Debate and Spelling bee for Junior students

A friend, I think she is a teacher, from english mailing-list asked about the best way in conducting debate and spelling bee for junior school students.

Here's my suggestion for her.
- Spelling bee
This can be done in two stages. First you can go by rank. The vocabulary lists are given to all with in the same room and the students write their spelling down. After that you can take the top 10 or 20 it depends on how the number of participants.

Secondly you go for spelling (by pronounciating it). Whoever participants make mistakes on their spell - even one word - will fail to go further. And the lists of vocabulary is of course more difficult than the 1st stage. The one who can answer all correctly will be the winner.

I think to give you better idea you need to watch the film starred by Richard Gere, an obsessed father who assisted his daughter in spelling bee contest. I forget the title of the film, but something with the 'bee' word in it hehehehe... Anyone ever watch the film?!

- Debate
I don't know how well your students are in speaking english. But since this for junior school students, I think you can start by giving them the several topics to choose and which team will be taken the pros ideas and which will take the cons. Let each of the debate team have their own homework to say why they agree or disagree with the topics.

After that let them present their ideas to their opponent. And let the opponent respond to their ideas. You can give each team something between 30-60 minutes to each team to present their ideas, respond/answer to the opponent objection and solidify their ideas.

The one who can present their ideas well in term of logic, pronounciation and range of vocabulary will be the winner.