Teacher notes · Discussion & Debate
Can 14-year-olds work part-time? A discussion lesson your middle schoolers will have opinions about
- Timing: If the debate runs long, cut the warm-up to three minutes or skip the final question.
- Differentiation: Stronger students can argue the side they disagree with for an extra challenge.
- Class size: For 24+ students, do the debate in groups of six instead of whole-class. Each group reports one consensus point afterward.
- Extensions: Ask them to write a one-paragraph opinion for homework, using at least two points from the handout.
- Sensitivity: One or two students may already be working illegally or under pressure to. Do not ask them to share personal details in front of the class.