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The Empty Lot Debate: Whose Reason Is It?

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The Empty Lot Debate: Whose Reason Is It?

Match reasons to the opinions they support.

Read the speeches

Two students spoke at a town meeting. Read what each one said.

Ideas for the Empty Lot

1The town of Willow Falls has an empty lot on Cedar Street. The town council asked kids to share their ideas for the lot. At the meeting, two third graders, Priya and Owen, each gave a short speech.

2Priya: I think the lot should become a dog park. Many families on Cedar Street have dogs, but there is no safe place nearby for dogs to run. A tall fence around the park would keep dogs out of the busy street.

3Priya: A dog park would also help neighbors meet each other. People could chat on benches while their dogs play together. My grandpa says he would go there every morning.

4Owen: I think the lot should become a basketball court. Right now, kids in our neighborhood ride the bus across town to find a court. A court on Cedar Street would be close enough to walk to.

5Owen: A court would also give older kids a place to practice after school. Basketball is a team game, so players learn to work together and cheer for each other.

6The council members thanked Priya and Owen for their ideas. They will vote on the lot next month.

Who gave each reason?

A reason tells why someone holds an opinion. Answer the questions about the speeches.

1.
Who gave each reason at the meeting? Sort the reasons.
2.
Which reason does Priya give in paragraph 3?
Question 2 options
3.
Read paragraph 4. Underline the sentence that tells the problem Owen wants to fix.

4.
In paragraph 3, why does Priya say that her grandpa would go to the park every morning?
Question 4 options

Find more reasons

Decide which reasons support each opinion. Then plan your own speech.

5.
Priya wants to add one more reason to her speech. Which sentence would support her opinion?
Question 5 options
6.
A third student, Lena, thinks the lot should become a playground for little kids. Choose the TWO sentences that give reasons for Lena's opinion.
Question 6 options
7.
Ana wrote reasons for Owen's idea. One sentence does not support the opinion that the lot should become a basketball court. Underline that sentence.

Your turn. What should go in the empty lot? Pick a dog park, a basketball court, or an idea of your own. Plan a short speech.
8.
Your opinion: Write one sentence that tells what you think the lot should become.
9.
Reason 1: Write a reason that supports your opinion.
10.
Reason 2: Write a new reason that Priya and Owen did not give.