42 Best Science Debate Topics for All ESL Levels

Getting ESL students excited about science can be fun and educational, especially with Science Debate Topics. This post gives you 42 debate ideas, from easy to advanced, that are perfect for conversations, questions, and class discussions. If you want your students to speak more and think deeper, these topics are for you!

We know that every student is different. That’s why we included debate topics for every CEFR level, from A1 to C2. You can easily match the topic to your students’ speaking ability. This makes it easier for you to build their skills step by step.

Each topic comes with helpful vocabulary, clear sentence frames, and engaging question prompts. These help students speak more confidently and use common expressions in natural ways. Even shy students will feel ready to join in!

You can also use these debate topics for creative role-plays, warm-up questions, or to teach useful idioms related to science and argument. Whether you’re teaching in a classroom or online, this resource will help you turn science into a powerful speaking lesson.

Why Science Debate Topics Matter in ESL Classes

Science Debate Topics help students learn English by talking about interesting ideas. When students talk about science, they also practice using new words, sentence patterns, and ways to express opinions.

Debating in English is a great way to improve speaking. It helps students explain their thoughts clearly and listen to others. This builds real-life communication skills that are useful in school, work, and everyday life.

Using debate topics in class also makes learning fun and active. Instead of just reading or writing, students talk and think. This keeps them interested and helps them remember what they learn.

Science is also a subject many students learn in their own language. When they talk about it in English, they connect their knowledge to new words. This makes learning more meaningful and powerful.

A1-Level ESL Science Debate Topics

At A1 level, students are just starting to talk about simple ideas. These debate topics use easy words and focus on choices students understand, like food, weather, and animals. The goal is to help students use basic science words and short sentences while having fun.

1. The sun is better than the moon.

Useful Vocabulary: sun, moon, light, sky, bright

Question Prompts:

• Do you like the sun or the moon more?
• When do you see the moon?

Sentence Frames:

• I like the sun because it is bright.
• I think the moon is better because it is cool.

2. Dogs are better pets than cats.

Useful Vocabulary: dog, cat, pet, friendly, animal

Question Prompts:

• Do you like cats or dogs more?
• Which animal is friendlier?

Sentence Frames:

• I think dogs are better because they are friendly.
• I like cats more because they are quiet.

3. Trees are more important than flowers.

Useful Vocabulary: tree, flower, plant, important, green

Question Prompts:

• What do trees give us?
• Do you like flowers or trees more?

Sentence Frames:

• I think trees are more important because they give us air.
• Flowers are better because they are pretty.

4. The sea is better than the mountains.

Useful Vocabulary: sea, mountain, water, high, swim

Question Prompts:

• Do you like swimming or climbing?
• Which is more fun: sea or mountain?

Sentence Frames:

• I like the sea because I can swim.
• I think mountains are better because they are big.

5. We should plant more trees.

Useful Vocabulary: tree, plant, green, clean, air

Question Prompts:

• Why are trees good?
• Do you want more trees in your city?

Sentence Frames:

• We should plant more trees to clean the air.
• Trees are good because they are green.

6. Summer is better than winter.

Useful Vocabulary: summer, winter, hot, cold, weather

Question Prompts:

• Do you like hot or cold weather?
• What can you do in summer?

Sentence Frames:

• I like summer because it is warm.
• I think winter is better because I like snow.

7. Robots are fun.

Useful Vocabulary: robot, machine, help, fun, smart

Question Prompts:

• What can robots do?
• Do you want a robot at home?

Sentence Frames:

• Robots are fun because they help people.
• I want a robot because it is smart.

A2-Level ESL Science Debate Topics

At A2 level, students can talk about familiar topics in simple ways. These debate topics help them practice giving reasons, using simple comparisons, and talking about cause and effect. They can start building their confidence by expressing their ideas clearly with support.

8. Dinosaurs were the most interesting animals.

Useful Vocabulary: dinosaur, animal, big, interesting, history

Question Prompts:

• Why do people like dinosaurs?
• What makes dinosaurs interesting?

Sentence Frames:

• I think dinosaurs were interesting because they were big.
• Dinosaurs are the most interesting animals in history.

9. Robots will be our friends in the future.

Useful Vocabulary: robot, future, help, work, friend

Question Prompts:

• Do you want a robot to help you?
• Can robots be like friends?

Sentence Frames:

• Robots will help us in the future.
• I think robots can be our friends.

10. Recycling is more important than throwing things away.

Useful Vocabulary: recycle, throw, trash, important, earth

Question Prompts:

• What do you do with trash?
• Why is recycling good?

Sentence Frames:

• Recycling helps the Earth.
• Throwing things away is not good.

11. The sun is more important than the moon.

Useful Vocabulary: sun, moon, light, day, night

Question Prompts:

• What do we get from the sun?
• Why do people like the moon?

Sentence Frames:

• I think the sun is more important because it gives light and heat.
• The moon is nice, but the sun is more useful.

12. We should plant more trees.

Useful Vocabulary: tree, plant, air, clean, green

Question Prompts:

• Why are trees good for us?
• Do you like planting trees?

Sentence Frames:

• Trees make the air clean.
• I think we need more trees in cities.

13. Taking care of animals is a good job.

Useful Vocabulary: animal, care, help, job, good

Question Prompts:

• Do you want to help animals?
• What do animal helpers do?

Sentence Frames:

• Helping animals is a good job.
• I want to take care of sick animals.

14. Science class is more fun than math class.

Useful Vocabulary: science, math, fun, class, learn

Question Prompts:

• What do you do in science class?
• Do you enjoy science or math more?

Sentence Frames:

• Science is fun because we do experiments.
• I like math, but science is more exciting.

B1-Level ESL Science Debate Topics

At B1 level, students can talk about ideas in more detail. These science debates help them give reasons, express opinions, agree or disagree, and explore real-life topics. The vocabulary and sentence frames support their growing language skills while making the discussion interesting and fun.

15. Space travel should be for everyone.

Useful Vocabulary: space, travel, astronaut, expensive, possible

Question Prompts:

• Would you like to travel to space?
• Should only astronauts go to space?

Sentence Frames:

• I think everyone should have a chance to travel to space.
• Space travel is too expensive for normal people.

16. Climate change is the most serious problem in the world.

Useful Vocabulary: climate, change, problem, world, serious

Question Prompts:

• Why is climate change a problem?
• Do you see changes in the weather?

Sentence Frames:

• Climate change is a big problem because it affects the whole world.
• I think other problems are more serious than climate change.

17. Students should learn coding in school.

Useful Vocabulary: coding, computer, skill, learn, school

Question Prompts:

• What can you do with coding?
• Should coding be part of every class?

Sentence Frames:

• Coding is important for the future, so students should learn it.
• I don’t think coding is necessary for every student.

18. Phones should not be used in science class.

Useful Vocabulary: phone, class, study, use, focus

Question Prompts:

• Do you use your phone in class?
• Can phones help students learn science?

Sentence Frames:

• Phones can be a distraction in science class.
• I think phones can help if used in a smart way.

19. Humans will live on another planet one day.

Useful Vocabulary: human, planet, space, future, live

Question Prompts:

• Do you think people will live on Mars?
• Why would people want to live on another planet?

Sentence Frames:

• I think we will live on another planet in the future.
• It’s too hard and expensive to live on another planet.

20. Science is more useful than art.

Useful Vocabulary: science, art, useful, future, job

Question Prompts:

• Which subject do you like more?
• Why is science important in life?

Sentence Frames:

• Science helps us solve real problems, so it’s more useful.
• Art is also important for thinking and creativity.

21. We should use only renewable energy.

Useful Vocabulary: renewable, energy, sun, wind, power

Question Prompts:

• What is renewable energy?
• Why do people use oil and gas?

Sentence Frames:

• We should use renewable energy to protect the environment.
• It’s not easy to stop using oil and gas right away.

B2-Level ESL Science Debate Topics

At B2 level, students are ready to discuss more complex science ideas and use a wider range of vocabulary. These debate topics help them express opinions clearly, respond to others’ ideas, and use logical reasoning. They also build skills useful for presentations and argumentative writing in the future.

22. Technology makes people less social.

Useful Vocabulary: technology, social, talk, interact, devices

Question Prompts:

• Do people talk less because of phones?
• How does technology affect real-life friendships?

Sentence Frames:

• I believe technology makes us less social because we talk online more than in person.
• In my opinion, technology helps us connect in new ways.

23. Genetic testing should be allowed for everyone.

Useful Vocabulary: genetic, testing, health, information, future

Question Prompts:

• Would you like to know your future health problems?
• Should genetic testing be private?

Sentence Frames:

• Genetic testing helps people prepare for health problems.
• I think it could cause stress or be misused by companies.

24. Robots will replace many human jobs.

Useful Vocabulary: robots, jobs, replace, future, workers

Question Prompts:

• What jobs can robots do better than humans?
• Should we worry about robots taking jobs?

Sentence Frames:

• Robots can do some jobs faster and more accurately.
• People have skills that robots cannot copy.

25. Online learning is better than classroom learning.

Useful Vocabulary: online, classroom, learning, flexible, focus

Question Prompts:

• What are the benefits of online learning?
• Which do you prefer: online or in-person classes?

Sentence Frames:

• Online learning is better because it’s flexible and saves time.
• Classroom learning allows better communication and support.

26. Humans should stop exploring space and fix Earth first.

Useful Vocabulary: explore, space, Earth, problems, cost

Question Prompts:

• Is it more important to fix problems on Earth?
• What can we learn from space?

Sentence Frames:

• I think we should focus on solving problems on Earth first.
• Space exploration brings useful knowledge and new technology.

27. We should use science to extend human life.

Useful Vocabulary: extend, human, life, science, aging

Question Prompts:

• Do you want to live for 120 years?
• Should we change nature with science?

Sentence Frames:

• Science can help us live longer and healthier lives.
• It’s not natural to live too long, and it may bring problems.

28. Climate change should be taught in every subject.

Useful Vocabulary: climate change, education, subject, teach, future

Question Prompts:

• Why is climate change important for students?
• Should it be taught in math or art classes?

Sentence Frames:

• Climate change is a serious issue and should be part of all lessons.
• Each subject has its own focus, so not all need to include climate change.

C1-Level ESL Science Debate Topics

C1-level learners can express complex thoughts clearly and fluently. They are able to handle abstract ideas and evaluate arguments. These debate topics help them explore scientific issues critically, practice persuasive language, and build academic communication skills useful in higher education or professional contexts.

29. Artificial intelligence will one day surpass human intelligence.

Useful Vocabulary: artificial, intelligence, surpass, abilities, future

Question Prompts:

• Can AI become smarter than humans?
• What could happen if AI became too powerful?

Sentence Frames:

• I believe AI could surpass human intelligence, especially in logic and memory.
• AI lacks human emotions and creativity, so it may never truly surpass us.

30. Humans should have the right to modify their genes.

Useful Vocabulary: gene, modify, control, right, ethics

Question Prompts:

• Should people choose the traits of their children?
• Is it ethical to change human genes?

Sentence Frames:

• I support gene modification to prevent diseases and improve quality of life.
• Modifying genes is risky and could be abused in the future.

31. Nuclear energy is the best solution to the global energy crisis.

Useful Vocabulary: nuclear, energy, crisis, efficient, dangerous

Question Prompts:

• Is nuclear energy safe enough?
• What other solutions exist for energy problems?

Sentence Frames:

• Nuclear energy is efficient and produces fewer emissions than fossil fuels.
• The risk of accidents and nuclear waste makes it a dangerous choice.

32. Space tourism should be banned to protect the environment.

Useful Vocabulary: space tourism, environment, ban, pollution, future

Question Prompts:

• Should rich people travel to space for fun?
• Does space tourism harm the environment?

Sentence Frames:

• Space tourism uses a lot of fuel and pollutes the atmosphere.
• If regulated properly, it could support science and inspire people.

33. Scientific research should always be shared freely.

Useful Vocabulary: research, share, freely, access, benefit

Question Prompts:

• Should all countries share research results?
• Who owns scientific knowledge?

Sentence Frames:

• Sharing research helps solve global problems faster.
• Companies invest money, so they may have the right to keep some research private.

34. Science should not interfere with nature.

Useful Vocabulary: interfere, nature, science, change, balance

Question Prompts:

• Should scientists try to fix nature?
• When is it okay to change natural systems?

Sentence Frames:

• Nature has its own balance, and we should not change it too much.
• Science can improve life if we use it responsibly.

35. We rely too much on scientific evidence and ignore emotions.

Useful Vocabulary: evidence, emotions, logic, trust, balance

Question Prompts:

• Is it better to decide with logic or feeling?
• Should emotions play a role in science?

Sentence Frames:

• Emotions are important in human decisions, not just evidence.
• Scientific evidence helps us make informed and fair choices.

C2-Level ESL Science Debate Topics

C2 learners can argue persuasively, use complex academic language, and present nuanced opinions. These science debate topics help them develop higher-order thinking, practice real-world critical discussion, and express balanced viewpoints on complex issues relevant to global society and ethics.

36. Scientific discoveries should be controlled by international bodies.

Useful Vocabulary: discoveries, regulation, international, control, responsibility

Question Prompts:

• Who should control new scientific findings?
• Can international organizations prevent misuse?

Sentence Frames:

• Global control ensures responsible use of science across nations.
• Too much control might slow progress or favor certain countries.

37. We should stop funding space exploration until Earth’s problems are solved.

Useful Vocabulary: funding, exploration, priority, global issues, resources

Question Prompts:

• Is space exploration more important than helping the poor?
• Can we afford to do both?

Sentence Frames:

• Earth’s urgent issues deserve full attention before space exploration.
• Exploring space can lead to solutions that benefit Earth too.

38. Cloning humans is morally unacceptable under any circumstances.

Useful Vocabulary: cloning, ethics, identity, morality, acceptability

Question Prompts:

• Is it ever right to clone a person?
• What are the risks of human cloning?

Sentence Frames:

• Cloning humans crosses ethical lines and could harm society.
• If done responsibly, cloning could help save lives.

39. The line between science and politics is dangerously thin.

Useful Vocabulary: politics, science, influence, objectivity, bias

Question Prompts:

• Should science stay separate from politics?
• Can science remain neutral?

Sentence Frames:

• Political influence can distort scientific research.
• Science needs funding and laws, which connect it to politics.

40. Advanced AI should have legal rights and responsibilities.

Useful Vocabulary: AI, rights, responsibility, legal, intelligence

Question Prompts:

• Can AI have rights like humans?
• Should AI be punished if it causes harm?

Sentence Frames:

• If AI acts independently, it may need legal responsibilities.
• Rights should be for living beings, not machines.

41. Scientific knowledge should outweigh public opinion in policy-making.

Useful Vocabulary: knowledge, opinion, policy, expert, influence

Question Prompts:

• Should science lead all decisions?
• Can public opinion block progress?

Sentence Frames:

• Policies should follow facts and evidence, not emotions.
• Public voice matters, even when science says otherwise.

42. Ethics limit science, but they are essential.

Useful Vocabulary: ethics, limit, science, essential, boundaries

Question Prompts:

• Should science be free to do anything?
• Why do we need ethics in experiments?

Sentence Frames:

• Ethics protect society from harmful scientific practices.
• Without ethical limits, science could become dangerous.

Conclusion

Science Debate Topics can bring a big change to your ESL classroom. They turn quiet learners into confident speakers.

Debates help students practice real English. They learn how to give opinions, agree or disagree, and ask follow-up questions.

These topics also make learning fun. Students think, speak, and listen while learning new words and grammar in a natural way.

Whether you teach beginners or advanced learners, there’s something here for everyone. Try these debate ideas and see how much more exciting your ESL class can become.

FAQs about ESL Science Debate Topics

What are science debate topics?
Science debate topics are questions or ideas related to science that students can talk about, give opinions on, and discuss with others.

Why should I use science debate topics in ESL class?
They help students improve speaking, thinking, and vocabulary by talking about interesting topics they may already know a little about.

Are science debate topics good for all levels?
Yes, we’ve created different topics for all CEFR levels, from A1 to C2, using simple to advanced language.

How do debate topics help improve speaking?
They give students a reason to speak, explain their ideas, and respond to others in English, which boosts fluency and confidence.

Can I use these topics in group work?
Absolutely. They are great for pair work, group discussions, or whole-class debates.

Do I need special materials to use these topics?
No, just the list of topics and maybe a few useful words or sentence frames. They are easy to use with little prep.

Are these debates formal?
No, these are classroom-friendly and educational. They are meant to practice English, not win arguments.

How often should I use debate topics?
You can use them weekly or whenever you want to make a lesson more interactive and speaking-focused.

What skills do students learn from debating?
They learn how to express opinions, listen carefully, build arguments, and respect different views—all in English.

Can I link debate topics with science lessons?
Yes! If your students also study science, these debates help them use subject knowledge in English, making the learning stronger.