Brains, Bytes & a Better Planet is a dynamic café-style debate where students engage in open, informal conversations about topics related to technology, sustainability, and education. Using Power-Up Cards and functional language tools, students explore multiple perspectives in a safe and supportive space, where every voice matters.

• Ss will be able to: Express and support their opinions using appropriate debate language. Respectfully respond to different viewpoints in a group discussion. Use critical thinking to explore real-world issues. Reflect on their own communication and debating skills.

Introduction: Four Corners Game

T labels four corners of the room as: Love debating! I like it but don’t do it often. Not sure how I feel about it. No way, I don’t like debating! • Ss move to the corner that fits their opinion and quickly discuss why. • T asks: What makes a debate enjoyable or stressful? Presentation for the lesson: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGi9Oa8gZs/P33zBNvRrK54oIqpt57WXg/view?utm_content=DAGi9Oa8gZs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h76835f3f58

Speed Debate

• T displays a fun statement like “Dogs are better than cats”. • T picks two volunteers to debate for 30 seconds each. • Quick class vote (raising hands): Who made the stronger argument?

Café Debate Guessing Game

• Students guess what a Café Debate is. • T gives a definition: It’s a relaxed discussion where everyone is equal, there’s no winner, and we explore ideas together.

Debate Functional Language

T introduces debate functional language (handouts); • Ss do a wordwall quiz on debate functional language which they will use in their debate (bit.ly/DFL567)

The Café Debate

Group work: • Each group picks a card containing a debate topic (https://www.canva.com/design/DAGjOxqUrh8/YtRIS90mHyETUXz_RbyLNw/view?utm_content=DAGjOxqUrh8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview) . • If they don’t like it, they can swap once with another group. • T introduces “power-Up Cards" which Ss can use during a debate (During Debate) • Each group gets 3 Power-Up Cards to use when needed: Clarify It! – S asks a teammate to explain an argument better (Can you explain that differently?). New Perspective! – S Introduces a surprising or opposite viewpoint (What if we looked at this from another point of view?). Real-Life Example! – S shares an example from the news, history, or daily life (Can we connect this to something real?).

Final Reflections

Each group shares one surprising argument they heard.

Conclusion

Activity: "Debate Emoji Reflection" • Students rate the lesson using an emoji: o 😃 Loved it! o 🙂 It was okay! o 😐 Still not sure about debating. o 😬 Not my thing! • Ss discuss: What made the debate fun? What was challenging?

Lesson plan with all the activities described is with all the other materials.