Get in on the bracket battle fun with a March Madness Debate Challenge!
This activity will encourage teams of students to report on a topic or text,
present an opinion, and support their ideas using appropriate facts.
How to implement the March Madness Debate Challenge
Tell students that they are going to be participating in a series of debates
with their classmates (or other classes in their grade level). Explain to them
that a debate is when you look at both sides of an argument.
Let them know they will be given a topic to research. They will record
arguments in support of and opposing on a Debate Challenge T-Chart.
(see below). Tell the students based on their stance on the argument they will
be split up in to several teams. Give them advanced warning that there needs
to be enough people in support of and opposing, so some students may be
arguing the opposite of what they believe (let them know the sign of good
debater is someone that can do that successfully).
In keeping with the spirit of the March Madness
tournament here are a few possible topics in sports to
debate:
• Should kids under 14 play contact sports?
• Should everyone get a trophy?
• Should homeschoolers be allowed on publish school
sports teams?
• Should college athletes be paid?
• Should heading the ball be banned in youth soccer?
After the research is complete and the teams are set,
students will prepare their notes for the debate using
the Debate Challenge Note Organizer (see below).
Remind students that they will want all of their notes
with though during the time of the debate. Their notes
should include:
1. An overview of their topic and opening statement
2. Three facts in support of their opinion
3. Three questions for the opposition
www.SadlierSchool.com • Toll Free 800-221-5175
Materials
• Debate Challenge T-Chart
• Debate Challenge Note Organizer
• Debate Challenge Bracket by
Grade Level (This bracket will be
used if multiple classrooms are
participating in the debates)
• Debate Challenge Bracket for
Classroom • Debate Challenge Rubric
There are several decisions you will need to make based
on your class, grade level, and if you will have any
colleagues available to help you monitor the debates.
You will need to:
• Set time limits and have a timekeeper
• Decide what you will do with teams once they are
knocked out of the debate challenge. One option is to
have students act as newspaper columnists reporting
on the debates. After each debate they can submit a
short newspaper column summarizing the opinions
and debate winner.
• You need to have judge(s) for the debates. Use the
Debate Challenge Rubric (see below) to help in
analyzing the teams opinions and performance.
and Sadlier ® are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright © William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for education use (not commercial use).
Debate 5+
Challenge
and Sadlier ® are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright © William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for education use (not commercial use).
Debate
Challenge
Argument
Arguments in Support of
www.SadlierSchool.com • Toll Free 800-221-5175
Arguments Opposing
Debate
Notes Organizer
Topic Argument
Opening Statement
Three Support Statements
Three questions for the Opposition
Notes (during the debate)
www.SadlierSchool.com • Toll Free 800-221-5175
and Sadlier ® are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright © William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for education use (not commercial use).
Your position
1
Team 3A
topic
topic
1
1
Team 1B
Team 3B
topic
topic
3
3
Debate
Challenge
Team 1C
#
Team 3C
topic
2
#
3
#
Brackets by Grade Level
topic
2
2
Team 1D
Team 3D
topic
topic
4
4
Team 2A
c
l
a
s
s
c
l
a
s
s
Team 4A
topic
topic
topic
1
5
1
Team 2B
c
l
a
s
s
Team 4B
topic
topic
3
3
Team 2C
Team 4C
topic
topic
2
2
Team 2D
Team 4D
www.SadlierSchool.com • Toll Free 800-221-5175
4
#
and Sadlier ® are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright © William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for education use (not commercial use).
c
l
a
s
s
Team 1A
Brackets for a Class
www.SadlierSchool.com • Toll Free 800-221-5175
and Sadlier ® are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright © William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for education use (not commercial use).
Debate
Challenge
3
2
1
0
Facts Presented
Used many facts
to support all
arguments.
Used some facts
to support all
arguments.
Used few facts
to support arguments.
Did not present facts
to support arguments.
Understanding
Demonstrated
a thorough
understanding of the
topic.
Demonstrated some
understanding of the
topic.
Demonstrated little
understanding of the
topic.
Demonstrated no
understanding of the
topic.
Persuasiveness
All arguments were
logical and convincing.
Most arguments were
logical and convincing.
Some arguments were
logical and convincing.
Few arguments were
logical and convincing.
Organization &
Teamwork
Team was well
prepared; worked
well together; All
arguments were
organized and tied to
main argument.
Team was prepared;
worked well together;
Most arguments were
organized and tied to
main argument.
Team was prepared;
worked together;
Some arguments were
organized and tied to
main argument.
Team was not
prepared; did not work
together; arguments
were not organized
and tied to a main
argument.
Rebuttal
Addressed all
opponent arguments
with counterevidence.
Addressed most of
opponent’s arguments
with counterevidence.
Addressed some of
opponent’s arguments
with counterevidence.
Did not address
opponent’s
arguments.
Additional Credit
Total Score
www.SadlierSchool.com • Toll Free 800-221-5175
Score
and Sadlier ® are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright © William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for education use (not commercial use).
Challenge
Rubric