Make Their Argument Better Than They Did
TARGET:
9-11 years
INTENSITY:
25 min / 2x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Ability to Communicate Harmoniously with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Respecting Different Ideas and Accepting Disagreement
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Critical Thinking
MATERIALS
Steel-man practice cards
Argument quality rating scale
DETAILED PROCEDURE
Gather the whole group together in a circle for this activity. Explain calmly to the children: "Anyone can knock down a weak version of someone's argument. The real skill - and the most respectful form of disagreement - is engaging with the strongest possible version of their view."
Step 1
Contrast: straw man (weakening the argument to knock it down) vs. steel man (strengthening it before engaging).
Step 2
Practice: take an opposing view and build the strongest possible argument for it before responding.
Step 3
Say gently to the children: "If the person you disagree with would say 'Yes, that's actually what I think' - you've done it right."
Step 4
Apply to a real class discussion where opinions differ.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child constructs a steel-man argument the opponent endorses as accurate.
The child distinguishes steel-man from straw-man.
The child uses steel-manning in a real class discussion.