Skip to the wheel
AllSpinWheels

Debate Topic Picker

Spin for a random debate topic and start the discussion: friendly questions for school, everyday life and fun.

Pick a list

Your choices12

Choices on the wheel
  • Should homework be optional?
  • Are books better than movies?
  • Should school start later?
  • Is a hot dog a sandwich?
  • Should school uniforms be required?
  • Is it better to work alone or in a group?
  • Should pets be allowed in classrooms?
  • Is technology making learning better?
  • Should students have longer lunch breaks?
  • Should every student learn a second language?
  • Should schools have more outdoor lessons?
  • Should students be allowed to use phones during breaks?

Should homework be optional?Are books better than movies?Should school start later?Is a hot dog a sandwich?Should school uniforms be required?Is it better to work alone or in a group?Should pets be allowed in classrooms?Is technology making learning better?Should students have longer lunch breaks?Should every student learn a second language?Should schools have more outdoor lessons?Should students be allowed to use phones during breaks?

You might also like

All wheels

How to use the Debate Topic Picker

The Debate Topic Picker gives your class something to argue about. Here's how to choose topics and run a quick debate.

Quick start

  1. Start with Mixed, or choose School, Everyday or Funny topics.
  2. Spin. The wheel lands on one question to debate.
  3. Split the class into for and against, or discuss it as a group.
  4. Press Remove & spin again for the next topic.
Back to contents

Pick the kind of topic

Choose Mixed, School, Funny or Everyday. Funny topics, like whether socks with sandals are acceptable, are great for practising argument without the pressure.

The Mixed, School, Funny and Everyday buttons
The wheel with the Funny topics
Funny topics.
Back to contents

Run a two-minute debate

  1. Spin for the topic.
  2. Split the class: one side for, one side against.
  3. Give each side one minute to prepare.
  4. Thirty seconds per speaker, then the class votes.
Back to contents

The topic

The card shows the debate topic in large type. Remove & spin again gives each group its own topic.

The result card: Debate topic, Are socks with sandals acceptable?
Back to contents

Great for

  • Persuasive writing warm-ups
  • Speaking and listening practice
  • Debate club rounds
  • Morning meeting discussions
  • English and ESL conversation classes
  • Quick end-of-lesson debates
Back to contents

Customize everything else

This page uses the same wheel as the homepage, so all the usual options work here too. The full wheel guide explains each one with pictures:

Back to contents

FAQ

Are the debate topics suitable for kids?

Yes. They're everyday, school and light-hearted questions without political, religious or personal subjects.

Can I add topics from our lesson?

Yes. Type or paste your own topics into the list.

How do I avoid repeating a topic?

Press Remove & spin again and the topic comes off the wheel.

Can I use it for persuasive writing?

Yes. Spin a topic and have students write for or against it.