Article
ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Debate,

Should You Go Screen-Free for a Week?

Emma says no way. Her brother Tyler says yes. Who makes the better argument?

From the March / April 2019 Issue
Lexile: 600L-700L, 800L-900L
Guided Reading Level: T
DRA Level: 50
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.6, R.8, W.1, W.4, W.10, SL.1, L.3
  • Grade 4
    RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.8, W.4.1, W.4.4, W.4.10, SL.4.1, L.4.3
  • Grade 5
    RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.6, RI.5.8, W.5.1, W.5.4, W.5.10, SL.5.1, L.5.3
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.6, RI.6.8, W.6.1, W.6.4, W.6.10, SL.6.1, L.6.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 4
    4.12; 4.15; 4.19; 4.20; 4.27; 4.28; 4.29
  • Grade 5
    5.12; 5.15; 5.19; 5.20; 5.24; 5.26; 5.27; 5.28; 5.29
  • Grade 6
    6.11; 6.14; 6.18; 6.19; 6.23; 6.25; 6.26; 6.27; 6.29

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Reading Level

  • 800L-900L
  • 600L-700L
  • Spanish
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Reading Level (600L-700L)
Spanish-Language Version

Dear Tyler,

Dear Tyler,

Querido Tyler:

ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Have you heard that our town is planning to take part in Screen-Free Week this spring? For seven whole days, millions of people around the world agree not to use any digital devices outside of work or school. That means no YouTube. No texting. No Netflix! I hope you’ll join me in saying NO THANKS.

First of all, how would we talk to our friends after school? We wouldn’t be able to message each other about homework, send funny Snaps, share cute dog videos . . . I’m getting lonely and bored just thinking about it.

We’d also feel more stressed. Video games definitely help me relax! I’ve been worried about my big math test next week. Battling enemies in Fortnite gives my brain a break from studying.

But screens aren’t just for fun. They help us learn new skills and express our creativity. How could I deprive the world of my TikTok music videos?

And what about Grandma? If we miss our weekly Skype call, she’s going to jump on a bus and come across the country to make sure we’re all OK.

The only thing we should be shutting down is this terrible idea of a screen-free week. Are you with me?

Love, your sister,

Emma

Have you heard that our town is planning to take part in Screen-Free Week this spring? For seven days, millions of people around the world won’t use any digital devices outside of work or school. That means no YouTube. No texting. No Netflix! I hope you’ll join me in saying NO THANKS.

First of all, how would we talk to our friends after school? We wouldn’t be able to message each other about homework. We wouldn’t be able to send funny Snaps or share cute dog videos. I’m getting lonely and bored just thinking about it.

We’d also feel more stressed. Video games help me relax. I’ve been worried about my math test next week. Playing Fortnite gives my brain a break.

But screens aren’t just for fun. They help us learn new skills and be creative. What would the world do without my TikTok music videos?

And what about Grandma? If we miss our weekly Skype call, she’ll come across the country to make sure we’re OK.

The only thing we should shut down is this terrible idea of a screen-free week. Are you with me?

Love, your sister,

Emma

¿Has oído que nuestro pueblo está planeando ser parte de la Semana Libre de Pantallas esta primavera? Durante siete días completos, millones de personas de todo el mundo han acordado no utilizar ningún aparato digital fuera del trabajo o la escuela. Eso significa que no podrás ver YouTube. No podrás enviar mensajes de texto. ¡No podrás ver Netflix! Espero que te unas a mí para decir NO, GRACIAS.

En primer lugar, ¿cómo vamos a hablar con nuestros amigos al salir de la escuela? No podríamos enviarnos mensajes sobre los deberes, con fotos divertidas o para compartir videos de lindos perritos... Me siento sola y aburrida de solo pensarlo.

Además, estaríamos más estresados. Definitivamente, ¡los videojuegos me ayudan a relajarme! El examen de mate de la semana que viene, me tiene preocupada. Combatir los enemigos en Fortnite le da a mi cerebro un descanso de los estudios.

Pero las pantallas no son solo diversión. Nos ayudan a aprender nuevas destrezas y expresar nuestra creatividad. ¿Cómo podría yo privar al mundo de mis videos musicales de TikTok?

¿Y qué pasaría con Abuela? Si nos perdiéramos nuestra charla semanal por Skype, se subiría a un bus y cruzaría el país para ver si estamos bien.

Lo único que deberíamos apagar es esta terrible idea de la semana libre de pantallas. ¿Estás de acuerdo? Cariños, tu hermana

Emma

Dear Emma,

Dear Emma,

Querida Emma:

MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

You’re not going to believe this, but I think Screen-Free Week is a pretty good idea. I just read that the average kid is glued to screens for 4.5 hours a day. That’s time we could be using to play sports, do activities as a family, or hang out with friends.

Sure, you’re in touch with your friends online. But when’s the last time you had anyone over? Experts say in-person conversations build our social skills and empathy.

And you say screens help you relax. But math might not seem so hard if you weren’t checking your messages every few minutes. My teacher showed us a study that says people take 50 percent longer to complete tasks (and make way more mistakes!) when they’re distracted by pings and buzzes.

By taking a break from screens, we can learn to balance our time better with other activities—like riding scooters, playing Monopoly as a family, and writing Grandma snail-mail letters to make up for the missed Skype call.

So let’s do it. Unless you’re afraid I’ll win at Monopoly?

Your loving brother,

Tyler

You might not believe this, but I like the idea of Screen-Free Week. I just read that the average kid is glued to screens for 4.5 hours a day. That’s time we could use to play sports, have fun as a family, or hang out with friends.

Sure, you’re in touch with your friends online. But how often do you have them over? Experts say that talking in person builds our social skills and empathy.

And you say screens help you relax. But math might not seem so hard if you didn’t check your messages every few minutes. My teacher showed us a study that says people take much longer to finish tasks (and make way more mistakes) when they’re distracted by pings and buzzes.

If we take a break from screens, we’ll have more time for other things. We can ride scooters. We can play Monopoly as a a family. We can write Grandma snail-mail letters!

So let’s do it. Unless you’re afraid I’ll win at Monopoly?

Your loving brother,

Tyler 

No vas a creer esto, pero me parece que la Semana Libre de Pantallas es una muy buena idea. Acabo de leer que los niños pasan pegados a la pantalla un promedio de 4.5 horas al día. Podríamos estar usando ese tiempo para jugar deportes, hacer algo con la familia o pasar tiempo con los amigos. 

Por supuesto, te mantienes en contacto con tus amigos por Internet, ¿pero cuándo fue la última vez que vino alguien a visitarte? Los expertos dicen que las conversaciones en persona desarrollan las destrezas sociales y la empatía. 

Y dices que las pantallas te ayudan a relajarte. Sin embargo, las mates podrían no ser tan difíciles si no estuvieras mirando tus mensajes cada cinco minutos. Mi maestro nos mostró un estudio que dice que a la gente le toma 50 por ciento más tiempo terminar tareas (¡y cometen más errores!) cuando se distraen con timbres y vibraciones. 

Al tomar un descanso de las pantallas, podemos aprender a equilibrar nuestras vidas con otras actividades, como correr escúters, jugar a Monopolio y enviarle una carta por correo a la Abuela para compensar por la llamada de Skype. 

Anímate. A menos que tengas miedo de que te gane en Monopolio...

Tu hermano que te quiere, 

Tyler

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Answer Key (1)
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Answer Key (1)
Can't-Miss Teaching Extras
More About Screen-Free Week

Go to screenfree.org to get information about organizing screen-free events, take a screen-free pledge (and get a certificate for the achievement when the week is through!), find ideas for unplugged play, and more!

Who Needs Screens?

From Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, this list of 70 Ideas for Family Fun provides plenty alternatives to iPads and YouTube. Share the list and have your students report back on which ideas they tried.

More About the Story

Skills

Main ideas and supporting evidence, opinion writing

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The debate presents pros and cons of going screen-free for a week.  

Structure

The text consists of two letters, one from a girl to her brother arguing that a screen-free week is a bad idea, and the other from her brother arguing that a screen-free week has value. 

Language

The language is mainly conversational but includes a few higher-level words, such as deprive and empathy. There are also rhetorical questions and other figures of speech.

Knowledge Demands 

The text mentions a number of games and websites.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

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 heading on the chart as clues.)
  • What do you think are the two sides of the issue?

2. Reading the Debate 

Read the debate as a class or in small groups.

Have students read the debate a second time. Prompt them to mark the types of support the author presents to back up each side, including:

  • Facts and statistics (F/S)
  • Quotes from experts (Q)
  • Stories or examples (EX)

3. Discussing

As a class or in groups, have students discuss:

  • Which evidence is most effective in supporting each side?
  • Is one side stronger than the other? Why?
  • What is your opinion? What evidence do you find the most convincing?
  • For more-advanced students: Do you think the author has a preferred point of view on this issue? What is your evidence?

4. Writing

Have students complete the chart in the magazine.

Distribute the activity “Write an Opinion Essay.” The lower-level version guides students to write a three-paragraph essay on the debate topic. The higher-level version prompts them to bring in additional evidence and write six paragraphs, including a rebuttal of the other side. With either version, hand out our Opinion Writing Toolkit, which offers writing tips and transition words.

Text-to-Speech