This is one of my favourite talk structures, and one that I always come back to.
Present an idea, and ask students if they think it is a Good idea or a Bad idea.
The key is to make sure that there isn’t one single correct answer. This is at the heart of this simple way of promoting thinking and talk. It means that many more students will be willing to speak up, because, as long as they can provide a reason, everyone’s thinking is valid.
Good Idea / Bad Idea enables pupils to become better at reasoning, especially explaining, convincing and justifying. Providing questions like this, no matter how light-hearted they are (see below), means that your pupils will want to say because and justify their opinions.
This easy-to-replicate talk structure promotes both critical and creative thinking, and allows students to see others’ perspectives.
Tourist trips to space?
A conversation might go something like this:
Tourist trips to space – good idea / bad idea?
Emily: I think tourist trips to space are a bad idea because we should leave some of the natural world alone. We’ve already damaged so many places through tourism – we wouldn’t want that to happen to space.
Joy: I disagree. I believe it’s a good idea because actually, seeing the whole world from space might inspire people to look after it better.
Jake: I would like to build on Emily’s point. Going to space could also harm the natural world because it uses a lot of resources, like fuel.
Here are a few more Good Idea / Bad Idea suggestions:
Talking sheep – good idea / bad idea?
Pet giraffes – good idea / bad idea?
Suddenly singing a song just because you feel like it – good idea / bad idea?
Extreme sports – good idea / bad idea?
Taking photos in risky situations – good idea / bad idea?
Plant-based diet – good idea / bad idea?
Wearing facemasks in crowded places – good idea / bad idea?
I publish thinking questions, including some good idea / bad idea questions, every weekday at www.topsypage.com/questions.
