a girl holding a large stack of envelopes and a woman holding a birthday party list with names check
Shutterstock.com (all photos); Illustrations by Tom Garrett
Debate,

Should You Invite Everyone to Your Birthday Party?

Sofia says no, but her mom disagrees. Who makes the better argument?

From the February 2020 Issue
Lexile: 600L-700L
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.4.6, 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
    4.1a, c, d; 4.7b, c, g; 4.9d, e; 4.11; 4.12c; 4.13a, c, d, e, h
  • Grade 5
    5.1a, c, d; 5.7b, c, g; 5.9d, e; 5.11; 5.12c; 5.13a, c, d, e, h
  • Grade 6
    6.1a, c, d; 6.6b, c, g; 6.8d, e; 6.10; 6.11c; 6.12a, d, e, f, h, j

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Dear Mom,

Shutterstock.com (all photos); Illustrations by Tom Garrett

I can’t wait for my birthday party next month! To make things easy for you, I already have everything planned out. The food: pizza. The music: Ariana Grande. The activity: ice-skating. The rink can hold only 12 kids, so I’ll invite all the girls in my class except for Chloe, Izzy, and Alisha.

I know you’re going to say that I have to invite everyone. But I never hang out with those girls at recess or after school. They’ll understand why they’re not invited—just like I understood when Chloe didn’t invite me to her sleepover birthday. They probably wouldn’t even want to go to a party for someone they don’t really know.

You keep saying that I’m old enough to start making my own decisions. And this is my big day. Shouldn’t I get to choose who I spend it with?

Plus, having fewer guests will make the party cheaper for you and Dad. And everyone will get a bigger slice of your famous double-chocolate cake! So let’s keep the party friends only. What do you say?

Love,

Sofia


Dear Sofia, 

Shutterstock.com (all photos); Illustrations by Tom Garrett    

I appreciate your help with the party planning! But I don’t think you can invite all the girls in your class except for three.

Even if you’re not friends with Chloe, Izzy, and Alisha, they’re going to feel left out when all the other girls are talking about your party. Chloe’s sleepover was different because she invited only a couple of close friends. If you have your heart set on skating, you can cut down your list to a few girls too.

Otherwise, we should do the party somewhere else—like a make-your-own-pizza place. And while it’s thoughtful of you to consider cost, Dad and I would rather make sure everyone’s included. Maybe you’ll even get to know Chloe, Izzy, and Alisha better at the party!

Don’t worry: I’ll make an extra-big double-chocolate cake this year. But nothing will be sweeter than knowing that you’ve done the right thing.

Love, 

Mom     


This article was originally published in the February 2020 issue.

This article was originally published in the February 2020 issue.

Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Activities (2) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Can't-Miss Teaching Extras

Figuring out which friends to invite to a birthday can be tricky, but it’s important for students to learn how to be inclusive. These classroom activities from Teaching Tolerance will help your students understand what cliques are and how to avoid making others feel left out.

More About the Story

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The debate presents two perspectives on who should be invited to a birthday party.  

Structure

The text consists of two letters—one from a girl to her mom suggesting that nearly all her female classmates be invited to her party, and the other from her mom insisting that leaving out just a few people is wrong. 

Language

The language is conversational and includes a rhetorical question and a little bit of wordplay. 

Knowledge Demands 

No special knowledge is required. 

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.  A lower-Lexile version is available on Storyworks Digital. 

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