Our Y6 boys discovered the fun and challenge of verbal boxing and verbal wrestling in a day of brilliant debating masterclasses with our Patron of Reading, Steve Skidmore (author of 261 books and counting!), on Tuesday 6 June.
Starting with verbal boxing – quickfire one-minute matches in which competing pairs use language and listening skills (no actual boxing takes place!) – the boys sparred backwards and forwards, with those listening deciding the winner. The fun matches truly played to the boys’ naturally competitive natures while giving them great insight into how to use the power of words to convince or disrupt.
The boys then stepped up the competition with verbal wrestling, where, working in two teams, they had the opportunity to use timeouts to discuss arguments and strategy and tag in new speakers. However, if they faltered in rebuttals or arguments . . . 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – you’re out! It was wonderful to see the boys working together, revising their strategies, and learning the role status can play in a debate and how to use that to their advantage.
The boys finished the masterclasses, the very last with Steve, who steps down as our Patron of Reading after seven brilliant, illuminating and highly-entertaining years, by looking at persuasion at its finest: Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Armed with their enhanced debating skills, the boys look forward to balloon debates later this half term.
