Article
ILLUSTRATIONS BY TOM GARRETT; SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (ALL IMAGES)
Debate,

Are Trampoline Parks a Good Idea?

Sofia says trampoline parks are a good idea. Daniel does not agree!

From the December 2020 / January 2021 Issue
Topic: Social Studies, English Language Arts,
Common Core Standards
TEKS Standards
  • Health
    (2) Health behaviors. The student understands that safe, unsafe, and/or harmful behaviors result in positive and negative consequences throughout the life span. The student is expected to: (B) identify ways to avoid deliberate and accidental injuries.
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Yes!

Yes!

Trampoline parks are a good idea!

Trampoline parks are a good idea!

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TOM GARRETT; SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (ALL IMAGES)

 

First of all, jumping on trampolines is great exercise. It’s like playing a sport.

Next, trampoline parks have a lot of rules. If you follow the rules, you won’t get hurt.

Finally, you can get hurt doing a lot of things. You can fall when you’re walking. You can trip on the stairs. That doesn’t mean you should stop walking or climbing the stairs!

First, jumping is great exercise. It is good for you.

Next, there are rules at trampoline parks. The rules keep you safe.

Last, you can get hurt doing a lot of things. It doesn’t mean you should not do them. As long as you try to be safe, it is OK to go to trampoline parks.

No!

No!

Trampoline parks are a bad idea.

Trampoline parks are a bad idea.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TOM GARRETT; SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (ALL OTHER IMAGES)

 

First, kids get hurt at trampoline parks. Each year, almost 7,000 people go to the hospital after getting hurt at a trampoline park.

Next, it’s hard to pay attention to all of the rules when you’re having fun. Boom— you can get hurt really fast.

Last, there are a lot of safe ways to jump. You can jump rope. You can do jumping jacks. You don’t need to go on a trampoline.

First, kids can get hurt at trampoline parks. Many people have gone to the hospital after going to one.

Next, it can be hard to follow the rules when you are having fun.

Last, there are a lot of safe ways to jump. You can jump rope. You can do jumping jacks. Those are better to do!

THINK AND WRITE: What do you think? Should kids get to choose their own bedtimes? Use the “Are Trampoline Parks Safe?" skills sheet to write what you think.

THINK AND WRITE: What do you think? Should kids get to choose their own bedtimes? Use the “Are Trampoline Parks Safe?" skills sheet to write what you think.

Activities (1)
Skills Activities
Activities (1) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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1. PREPARING TO READ

Have students preview the text features. Ask:

  • What is the topic of the debate? (Prompt students to use the debate title and the picture as clues.)
  • What are the two opinions people might have about this topic?

2. READING THE DEBATE

  • Read the debate as a class or divide the class into groups.
  • You can also have students read the debate as partners, with each student reading one side aloud.

3. DISCUSSING

As a class or in groups, have students discuss:

  • Which opinion do you think makes the most sense?
  • What is your opinion? What information or argument helped you form your opinion?

 

4. WRITING

  • Pass out our opinion-writing printable (available in your Resources tab). Ask students to write their opinion in the top section.
  • Then students can underline three points in the debate that back up their opinion.
  • Last, they can complete our printable to show what their opinion is.

Text-to-Speech