A balloon debate is a debate in which a number of speakers attempt to win the approval of an audience. The audience is invited to imagine that the speakers are flying in a hot-air balloon which is sinking. Everyone, bar one individual, must be thrown out in order to have one survivor.
Year 6 recently participated in their own balloon debate. The class were split into 4 groups. Competing with the other members in their group they had to speak on behalf of a famous person, author, fictional character and so on (dead or alive) in order to present their case and to convince the audience of their worth.
The students delivered their speeches in parliamentary style. They spoke slowly, loudly and clearly in order to get their points across to the audience. They even extended their presentation skills by using appropriate gestures, emphasizing certain areas, making eye-contact with the audience and so on. Likewise, the spectating audience attended to the speeches of their peers with increased concentration and attention.
The class performed superbly and were obviously keen to vote for the strongest speeches presented in order to declare a winner! Who were the characters in the hot air balloon? And who was the only survivor? You’ll have to ask one of our superb debating Year 6s!