Giving students the tools and space to practice civil discourse is key to creating a respectful classroom environment. Retro Report offers three lesson and activity combos that you can choose from or combine to create your own unique workshop. These resources connect to our skills-based video, “How to (Respectfully) Disagree,” which features high schoolers modeling a respectful discussion.
🔎 Step 1: Analyze Civil Discourse
Screen “How to (Respectfully) Disagree” and have students complete the “Discussion Analysis” handout. This activity will help them analyze arguments in the video, consider their own stance on the issue, and reflect on what makes a discussion productive. Alternatively, you can use Part 1 of the “What Does Civil Discourse Look Like?” activity or Parts 2 and 3 of the “Respectful Disagreement” activity.
🗣️ Step 2: Model Civil Discourse
Divide the class into groups and choose a few topics with differing points of views. Conduct the fishbowl activity described in the lesson plan “What Does Civil Discourse Look Like?” Students will practice civil discourse and observe their peers’ stances, word choice, body language, and tone.
📝 Step 3: Create Civil Discourse Rules
Based on students’ reflections and observations from the fishbowl activity, facilitate the creation of classroom norms for civil discourse. Use the second half of the “Respectful Disagreement” activity to kickstart a brainstorming session.
Want to help your students develop civics skills this year? We have a collection of resources that will guide you every step of the way: Citizen Nation: Civics Skills Collection.
To access more free lesson plans and student activities, create an account on Retro Report’s website today.
Isadora Varejão is an engagement producer.
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