Top 12 Fun Online Speech & Debate Games for Middle Schoolers

Looking to make speech and debate fun for middle schoolers on Zoom? Whether you're teaching virtually or running a club session, these activities are guaranteed to boost engagement, laughter, and critical thinking.

These games are based on what we've seen work best at the Future Speakers Initiative (FSI); tested, refined, and replayed across our online bootcamps and workshops. Each activity is intentionally designed to be interactive, creative, and skill-building in a virtual setting.

Core Public Speaking Skills These Games Build:

1. Confidence

2. Persuasion

3. Improvisation

4. Audience Engagement

5. Vocal Variety

6. Clarity & Structure

7. Creativity

8. Point of View Awareness

9. Body Language & Expression

10. Listening & Response

    
    

Let’s dive into the best of the best:

1. Shark Tank (a.k.a. "Sell Me This")

Description: Students are assigned a random, everyday object (banana, sock, spoon, paperclip) and must pretend they are entrepreneurs pitching it on "Shark Tank." They are given 2 minutes to prepare a compelling 1-minute sales pitch. After their pitch, classmates (acting as investors) ask follow-up questions before deciding if they'd "invest."

How to Run It: Use a random object generator or have a list of quirky items. Set a visible timer for prep and speaking. Encourage classmates to ask playful but relevant questions.

Skills practiced: Persuasion, Creativity, Confidence, Listening & Response

2. Hot Air Balloon

Description: Each student receives a humorous or oddly specific profession (e.g., white-hat hacker, organic farmer with 12 chickens). The balloon is sinking, and only a few can stay on board. Each student gets 1 minute to prep and delivers a 45-second persuasive speech about why they deserve to stay.

How to Run It: Assign roles randomly or let students choose. Give the scenario context and encourage dramatic or funny arguments.

Skills practiced: Point of View Awareness, Persuasion, Improvisation, Confidence

3. Spaceship Debate

Description: Present students with bios for 7–8 fictional characters with varied strengths and weaknesses. The class must choose only one to board a spaceship departing Earth. Each student delivers a 30-second argument for their chosen candidate after a brief prep period.

How to Run It: Share the bios via Google Docs or screen share. Let students take 2 minutes to review and select. Go around the room with timed arguments.

Skills practiced: Clarity & Structure, Point of View Awareness, Persuasion, Confidence

4. Character Court

Description: Students are assigned a ridiculous character (pirate, ghost, evil scientist) and a made-up crime (stole all the cafeteria pizza). After 1–2 minutes to prep, they must deliver a 30-second defense speech staying fully in character.

How to Run It: Use a pre-made list of character + crime combos. Encourage accents, props, and camera effects for extra fun. Keep time strictly and allow applause or emoji reactions after each.

Skills practiced: Role-Playing, Vocal Variety, Audience Engagement, Creativity

5. Convince Me of Nonsense

Description: Students are placed in breakout rooms of 3–4 and must defend a clearly false or silly claim (e.g., "Birds aren’t real" or "Broccoli gives you superpowers") using exaggerated confidence, fake facts, and weak logic. Each group selects their favorite idea to present as a 1-minute satirical group speech.

How to Run It: Each group individually comes up with a different silly claim (or let them draw from a hat). Emphasize performance, sarcasm, and confident delivery. Bonus if classmates vote on the most convincing nonsense.

Skills practiced: Improvisation, Persuasion, Creativity, Vocal Variety

6. Advocacy Speech

Description: Each student chooses a real-world issue they care about (e.g., bullying, climate change, lunchroom rules) and writes a short persuasive speech with a call to action. The format: hook, claim, evidence, reasoning, and solution.

How to Run It: Encourage students to brainstorm topics they care about. Give a planning template and 5–10 minutes to prep before 90-second speeches.

Skills practiced: Clarity & Structure, Persuasion, Confidence, Audience Engagement

7. Slide Deck Improv

Description: Students are shown a slide with absurd graphs, pictures, or random shapes. With 90 seconds to prepare, they must present it like a serious expert giving a keynote.

How to Run It: Use random slides you make in advance (or use tools like "PowerPoint Karaoke"). Keep it fun and quick. Let classmates vote on most creative explanations.

Skills practiced: Improvisation, Confidence, Audience Engagement, Creativity

8. Fishbowl Mini-Debate

Description: Two teams debate a topic. Only one team member may speak at a time, and teammates "tag in" by calling out or using a Zoom reaction. Other students observe, take notes, and then rotate in.

How to Run It: Use breakout rooms to prep, then run the debate in main room. Assign a simple topic (e.g., "Homework should be banned"). Enforce tag-in rules strictly.

Skills practiced: Listening & Response, Clarity & Structure, Confidence, Rebuttal Practice

9. Continuous Story Game

Description: In breakout rooms, one student starts a made-up story with a dramatic sentence. Each student continues the plot for ~15 seconds. The story ends when everyone has spoken or it reaches a hilarious conclusion.

How to Run It: Give an optional prompt ("Lost in space" or "Stuck in a video game"). Assign a speaker order and use a timer to keep it moving.

Skills practiced: Improvisation, Creativity, Vocal Variety, Listening & Response

10. Character Voice Monologues

Description: Students are given a random persona (pharaoh, barista, dramatic teen, livestreamer) and must deliver a 30-second speech in full character.

How to Run It: Use a character generator or list. Encourage voice, facial expressions, and posture. Give everyone 1 minute to prep and go!

Skills practiced: Role-Playing, Vocal Variety, Audience Engagement, Creativity

11. Hot Takes Speed Round

Description: Each student gets a random hot take ("Cereal is soup" or "Mondays are the best day of the week") and has 30 seconds to prepare a fiery 1-minute defense.

How to Run It: Use a list or random picker. Let classmates vote on the most persuasive or dramatic performance. Bonus if you crown a "Hot Take Champion."

Skills practiced: Persuasion, Confidence, Improvisation, Audience Engagement

12. Wrong Answers Only – Expert Panel

Description: Assign each student a topic they are a "so-called expert" in (space travel, dinosaurs, economics). They must give a 45-second explanation that is completely wrong but delivered seriously.

How to Run It: Let them draw topics randomly or assign them. The more confident the nonsense, the better. Class can vote on "Most Wrong Yet Convincing."

Skills practiced: Vocal Variety, Creativity, Confidence, Improvisation

These 12 activities aren’t only fun, but also effective. Every game is a low-pressure way to build public speaking skills through laughter, imagination, and collaboration. Whether you’re running a one-time workshop or a full bootcamp, these are your go-to tools to keep middle schoolers excited to speak up.

Let us know in the comments which games your students loved most. or what creative twists you’ve added!