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Whether your middle school students like to express their opinions or prefer to remain silent during class discussions, learning how to negotiate is an important skill they will need later in life. It teaches them to take the opinions of others, consider opposing views, and strengthen their own positions on issues they care about.
Although 6th, 7th, and 8th graders may be young for high-charge political debates, many middle school debate topics can teach them important communication skills without bringing up adult topics. Use these top debate topics as prompts, writing ideas, or legal arguments to help students find their voice in discussions with their peers.
Quick Argument Topics for Middle School
Use these quick debate topics as warm-up or writing activities to encourage middle school students to practice taking a stand.
- Is pepperoni the best pizza topping?
- Are rats good pets?
- Is it better to rest on Monday or Friday?
- Is the AF grading system correct?
- Should we spend a lot of money looking for aliens?
- Are chopsticks better than fork and knife?
- Is traveling by plane better than traveling by car?
- Is it right for parents to punish bad grades?
- Should pets be allowed in schools?
- Should dessert come before dinner?
- Can AI take over jobs today?
- Should our city have more buses?
- Should summer break be long?
- Is camping better than staying in a hotel?
- Should people be allowed to have elephants as pets?
Introduces basic debate skills to middle school students
Just because your middle schoolers love to argue doesn’t mean they can’t! Use the introductory resources to brush up on your debating skills before you begin the full debating unit.
The Classroom Discussion Unit for Grades 4-7 is the Coach’s Corner
Coach’s Corner
Grades: 4th-7th
Topic: English language arts
This debate basics unit includes a list of suggested topics, schedules, debate rules, and a teacher evaluation rubric for a four-period regular class lesson.
Introduction to Debate – Silent Debate
Through the Middle School Cafe
Grades: 6th-9th
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Not every debate needs talking! Try a silent debate resource that enables middle school students to write their claims, assertions, implications, and other reasons along with their main proposition and side of the debate.
Appropriate Middle School Discussion Topics
Connect the topics of debate to the everyday lives of middle school students and the ideas they care about so they can truly engage. These ideas work well as social science questions for juniors and discussion questions that address CCSS speaking and listening.
- Should mathematics be optional?
- Should parents be able to control children’s internet access?
- Is it a good idea for children to be actors?
- Are video games good for children?
- Should online videos be allowed to include advertisements?
- Is 12 the right age for kids to get a smartphone?
- Does school start early?
- Should middle schoolers be able to watch R-rated movies?
- At what age should children be allowed to vote?
- Is it okay for preschoolers to use tablets in the classroom?
- Should schools offer free lunches to everyone?
- Should homework be reduced?
- Do you think teachers should be paid more?
- Should health care be free?
- Should elementary school continue through 8th grade?
- Should middle schoolers be allowed to date?
- Is it a good idea for each country to have an official language?
- Is home schooling better than regular school?
Combine the discussion topics into reading responses
Everything students learn can be a topic of debate. Use resources focused on nonfiction reading passages to inspire middle school students’ curiosity and sharpen their critical thinking skills.
Most Interesting Non-True Quotes and Argumentative Topics
Through Creative Speech Lab
Grades: 4th-8th
Topic: English language arts
This differentiated, unstructured ELA resource covers reading comprehension and argumentation skills. With 10 non-fiction verses and accompanying pictures, it encourages readers to respond to the most interesting debate topics.
Top Argumentative Topics for Juniors
Take a break from reality with debate topics that bring sci-fi, fantasy, or out-of-the-box ideas! They make excellent debates for middle school ELA activities that incorporate narrative and argumentative writing skills.
- Would a day like a fish or a day like a bird be more fun?
- Should a king pay taxes to his kingdom?
- Which hero would win the most gold medals in the Olympics?
- Would you rather be in a vampire movie or a zombie movie?
- Is it better to be a movie hero or a movie villain?
- What rules must shapeshifters follow?
- If time travel was real, would you need a license to do it?
- Would it be illegal for superheroes to skip buying plane tickets and fly to their destination?
- Should AI entities be allowed to marry each other?
- If magic was real, should the government be allowed to control it?
- Does it count as stealing if you have a magnet and the money sticks to you when you walk?
- If we colonize the moon, who should be allowed to go?
- Should there be a button that lets you skip boring sessions?
- Should sea captains be elected to their positions?
Teach middle school students to embrace new ideas
Seeing your argument from the other person’s point of view is one of the most important conversation skills for middle school students to master. Use resources that focus on arguments or other ideas to help students see their topic from a new perspective.
Mini Debate and Idea to Take Action with Debate Editor + 20 Topics
Basically speaking
Grades: 6th-9th
Topics: Social Emotional Learning, Speaking and Listening
Can your middle school students understand the conflict between these two ideas? Use a lesson that focuses on visualization skills to teach students how to think critically when developing their argument. The resource works well with middle school speaking and listening units, as well as speech therapy groups and discussion group settings.
‘This or That’ Middle School Debate Topics
Some debate topics are as simple as “this” or “that”! Use these direct debate topics as ready-made debates in the classroom, or as quick SEL activities for middle school.
- Superman or Spiderman?
- Bike or scooter?
- Pop music or hip hop music?
- Do you work as a firefighter, or a police officer?
- Baseball or basketball?
- Winter or summer weather?
- Be a kid in the 90s, or be a kid now?
- A backyard swimming pool or a backyard trampoline?
- Many friends or one best friend?
- Soda or juice?
- Eat dinner at 4 pm or eat dinner at 8 pm?
- Birthday cake or birthday donuts?
- Traveling or staying at home?
- A two-story house or a one-story house?
- Sleeping during the day, or sleeping at night?
Pass out activity cards for students to choose their debates
Need more motivation to get students talking? Ask them to choose their debate topics with resources that include a list of middle school debate options.
Discussion Topics – Activity Cards
With songs from middle school
Grades: 6th-8th
Topics: Writing-Clarifying
Your middle schoolers have ideas, so give them a chance to express them! This well-organized debate resource includes 20 high-interest flashcards with a unique debate topic. Consider printing them out for small groups to practice debate skills, or post them around the room so students can rotate through the debate stations.
Middle School Discussion Rules
Middle school debates don’t need to be structured like high school Socratic seminars, but they should be structured to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. Follow these general rules in middle school classrooms to keep your discussion moving and prevent hurt feelings or unplanned arguments.
- Come to the debate prepared with solid research.
- If you work in a group, contribute your equal share to the preparation.
- Speak respectfully at all times.
- Do not interrupt when the other person is speaking.
- No devices (phones, laptops, etc.) during the debate.
- Do not make new arguments in your counterarguments.
- Make eye contact with your opponents on the other side.
- Respect the time limit and do not exceed the allotted time.
Speak up to gain strong debating skills
Negotiation skills are not just for future lawyers and politicians. All students benefit from knowing how to state their case, see an argument from the other side, and support their position with strong evidence. Best of all, middle school debate resources are for every subject – just think of all the science, social studies, and math debates you could have throughout the year!
Once your students are familiar with these debate concepts, consider expanding their skills with high school debate topics. They will be ready to tackle advanced arguments and complex discussions before they know it!
