Debate topics for middle school students

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Use curriculum-linked debate topics for middle school students in classroom discussions to foster respectful communication, support cognitive and social growth, and build critical thinking through engagement with diverse viewpoints.

Civics debate topics for middle school students

Exploring civics debate topics fosters students’ communication and critical thinking skills essential for civic literacy.

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Geography debate topics for middle school students

Weave geography debate topics into geography class, or even humanities lessons, to further middle school students’ engagement with the world around them.


History debate topics for middle school students

History debate topics bring the history curriculum to life for students through evaluating multiple perspectives, evaluating evidence, and constructing historically valid arguments.


Literature debate topics for middle school students

Literature debate topics for middle schoolers, drawn from popular middle school curriculum texts, can help students connect more deeply to the literature by exploring themes and characters through social, historical, or cultural contexts.

  • Did Katniss make the right choice by volunteering for her sister in The Hunger Games?
  • Does Call of the Wild portray a negative depiction of the relationship between humans and animals?
  • Does the internet have a positive impact on Lydia, Travis, and Dill in The Serpent King?
  • In Abomination by Robert Swindells, is Martha right to stand up for her beliefs?
  • In Among the Hidden, is Luke right to join the hidden community?
  • In Front Desk by Kelly Yang, are Mia’s parents right to hide immigrants?
  • In I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This, should Marie tell someone Lena’s secret?
  • In Inside Out and Back Again, what is Hà’s biggest challenge in adapting to life in America?
  • In The Hobbit, should Bilbo Baggins have joined the dwarves on their adventure?
  • In The Prison Healer, should Kiva risk her own life to protect others?
  • In Trash, were Raphael, Gardo, and Rat right to tell lies?
  • In We Are Wolves, should Luka and Emilia prioritize their own survival over helping others?
  • Is Manny right to want to be a “vato firme” in Parrot in the Oven?
  • Is Ron a true friend to Harry in the Harry Potter series?
  • Is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn too racist to be taught in schools?
  • Is the Giver in The Giver a hero or a villain?
  • Should Anne Frank have revealed her hiding place in The Diary of a Young Girl?
  • Should Ebenezer Scrooge be forgiven at the end of A Christmas Carol?
  • Should schools allow students to choose more of their own reading material for literature classes?
  • Was Beowulf a hero?
  • What is the greatest challenge that Leif has to overcome in Northwind?
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Philosophy debate topics for middle school students

While philosophy might not be on your middle school curriculum, try these thought-provoking philosophy debate topics as engaging lesson starters to activate students’ minds as its rich questions can ignite students’ critical thinking across many other subjects.


Religious studies debate topics for middle school students

Exploring religious debate topics in middle school encourages discussion of diverse beliefs, texts, and practices, helping students develop empathy and respect for other religions while supporting key curriculum objectives in religious studies and humanities.


School and education debate topics for middle school students

Debating school and education topics gives students a voice on the issues that directly impact them. This can empower students to shape their own learning experience, supporting increased classroom motivation and engagement

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Science and technology debate topics for middle school students

Students can explore the societal impacts and moral implications of scientific advancements and develop essential digital citizenship skills by examining responsible technology use with these science and technology debate topics.


Social-emotional learning debate topics for middle school students

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is being increasingly integrated into school curricula. Debating SEL topics can help heighten students’ self-awareness and cultivate empathy — essential life skills that also foster a safe, supportive learning environment for meaningful discussions.

Sports debate topics for middle school students

Sports debate topics are a great way to enhance physical education classes. From the ethics of youth sports participation to the societal impacts of professional athletics, the world of sport offers complex, compelling issues for students to explore.

Middle school is a pivotal time for students as they grapple with new ideas and forge their identities. Through these engaging debate topics, you can equip your middle school students with the skills they’ll need to navigate the increasingly complex discussions and debates they’ll encounter in the future — while meeting a plethora of curriculum standards.

With that in mind, why not try out a Kialo debate topic (complete with a thesis and starter claims) and start having engaging class discussions with your middle school students?

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