Help students develop essential social-emotional skills with these engaging debate topics!
Aligned with CASEL’s five core competencies framework, these discussions invite students to explore complex issues, consider diverse perspectives, and build crucial social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, all while sharpening their critical thinking on Kialo, a completely free tool for class discussions.
Self-awareness social-emotional debate topics align with core SEL competencies by encouraging students to consider how self-perception shapes their choices and interactions with others. Students practice critical thinking skills while meeting key curriculum standards for personal development, emotional literacy, and metacognitive awareness across language arts, health education, and social studies frameworks.
- Does turning 18 really mean that you’re an adult?
- Would it be good to be famous?
- Should we have “mental health days”?
- What are the best ways of dealing with stress?
- Is it ever okay to lie?
- How do our emotions affect our decision-making?
- Is it important to “find yourself” before adulthood?
- Does social media help or harm our self-image?
- Are personality tests valuable for self-understanding?
- Is it good to make your beliefs a part of your identity?
- Should schools teach students about managing emotions?
- Is being authentic more important than fitting in?
- Is popularity important?
- Can we truly know ourselves?
- Is it better to be honest with yourself or kind to yourself?
- Should we embrace or overcome our fears?
- Does having a personal brand help or harm authentic self-expression?
- Is self-confidence a skill that can be learned?
These social-emotional debate topics on self-management align with core curriculum standards by challenging students to consider how habits like discipline, goal-setting, and time management impact their success and wellbeing.
- Should we always avoid stress?
- Should we always forgive others?
- Should kids have to earn their pocket money?
- Should 10-year-olds be allowed part-time jobs?
- Should everyone get participation awards?
- Is procrastination always harmful?
- Should meditation be taught in schools?
- Should students set their own learning goals?
- Is it ever okay to break the rules?
- Is multitasking a valuable skill or a harmful habit?
- Should schools teach financial literacy?
- Is it better to plan for the future or live in the moment?
- Are routines essential for personal growth?
- Should teenagers have to choose a career path at 16?
- Should young people learn to code?
- Is perfectionism helpful or harmful?
- Is it better to specialize or be well-rounded?
By engaging with these SEL debate topics on social awareness, students develop greater empathy, cultural competence, and awareness of social justice issues. This helps meet key educational frameworks in social studies, civics, and digital literacy and citizenship, essential skills for navigating our increasingly interconnected and diverse world.
- Do children need privacy?
- Should we change our vocabulary for referring to oppressed groups?
- Should we always respect people in authority?
- Does AI reinforce existing social hierarchies?
- Is art essential in shaping our awareness of ethical issues?
- Should schools require community service?
- Is cultural appropriation always wrong?
- Should history classes focus more on marginalized perspectives?
- Is it possible to truly understand someone else’s experiences?
- Should schools teach about privilege and systemic inequality?
- Are stereotypes always harmful?
- Should news media be required to present multiple perspectives?
- Is empathy a skill that can be taught?
- Should students learn about mental health conditions?
- Is cyberbullying worse than face-to-face bullying?
- Is it better to be tolerant or to stand up for your beliefs?
- Should schools teach about different religions?
- Is it okay for parents to share photos of their kids on social media?
These social-emotional debate topics on relationship skills help students explore relationship dynamics, technology’s social impact, and interpersonal challenges. Students practice effective communication and conflict resolution — essential skills for building positive relationships in personal and academic settings.
- Are friends better than family?
- Is it good to have siblings?
- Are apology videos effective?
- Is social media making us less social?
- Do people need friends to be happy?
- Should parents be friends with their kids on social media?
- Should mobile phones and tablets be allowed at family mealtimes?
- Is it better to resolve conflicts through compromise or standing your ground?
- Should schools teach conflict resolution?
- Is it possible to maintain friendships with people who have very different values?
- Are long-distance relationships sustainable?
- Is it better to have a few close friends than lots of casual friends?
- Should children be taught about consent from an early age?
- Is it better to be honest or kind when giving feedback?
- Should schools have peer mediation programs?
- Is it okay to end friendships over politics?
- Is ghosting ever acceptable?
- What is the best way to break up with somebody?
- Are group projects valuable for learning teamwork?
- Should schools teach communication skills explicitly?
These debate topics on responsible decision-making align with critical curriculum standards by challenging students to evaluate consequences, consider ethical implications, and weigh multiple perspectives in literature, education, and policy.
- Should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions?
- In Trash, was Jose Angelico justified in stealing from Senator Zapanta?
- Is Goldilocks a villain?
- Should the government limit the amount of time kids can spend playing video games?
- Is it immoral for people to own pets?
- Is working from home a good thing?
- Should schools use detention as a punishment?
- Should schools be able to ban books?
- Should bullies be expelled?
- Should all children have to do volunteer work?
- Should there be sensitivity training in schools?
- Should there be trigger warnings in schools?
- Should there be single-gender schools?
- In “Puss in Boots,” is Puss a good guy?
- Should all classes be grouped by ability rather than age?
- Should high schools introduce an hour of free time?
- Should schools be open to students during holidays and breaks?
- Who is better: Goldilocks or Little Red Riding Hood?
- Should students be held back to repeat a grade in school?
- Should students be required to take sex education classes in school?
- Should rugby be banned in schools?
- Should school sports day be banned?
- Would compulsory drug testing in schools be harmful?
- Should drugs be legalized like alcohol?
- What is the most important quality a country’s leader should have?
- Should we have “mental health days?”
These 100+ social-emotional learning debate topics offer multiple entry points for developing each of CASEL’s five core competencies. Social-emotional learning doesn’t have to be another standalone program competing for precious instructional time.
Kialo discussions (which are completely free and always will be) offer a seamless way to integrate SEL skill development into your existing curriculum, engaging students in structured discussions that develop vital social skills while reinforcing academic content.
Use these topics as quick bell-ringers to start class, extended projects for deeper exploration, or even as digital assignments for distance learning. The visual mapping of arguments on Kialo helps students organize their thinking while seeing multiple perspectives — a crucial, 21st century skill in today’s complex world.
Ready to transform your classroom discussions while meeting essential SEL competencies and related standards? Start exploring our Topic Library for ready-to-go activities to help your students develop vital social-emotional competencies while engaging in critical thinking that prepares them for success beyond the classroom.
