look out for examples.
From Iraq: war and peace online
resource
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