5th Graders learn how to form an argument!
Fifth grade students experience what it may have been like to make the pilgrimage from Europe to the New World in the 1700s through interactive lessons. Students learn about the early explorers and their motivations to explore new land, which eventually led to new settlements. Perspective becomes a key concept as students study the settlement patterns from a variety of view points: the Europeans, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.
From developing perspectives and learning about differing viewpoints, students transition into effective debate and argument strategies. After learning the structure for a formal debate, students choose a controversial topic and prepare to argue each side of the topic. Students need to be open-minded as they may be selected to argue from the opposite perspective from their own personal belief. AT HOME, talk to your child about topics in which people may have two distinctly different opinions. For example: Should we use pestisides on crops? Should Oregon implement a sales tax? Be prepared for your child to try to persuade you to take a different stance or make a different decision! 5th graders can be quite convincing! If your child has a comment or argument that is interesting or insightful, we want to hear about it! Email Mrs. Chelf with comments your child makes or action that your child takes based upon his/her learning! |
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