150 Engaging Debate Topics for Middle School Students

WEBSITE ↬ 150 Engaging Debate Topics for Middle School Students

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ ELA & History

GRADE LEVELS ↬ grades 4-8

Looking for a collection of engaging debate topics? This article has 150 topics that are designed to help middle schoolers develop critical thinking and respectful communication skills. The list covers a wide range of subjects, from lighthearted pop culture questions to more serious social issues, offering teachers a versatile resource for any classroom discussion. (I wish I had them when I taught communications class!)

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using the interactive activities like "Four Corners" or "Pair and Share" to help students practice their arguments in a dynamic and low-pressure setting. Additionally, you can foster empathy and critical thinking by asking students to research and defend the opposite of their personal opinions.

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TAPS

WEBSITE ↬ TAPS

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & admins

CONTENT ↬ phones in schools

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

"The Toolkit for Assessing Phones in Schools (The TAPS) is a free, ready-to-use toolkit designed to help elementary, middle and high schools evaluate their phone policy. The TAPS was jointly developed by the Stanford Social Media Lab and the Tech and Society Lab at NYU Stern."  

I have become a big believer in the need to limit/eliminate the use of students' cell phones in school. I also believe we, as a society, need to push back on the "norm" of giving devices to kids at a young age. This resource is built for schools to help your school figure out what is best for you. I love that it is set up in a way for you to include ALL the "players" - students, parents, teachers, and admin. 

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers sharing this resource with their school leaders. Some of us need to start a conversation, some of us need to continue a conversation, and some are at the point of revisiting conversations to ensure the policy best fits their community.

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Robert Kaplinsky's Lessons - math

WEBSITE ↬ Robert Kaplinsky's Lessons - math

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & admins

CONTENT ↬ math

GRADE LEVELS ↬ K-12

I love a good puzzle. I'm mostly referring to jigsaw puzzles, but I do enjoy "figuring things out", too. Math is the perfect subject to do that in. Robert Kaplinsky is a math teacher and creator of Open Middle problems, which typically requires higher level thinking to solve. I love sharing resources that will challenge your students but allow them to have fun at the same time.

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this as bell ringers, activities for fast finishers, or just at random points to break up the regular flow of the classroom. These math problems encourage a different kind of thinking about math. Choose the appropriate grade level and you are set! 

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TED-Ed

WEBSITE ↬ TED-Ed

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & admins

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I have enjoyed several TED Talks. They always make me think about the topic being covered in a way differently than I currently do. TED-Ed brings that world to you & your students. You will find great lesson plans that support the video. I used a couple of them in my own classroom when I taught Communications - seeing real students speaking to audiences helped my students see what good examples are for their peers.

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this to find solid, well thought out lesson plans to support their classroom. Their lessons lay out how to use it in the classroom, but I don't be afraid to add your own spin on it and really make it work for you & your students. Maybe it will inspire you to have your students create their own Ted Talks?

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Gizmos

WEBSITE ↬ Gizmos

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & students

CONTENT ↬ math & science

GRADE LEVELS ↬ 3-12

"The world's largest library of math and science simulations." 

If you are a math or science teacher, that probably caught your eye. Poking around at the site, I found a great filtering system - by grade, by topic, and by standard. It looks to be well organized - always a plus in my book. I also see that there is a free trial for an entire month of all their Gizmos and then a reduced account if you choose not to purchase. This is always a great way to try out a product before investing in it. And at the very least, there is a rotating selection of free ones to come back to.

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see math & science teachers using Gizmos in their classrooms to support students' learning on a variety of topics. Gizmos might be perfect to challenge some students, support others, or simply give practice in applying content knowledge.

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We Are Teachers Games

WEBSITE ↬ We Are Teachers Games

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

Such a fun concept! We Are Teachers has created a page on their site where they share out place with fun brain boosts and other challenges that teachers can use in their classroom. They are building this out, so keep an eye out for new games to added!   

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this for brain breaks, fast finishers, or morning work. 

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Grammar Check Infographics

WEBSITE ↬ Grammar Check Infographics

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & admins

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

The Infographics page on GrammarCheck.net offers a collection of visual guides on a variety of grammar and writing topics. This is a great resource for educators because the infographics cover everything from common writing errors and literary devices to unique collective nouns for animals. The friendly and colorful format makes learning about grammar more engaging and memorable for students.  

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I see teachers printing them out and displaying in their classroom or using as a digital teaching aid. They might also think of using a few of them as inspiration for having students create their own as a way to demonstrate understanding of a grammar topic.

Enjoy!

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