This game is suitable for everyone who can speak. It is not intended to provoke arguments so contentious topics should be avoided.
First children are invited to select a couple of topics for debate questions. These should be relatively benign and meaningless, so for example we have used ‘is summer better than winter’ and ‘which is best, running or handball?’
One of the debate questions is selected. Two players are pitted against each other and these players are two who have not selected the question. The rest of the players form the audience. Each player then stands at the front of the room and makes the case for one side of the argument. An adult acts as a chairperson, introducing them, and introducing the motion (the question) for debate.
Each case made by each side is timed, five minutes or less should suffice. Then the players take questions from the floor, possibly up to three or four questions. The audience and the players are then asked by the chair to vote to carry or deny the motion (say yes or no to the initial question). The chair does note vote.
This can be amusing but not a format we have used very often as it is quite a formal scenario.