Illustrations of household objects like brooms, gloves, trash can, and an apron
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Debate,

Should Kids Be Paid to Do Chores?

Gabby says she should earn big bucks to help around the house. Her mom isn’t so sure. Who makes the better argument? 

From the December 2020 / January 2021 Issue
Lexile: 800L-900L, 600L-700L
Guided Reading Level: S
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.8, W.1
  • Grade 4
    R.4.1, R.4.2, R.4.8, W.4.1
  • Grade 5
    R.5.1, R.5.2, R.5.8, W.5.1
  • Grade 6
    R.6.1, R.6.2, R.6.8, W.6.1
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 4
    4.1a, c, d; 4.6f, g, h; 4.7a, b, c, g; 4.9e; 4.11; 4.12c
  • Grade 5
    5.1a, c, d; 5.6f, g, h; 5.7a, b, c, g; 5.9e; 5.11; 5.12c
  • Grade 6
    6.1a, c, d; 6.5f, g, h; 6.6a, b, c, g; 6.8e; 6.10; 6.11c

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Lexile® measure

  • 800L-900L
  • 600L-700L
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Reading Level (600L-700L)

Directions

Read both letters. Then complete the chart on the next page. 

Directions

Read both letters. Then complete the chart on the next page. 

Dear Mom,

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I know you and Dad have been super-stressed during the pandemic. Between working from home and helping me and Max with remote school, you guys barely have any time left over. I have the perfect idea to help give you a break. I can do chores—and you can pay me! 

Each week, I will tidy up the living room, set the table, sweep the kitchen floor, and take Ralphie on his morning walk—all for the bargain price of $10. Meanwhile, you and Dad can sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Netflix shows you’ve been missing. 

I know you and Dad have been really stressed during the pandemic. You’ve been working from home. You’ve been helping me and Max with remote school. That leaves you with almost no time left over. I have the perfect idea to help give you a break. I can do chores—and you can pay me!

I’ll tidy up the living room. I’ll set the table. I’ll sweep the kitchen floor. I’ll take Ralphie on his morning walk. All of that will cost you just $10 a week. Meanwhile, you and Dad can relax and watch Netflix shows.

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Think about it: You won’t have to be embarrassed by the mess in the background of your Zoom calls anymore! And this plan will help me too. I read that kids who do chores often do better in school because they learn to be responsible. I’ll have to get up earlier in the morning and organize my time better. I also read that getting an allowance helps kids learn how to manage their money. 

So what do you think? I’m ready to start right now!

Love, 

Gabby

Think about it: There won’t be a mess in the background of your Zoom calls anymore! And this plan will help me too. I read that kids who do chores often do better in school. Why? Because they learn to be responsible. I’ll have to get up earlier in the morning and manage my time better. I also read that getting an allowance helps kids learn how to manage their money.

So what do you think? I can start right now!

Love,

Gabby

Dear Gabby,

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The answer is YES! You are absolutely old enough to begin taking on more responsibility, and good for you for offering to pitch in during this crazy time. 

But Dad and I won’t be paying you to do this work. Nobody pays Dad to do our laundry and take out the garbage and mop the floors. And I’d be a millionaire if I got paid every time I did the dishes or made lasagna. Chores are a part of family life, and we all need to help keep our house clean and organized—especially now that the four of us are home all the time, making more of a mess than ever. (And let’s face it, Dad and I aren’t the ones making most of it.)

The answer is YES! You are absolutely old enough to take on more responsibility. Thank you for offering to pitch in during this crazy time.

But you won’t be paid to do this work. Nobody pays Dad to do our laundry, take out the trash, and mop the floors. And I’d be rich if I got paid each time I did the dishes or made lasagna. Chores are a part of family life. We all need to help keep our house clean and organized. It’s even more important now that we’re home all the time. We’re making more of a mess than ever. (And Dad and I aren’t the ones making most of it.)

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Doing chores will teach you about being responsible. But it will also teach you another important lesson: Sometimes we do jobs not for a reward, but because we simply have to do them. Actually, you will get a reward for doing your chores—the smiles on your parents’ faces! Isn’t that worth at least 10 bucks? 

Love, 

Mom

Doing chores will teach you about being responsible. But it will teach you something else too. Sometimes we don’t do jobs for a reward. We just have to do them. You will get a reward for doing your chores though—the smiles on your parents’ faces! Isn’t that worth at least 10 bucks?

Love,

Mom

Should Gabby get paid for doing chores?

Gabby and her mom both give reasons that support their arguments. Find three reasons in each letter and write them down. Use these details in an opinion essay about whether kids should get paid to do chores. 

Should Gabby get paid for doing chores?

Gabby and her mom both give reasons that support their arguments. Find three reasons in each letter and write them down. Use these details in an opinion essay about whether kids should get paid to do chores. 

This article was originally published in the December 2020 / January 2021 issue.

Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
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Activities (2) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The debate presents arguments for and against kids getting paid to do household chores.

Structure

The text consists of two letters: one from a girl to her mother explaining why she should be paid to do chores, and the other from the other explaining why the girl should do chores without being paid.

Language

The language is mainly conversational but includes the word remote, which may be challenging for some readers. The text includes rhetorical questions and other figures of speech.

Knowledge Demands 

The text refers to the Covid-19 pandemic, the video chat platform Zoom, and the video streaming service Netflix. Students will also need to make some inferences (such as that Ralphie is a dog).

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. All are available in your Resources tab.

Text-to-Speech