Wang Yao Chang Melvin

"In order to better prepare students to handle the complexities of the 21st century world, it is imperative that primary Social Studies educators in Singapore grow to become comfortable with the uncomfortable – carving out space for children to critically and meaningfully engage in educative controversial discussions. This article explores the merits of introducing controversy in the classroom and demonstrates how an affective instructional approach in the controversial issues literature, known as constructive conflict talk, can be used to prepare young learners to display respect, imagination and inventiveness when addressing actual conflicts in their lives. "