Today we debated whether so much money should be spent on spaceflight, space science and discovery when so many people on earth need help with basic resources like food, shelter and clean water and a safe place to live.
First we decided where we would place ourselves on a line depending on which viewpoint we agreed most with. Then we went into teams and discussed all the points we could make and points the other team might make so that we could respond to them.
Then we sat in two long lines facing each other and everyone had a chance to say their idea or thought. Some peope volunteered to respond to points the other team made.
Finally we placed ourselves on the line again and changed where we stood depending on whether the other team had been able to persuade us towards their point of view.
Now we have learned how to have a debate we can concentrate more on making or points clear and persuasive next time. We learned how important it is to use the time we have as a team really well so that we can discuss and share out the arguments.
Why would you send millions of pounds worth of metal and controls into space and only use it once . As you could be saving thousands of people in the world from suffering. Scott
ReplyDeleteYou have told us the point you made clearly - did the other team make you change your opinion even slightly?
DeleteHi class 5 I think that the debate was a blast because you got to hear everyone's opinion, about the ISS or the people on earth that don't have enough food and drink. I voted for the people on earth because who would want to spend lots of money on the space station than all the unwell people on earth.
ReplyDeleteI think that the class debate was good because everyone gave their own opinion and we all got a chance to speak. Brogan
ReplyDeleteEveryone made a different point too, well done to both teams. You were very clear and fluent in making your point Brogan. Good work.
DeleteHi class 5
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed doing the debate because i got to share my thoughts with others and also work with my team.
One of the points i made was when the astronauts launch into space, the hot gases that thrust out from the rocket ship can damage the earths atmosphere.
I've enjoyed this debate and i wander what we will debate on next time.
Caitlin
You made a good point Caitlin - well done! What would you like to debate next time?
DeleteI enjoyed the debate we had last week. It gave everyone a chance to voice their opinion on whether so much money should be spent on space projects.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good idea to divide us into two groups, as not everyone had the same opinions.
I was on the side which debated that money would be better used helping poor people who needed basic things like water, food and shelter.
One of the points I made was why should we spend vast amounts of money on space research and on rockets/shuttles etc. which are only used once and by very few people, when a lot of the worlds population is starving.
Although space research is important I feel we should look after the planet we live on and the people who live there. After all their is evidence to say we couldn't survive on any other planet as earth is the only one to have water.
At the end of the debate I had not changed my opinion, although the opposing side made a strong case for spending money on space research.
Erin R
Wow! What a sophisticated comment Erin. You have explained your thought process very clearly. Well done!
DeleteWe did a debate, I was on the space side. The debate went ok, our side could of don better everyone needed a point. the other group did ok my point was if we went to space we might find a planet that we could live on. Jake
ReplyDeleteYou made your points very clearly in the debate - good work!
DeleteThe debate was really fun and I enjoyed sharing my opinion with other people. Before we started the debate we got split into groups half of the class was arguing that more money should be spent on space flight and the other half of the class thought that it should be spent on people in need. I was arguing that more money should be spent on people that needed our help my thought that I said was that why should people be on earth if there going to suffer. I think the other group convinced me a tiny bit on there side but I still stuck with my guts and stayed on the more money should be spent on people in need. Both teams did so well. I really hope we can do this again sometime.
ReplyDeleteErin.K
Well described Erin - its great that the othr team made you think about your original opinion. We will do this again - any suggestions for topics we could debate?
DeleteThe debate was very fun and both teams did excellent. My point was we could not chop down so many trees if they didn't spend a vast amount of money on rockets.After the debate Ms Mackay told us to stand on the line where we thought needed more money. Erlend b
ReplyDeleteYou are right that building rockets and everything needed for space flight could be measured by how much the environment is harmed. I wonder if you changed where you stood on the line at the end after hearing the other team's points?
DeleteHi class 5 I think the debate was good because every one got to say their own opinion and hear everybody elses opinion. i decided we should not spend the money on space flight and instead we should spend it on the people who dont have enough food or homes.The people on the other side did not change my mind to spend money on space flights but they had good points.
ReplyDeleteCierra
Yes its good to listen and think about your own point of view at the same time. Sometimes it does stengthen what you thought at first. You have listened and considered other opinions - well done.
DeleteWe had a good debate at school, I was on the side that wanted money being spent on Space, But i think after the debate i think money would be better of going to poor people in the world. Cameron
ReplyDeleteInteresting! You changed your mind, I wonder what point really convinced you. Its important to listen and consider different points of view - well done.
DeleteI enjoyed listening to everyones opinions in the debate it was interesting hearing other peoples thoughts. I didn't change my mind and still feel that money is better being used to help people on earth who suffer or are less fortunate. I will look forward to our next debate on something different.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
You explained your ideas very clearly - well done.
DeleteI'm looking forward to the next debate too. Do you have any ideas for topics we could debate?
It helped us to understand what a debate is like it was fun and exciting I hope we do another one soon.
ReplyDeleteAngus.
You are right Angus, we need to practice holding the point we want to make in our mind, anticipate what the other team will say, listen to the others and respond to these - its complicated!
Deletehello everyone I was on the space part of the debate. I chose that side because I thought space is more interesting than down on earth. we can learn different things about earth by looking at it from space and learn more about our planet. Knowing more about our planet's atmosphere might help to stop floods and storms which could stop people dying. Pippa
ReplyDeleteVery good points Pippa - I think there is some science going on up there at the moment based on earth observtions which is telling us a lot about climate change. Well done.
DeleteWhy are people spending billions of pounds on sending a rocket up into space when it is only being used once or sometimes it isn't even used because something goes wrong? in the time it takes to launch a rocket probably about one hundred children die so instead of sending rockets up into space we could gave every child food,clean water and education before we go back up. Daisy
ReplyDeleteYou have made your point strongly and clearly Daisy - its a persuasive argument... well done.
DeleteBefore we did our debate we practiced thinking about what there going to say. We thought of very good points. Like every day a child is dying because of disaster relief. Sofia
ReplyDeleteshould more money be spent on space flight?.When it could be spent on dissaster rellife I want more money spent on dissater rellife. What happens if they dont find anything in space and thats all the money wasted on nothing.William
ReplyDeleteI liked doing the doing the debate both of the teams had some very good points. My team got some of there team up to are side of the ladder. what team would you go in disaster relif or space flights. Tyler
ReplyDeleteI think more money should be spent on space flight cause if we give it to disaster relief because we are destroying forests and more so we are putting some animals in danger. We have killed so much snow leopards for medicine. If we put it to space flight we give other kids and adults something to learn about. What do you think we should do. Kaylen
ReplyDeleteIt was lots of fun doing the debate. It was space flight vs children in need. My side was space flight I did lots of persuasive questions. What side would you go on? Aiden
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed doing the debate about children in need or space flight .I was in space flight but i wonted to be in childeren in need. It was fun.William
ReplyDelete