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Great Debates

This Hot Topic lesson is a great way to wrap up the Year 12 program because it requires critical thinking about many of the themes the students have explored, but also because it should be an incredibly fun activity. 

Learning intentions:

  • Consolidate knowledge on a wide range of RSE topics
  • Research evidence and perspectives
  • Contribute to a class debate on a chosen topic

Digital educator: Charlie

  • 12-30 learners

    Class size

  • 11+

    Year Level

  • 45-90 minutes

    Course duration

  • One

    Student Handouts

    Preparing for the lesson

    Information
    Resources
    ACHPE Objectives
    UNESCO Objectives
    Safety & Wellbeing
    Sequence
    Extension
    In this Great Debates lesson, students will consolidate their learning on a wide range of concepts relating to Relationships, Consent, and Sexuality.

    Students will be invited to nominate themselves either as speakers (debaters), adjudicators, time keepers or brains trust. Ideally, you there will be enough students for three or four debates/topics. 

    A list of possible debating topics has been provided as part of this activity, however, you may choose to amend this and/or delete some topics if you have concerns about suitability to the cohort. You may also choose to ignore these topics completely and develop your own to assign (as you see fit) to the teams.

    This lesson ends by asking students to reflect on the question "Has your opinion changed or developed (on any of the topics) after this activity? If so, how?".

    Facilitator Printouts

    Student Printouts

    Additional Information

    • This lesson gives students a chance to research and defend a perspective on a topic. It is easier if students are not working with a topic or perspective that they already hold strong opinions about or that relates directly to their own lived experience particularly of harm.
      Keep in mind the intersectional nature of privilege and oppression and the ways different identities experience the world. 
    Ideally, you will have scope to deliver all of the lessons in your program. However we understand that many schools have limited capacity to do so.

    In Year 11 and 12 you can deliver lessons from either year level. It can be helpful for Year 12's to explore more foundational issues in the Year 11 curriculum. It is also beneficial for Year 11's to have access to more advanced lessons from the Year 12 curriculum.  

    Should you find yourself having to implement part of this program, we have provided a suggested sequence of lessons within the broader skills and knowledge categories of relationship, consent, gender, and health & legal literacy. We recommend delivering at least one lesson from each category.

    1. Group Agreements & Pod Mapping should be the first lesson as per best practice.
    2. The program should finish with Great Debates as it provides an opportunity for students to integrate their learnings with their own values and engage in respectful communication on conflicting views. 

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