Debating a topic is a terrific way to practice public speaking, critical thinking, and other important skills. It can feel a little overwhelming at first, though. Silly controversial topics make it easier for kids of any age to connect, engage, and learn. We’ve rounded up the best funny debate topics for elementary school, middle school, and high school. Plus, we’ve got tips for using these fun debate ideas in your own classroom.
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Silly and Funny Debate Topics for Elementary School
Start out simple with concrete, clear-cut topics that kids can relate to. At this age, your main goal with fun debates is to teach students to listen with respect and state their own opinions clearly.
Funny Elementary School Debate Topics About Food
- Is a hot dog a sandwich?
- What is the best pizza topping?
- Which is better, ice cream or cake?
- What’s the better ice cream flavor, chocolate or vanilla?
- Does ketchup belong on a hot dog?
- Which is better, peanut butter or Nutella?
- Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?
- Is a corner brownie better than a middle brownie?
- Are chocolate chip cookies the best kind of cookies?
- Which is better, hot chocolate or a chocolate milkshake?
- Which is better on hot chocolate, marshmallows or whipped cream?
- Are chicken wings better than mini drumsticks?
Pop Culture Silly Debate Topics for Kids
- Agree or disagree: It would be more fun to hang out with Oscar the Grouch than with Big Bird.
- Are animated Disney classics better than the live-action versions?
- Would you rather be best friends with Bluey or Daniel Tiger?
- What’s more fun to collect, Labubu or Pokémon?
- Is it more fun to build LEGO sets following the directions or just making your own creations?
- Would you rather be Super Mario or Luigi?
- Who is the best Disney princess?
- Would you rather be in the Magic Tree House or ride the Magic School Bus?
More Funny Issues To Debate in Elementary Classrooms
- Who would be better at running the world, cats or dogs?
- Which is better, summer or winter?
- Should teachers give candy as rewards in the classroom?
- Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
- Should everyone make their bed every day?
- If you had a time machine, would you travel forward in time or backward?
- Which is the better pet, dogs or cats?
- Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
- Should we let people go barefoot anywhere they want?
- Would you rather be able to fly or turn invisible?
Fun and Funny Middle School Debate Questions
Funny Issues To Debate in Middle School About Food
- Is a taco a sandwich?
- Agree or disagree: There’s no point in eating fries without ketchup.
- What’s the best fast-food restaurant?
- Does pineapple belong on a pizza?
- Which goes into the bowl first, the cereal or the milk?
- Do sandwiches taste better with the crusts cut off?
- Is it better to eat leftover pizza cold or to reheat it first?
- Does fruit count as dessert?
- Which is better, Coca-Cola or Pepsi?
- Yes or no: Round pizzas are better than rectangular pizzas.
- Is it better to eat an Oreo whole or twist it apart and eat the cream first?
- Should you always taste food first before adding salt or pepper?
- In a cheeseburger, should the cheese go on top of the patty or underneath?
Funny Debatable Pop Culture Questions for Middle School
- Was Darth Vader a hero or a villain?
- Which is better, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?
- Is The Mandalorian better than the original Star Wars trilogy?
- Agree or disagree: Minecraft isn’t as fun as it used to be.
- Is Taylor Swift overrated as a musician?
- Who’s the better “chosen one,” Harry Potter or Percy Jackson?
- Is K-Pop Demon Hunters only for K-pop fans or can anyone enjoy it?
More Silly Controversial Debate Questions for Middle School
- Should all families have a pet?
- Which is better, football or soccer?
- Clowns: scary or funny?
- Should people have to work/go to school on their birthdays?
- Is Monday the worst day of the week?
- Should you wear socks with sandals?
- Is the number 13 really unlucky?
- If animals could talk, which one would be the rudest?
- Should toilet paper hang with the loose end over or under?
- If you had to choose one, would you rather live under the sea or in space?
Controversial but Funny High School Debate Topics
Funny Pop Culture Issues To Debate in High School
- Which is more dangerous, werewolves or vampires?
- Was Robin Hood a hero or a criminal?
- Should superheroes have to pay for all the damage they cause?
- Is “Breaking Bad” a better crime drama than “The Sopranos”?
- Was the “Game of Thrones” ending satisfying?
- Agree or disagree: The TV show “Friends” is now too outdated and problematic to be funny.
- Is it better to pay a bigger, all-inclusive price for a video game up front, or have a free version with in-game purchases?
- What’s the best video game system?
- Should difficult games like Elden Ring should have an “easy mode” to help new gamers?
- Do the Grand Theft Auto games rely on shock value over quality?
- Which was more heartbreaking, “The Fault in Our Stars” or “They Both Die in the End”?
- What’s the best romantic couple in a book or movie?
- Who gives better performances, solo performers or bands?
- Are modern episodes of “The Simpsons” as funny as the older seasons?
- Which is better, K-pop or rap?
- Would you rather be the superhero or the sidekick?
- Is it harder to survive “The Hunger Games” or “Squid Game”?
- Posting food pics before eating: acceptable or annoying?
- Would you rather have a lightsaber or Thor’s hammer?
- Is Darth Vader the worst father of all time?
Challenging but Silly Controversial Topics To Debate in High School
- Is water wet?
- Agree or disagree: Humans should eat to live, not live to eat.
- Is there intelligent life on other planets?
- Should Santa Claus’ elves be paid minimum wage?
- Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
- Should Pluto still be considered a planet?
- Is it better to be a morning person or a night person?
- Would the world be better if women were always in charge?
- Is it better to be TikTok famous or Instagram famous?
- Do aliens live among us here on Earth?
- Is bottled water better than tap water?
- Agree or disagree: All’s fair in love and war.
- Is using curse words really a big deal?
- Are skirts more comfortable than pants?
- Should GIF be pronounced with a hard G or a soft G?
- Do the morals of fairy tales still apply to the modern world?
- Which is more fun, going out or staying home?
- Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?
- Should a person sitting in the middle row of an airplane automatically get both armrests?
- Would you want to be famous?
- Would you rather be rich with no friends or poor with many friends?
How To Use Funny Debate Topics in the Classroom
Funny questions are a lighthearted way to teach meaningful discussion skills. No matter what grade level you teach, use these tips to make the most of fun and funny debate topics and questions with your students.
1. Choose the “right” kind of funny for your students
Funny debate topics work best when they’re relatable and relevant. If your students don’t get the joke, they won’t be as engaged in the activity. Plus, not all silly debate topics work at every age. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty of funny debate questions on our list—consider these tips when choosing one.
- Elementary students: Stick with silly but concrete topics that are easy for kids to visualize and argue, like “Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet dinosaur.” Age-appropriate pop culture questions can be fun too.
- Middle school: Pop culture questions will be a hit with this age group; tailor them to whatever’s currently popular at your school.
- High school: Even funny debate topics can go a little deeper, like “Is Darth Vader the worst father of all time?” Or you can choose seemingly silly debate questions that really make them think, such as “Is water wet?”
2. Start with simple arguments, then add more structure as kids get older
Don’t weigh down younger kids with complicated terms like “rebuttal” or “rhetoric.” Start slow in the lower grades, and build on skills as they get more practice.
- Elementary school: Keep discussions light and informal, giving everyone a chance to share their point of view clearly.
- Middle school: Build a little more structure into debates, with opening and closing statements and rebuttals.
- High school: Teach students to use rhetorical language and evidence to defend their side.
3. Teach age-appropriate debate rules and etiquette
One of the most important lessons students learn while debating is how to listen calmly to other points of view and disagree with respect. Emphasize these ideas at each age:
- Elementary school: Teach respectful phrases like “I hear what you’re saying, but I think …” or “I understand your point, but what if you think about it this way?” Ensure students don’t interrupt others when they’re sharing their opinions.
- Middle school: Help students understand that they’re debating ideas, not people. Folks can strongly disagree about a topic but still be friendly as they discuss it.
- High school: Apply debate rules like time limits, and remind students that even funny topics can help them learn to argue effectively and respectfully.
4. Take time to reflect after a debate
In formal debates, one side is usually declared “the winner.” In the classroom, it’s more useful to focus on the most effective arguments made by both sides and how they helped sway the opinions of listeners.
- Elementary school: Keep a list of strong arguments on the whiteboard as kids “debate.” At the end, take a class vote to see which side they choose, and ask kids if the discussion changed their personal opinion.
- Middle school: Have students write down their own opinion before a debate. During the debate, encourage them to make notes about the arguments. Then, finish up with a reflection paragraph stating their opinion after the debate—if it changed, what argument swayed them?
- High school: Assign some students to be “judges,” keeping track of the various arguments and rebuttals and deciding who was most convincing in the end.
Funny Debate Topics FAQs
What are some funny debate topics for students?
For elementary students, try funny, easily relatable questions like “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” or “Would you rather be too hot or too cold?” Middle school students will love silly debate questions about their favorite pop culture, like “Is Taylor Swift overrated as a musician?” or “Does fruit count as dessert?” High schoolers will get a kick out of funny issues to debate like “Do aliens live among us here on Earth?” or “Should superheroes have to pay for all the damage they cause?”
How do you choose a funny debate topic for your class?
Silly controversial topics keep the tone lighthearted while still giving students a chance to work on arguing effectively and listening respectfully. Choose a funny issue to debate that your students will recognize and have strong personal opinions about, especially for younger students. Pop culture and food debates like “Should you put ketchup on a hot dog?” are especially popular at any age, while older kids will enjoy fun rhetorical questions like “Would you want to be famous?”
What are the best funny debate topics for middle school?
Middle school students love to debate just about anything, but pop culture and food topics can be especially strong choices for this age group. Try questions like “Is K-Pop Demon Hunters only for K-pop fans or can anyone enjoy it?” or “Is it better to eat an Oreo whole or twist it apart and eat the cream first?”
How can teachers make classroom debates fun and engaging?
Choosing a silly controversial topic like “Is a taco a sandwich?” is a great way to get everyone involved in a classroom debate in a low-stakes, low-key way. Students will have fun coming up with creative arguments about topics, knowing that it’s unlikely that anyone will be offended by opposing opinions. Let students choose the funny topic they’d like to debate, whether it’s from this list or a debatable question of their own—this encourages a sense of ownership and control.
What are easy funny debate topics for beginners?
Keep it simple with silly controversial topics like “Should you wear socks with sandals?,” “Are clowns scary or funny?,” or “Would you rather be able to fly or turn invisible?” Food debate questions are also popular: try “Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?” or “Does pineapple belong on pizza?” Just remember to choose a relatable topic that allows students to take sides while they practice arguing effectively and listening respectfully.
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