Year 5 Introduction to debate worksheet

“Opinions need reasons” is free to print, with no account. It is the first sheet in the Year 5 English unit “Introduction to debate”, for children aged 9 to 10, and takes about 20 minutes.

Print it on A4. The child's pages come first; the answers, and what each wrong answer tells you, are on the grown-up page that follows. Weeks 20 to 22 of the year, 8 sheets in the unit.

Free sample · answers on the last page

Opinions need reasons

Name: ____________ · Date: ____________
Year 5 · English · about 20 minutes
Answers are on the grown-up page

Today I can justify an opinion with a reason joined by because.

A Look back3 min

1.
Write each word under the right heading.
gardenjumphappyrivershine
Noun Verb Adjective
2.
Which line is punctuated correctly? Circle one.
‘Let’s go,’ said Ola.‘Let’s go’, said Ola.Let’s go, said Ola.
3.
Which is the short form of do not?
don'tdo'ntdnot

B Watch me, then you4 min

Ola and Sam want the town library open later on weekdays. Ola gives an opinion and a reason. Watch how she joins them.

A small town library at dusk with lamps on and bikes parked outside

Watch me

Opinion: Libraries should stay open late.

Reason: Working people can visit after work.

Joined: Libraries should stay open late because working people can visit after work.

Now you

1.
Finish the sentence with a reason: Dogs should be allowed on buses because

C Your turn8 min

Read each opinion. Choose the reason that best justifies it. Then write one of your own.

1.
Opinion: Schools should have a school garden. Which reason best justifies it?
Because I like gardens.Because pupils can grow food and see how plants change.Because my friend has one.
2.
Opinion: Children should walk to school when they can. Which reason justifies it?
Because walking is good for health and helps with focus.Because my shoes are new.Because I said so.
3.
Opinion: Parks should have more benches. Which reason justifies it?
Because benches let older people rest on long walks.Because benches are made of wood.Because benches are my favourite colour.
4.
Opinion: Swimming pools should open early on Saturdays. Write one reason, joined with because.

Say it out loud: Which word joined each reason to the opinion? Say the whole sentence out loud to a grown-up.

D Spot the mistake3 min

A wooden debate stage with two empty chairs and a glass of water on a table

Ali says: “Dogs make the best pets. I believe it, so the audience must agree.”

1.
What is missing from Ali's speech? Write it.

E Think deeper4 min

1.
Write your own opinion, then two reasons. Join each reason to the opinion with because.

How did it feel?

Think about your speech. Did your listener change their mind? Which reason did they like best, and why?

I can do it Nearly Not yet

For the grown-up

Opinions need reasons · 2 minutes to read

Answers, and what a wrong one tells you

A

1. Noun: garden, river · Verb: jump, shine · Adjective: happy If your child puts a verb under Noun, ask: is this a thing or an action? Point to a word and say what it does in a sentence.

2. ‘Let’s go,’ said Ola. If your child picks the line with the comma outside the marks, say the comma belongs inside the speech marks, before the closing mark.

3. don't If your child picks do'nt, ask which letters the apostrophe replaces. The apostrophe goes where the o is missing, between n and t.

B

1. Look for: A reason that gives a real benefit or fact for dogs on buses, not only 'I like dogs'. If your child writes only 'I like dogs', ask who else would care about that reason. Ask for a reason that helps other people too.

C

1. Because pupils can grow food and see how plants change. If your child picks 'Because I like gardens', ask: would a pupil who hates gardens change their mind? Look for the reason that helps pupils learn.

2. Because walking is good for health and helps with focus.

3. Because benches let older people rest on long walks. If your child picks the wood reason, ask: does being made of wood explain why there should be more? Ask which benefit the benches give.

4. Look for: A reason after 'because' that gives a real benefit of early opening, such as families being able to swim before other plans. If your child writes a feeling only, ask who would gain from the reason. Ask for a benefit to other people.

D

1. Look for: Mentions a reason joined to the opinion with because, such as companionship or going on walks. If your child writes 'nothing', ask: what would someone who disagrees ask Ali next? Help them find a because reason.

E

1. Look for: An opinion followed by two reasons, each joined to it with the word because.

Words to use

Say“What is your opinion, and what is the because part? Which reason would convince someone who disagrees?”

Instead of“Yes, you're right, well done. That's a good opinion.”

After the sheet

Pick a family question, such as whether the car should be washed on Saturday. Each person gives an opinion with a because reason, and the others say whether it convinced them.

Tick what your child got right in StudyDen. Anything missed comes back in a later Look back box, so there's no need to redo the sheet.

The rest of this unit

7 more sheets come with a StudyDen plan, in teaching order:

Points and Explanations(with a plan)
Proof and summaries(with a plan)
Debate roles and rebuttals(with a plan)
Points of information(with a plan)
Getting ready with GOAL(with a plan)
Notes to speak from(with a plan)
Scoring a Debate Fairly(with a plan)

Every Year 5 English worksheet

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