DEBATE! for primary schools
When school children Gemma and Harry find a purse on the street, they can’t believe their luck. Gemma can buy some nice things for her mum who isn’t very well, and some sweets and Harry can get the CD he wants. But questions begin to arise. Do they really have the right to keep the purse? And will they get into trouble if they spend the money?
DEBATE! is a new interactive drama experience for primary schools (Key Stage 2/P4, 5,6,7), set up to encourage and develop children’s debating skills.
Beginning with a twenty-minute play, four professional actors present a live ‘video’ of a moral dilemma. As the characters find the situation going wrong, they ‘rewind’ – and with the help of the audience, show different outcomes to the problem.
Following on from the play, drama games and exercises are applied to demonstrate the importance of listening and responding accordingly in a debate. The session culminates with a formal ‘parliamentary’ debate by the participants of the topics raised.
DEBATE! has been piloted in London to great success and is available as part on an ongoing project.