Space Exploration Scientific Debate Set | Astro Science Middle / High School

Studying space exploration is a powerful way to hook middle and high school students into science, because it connects astronomy, physics, engineering, technology, and real world decision making about how and why we explore beyond Earth. A structured debate resource on space exploration helps students think deeply about topics such as human missions to Mars, funding priorities, satellite use, planetary protection, and the search for life, while staying grounded in clear scientific facts.

With general debate guidelines and a suggested schedule, focused subject specific debate questions, one page primers to support different readiness levels, a key vocabulary sheet, short evidence cards with sources, debate roles explained, sentence starters, graphic organizer templates, and a reflection sheet for after the debate, this classroom debate pack turns complex space topics into an organized, engaging learning sequence. It builds critical thinking, science literacy, and communication skills in a way that fits smoothly into any middle school or high school unit on space exploration and helps teachers deliver rich, discussion based STEM learning with minimal prep time.

This space exploration debate set provides the perfect supportive and fully comprehensive resource set that can help your students learn all about space exploration through the method of debate. If you have never run a debate for your students before, there is MORE than enough material to help you learn how to do so. You will be able to guide your students through debate on space exploration and provide as much or as little material as they might need, this resource delivers everything you could possibly need for a clear and effective debate to enhance student learning.

THIS SPACE EXPLORATION DEBATE SET CAN BE USED IN SO MANY WAYS:

• To extend students
• To increase scientific literacy and scientific argumentation (science related speechcraft + logical reasoning) in your class
• A entry point to a unit on this topic
• Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
• An exit point to a unit on this topic - for effective review
• Use a sub-topic to focus on a specific part of the unit you are covering

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SPACE EXPLORATION DEBATE SET:

• 1 Set of 15 page Google Slides, Powerpoint & PDF format of materials which contains:
  • General debate guidelines + suggested schedule
  • 15 proposed subject specific debate questions (on Costs & Priorities, Importance & Benefits, Sustainability & Environment, Expanding into space / Settlements, Who should be in charge?)
  • 4 one page primers (neutral in tone) on Sustainability & environmental impact, Human Expansion into Space, Why Space Exploration Matters, Cost of Space Exploration & National Priorities.
  • 1 page general neutral tone primer on this broader topic
  • Key vocabulary with student friendly definitions
  • A set of 12 short evidence cards for potential student use (1 fact + source)
  • Explanation of debate roles
  • Sentence starters for effective debate language
  • 3 graphic organizers (T-chart (for vs. against), Stakeholders (benefits / risks) & Claim-Evidence-Reasoning template
  • 1 page reflection sheet for after the debate

• The 3 graphic organizers in Google Doc & Microsoft Word format with fillable text books for digital use (T-chart (for vs. against), Stakeholders (benefits / risks) & Claim-Evidence-Reasoning template. These Doc versions are images with editable text boxes overlayed on top and this is the most effective way to keep things sleek and well-designed.
• 12 slide evidence cards for printing in Google Slides, Powerpoint, PDF format
• A 24 point rubric for assessment and to support marking and feedback on this activity