Article
ELISABETH SCHMITT/GETTY IMAGES

Allow Chewing Gum in School?

The students in Mr. Parker's class think they should be able to chew gum in school—but their principal isn't so sure. Your students will decide who makes the better argument. 

From the Issue
Lexile: 800L-900L, 600L-700L
Guided Reading Level: T
DRA Level: 50
Topic: Social Issues,

Dear Principal Hernandez, 

Dear Principal Hernandez, 

Estimado director Hernández: 

ELISABETH SCHMITT/GETTY IMAGES

We have an idea to make our school a happier place and turn us into better students: Let us chew gum in class! We know that chewing gum is against school rules. But maybe you’ll want to change the rules once you read this letter.

Several recent studies have suggested that gum-chewing improves your memory and helps you concentrate. One study even showed that scores went up for students who chewed gum while taking tests!

Chewing gum is also helpful for kids who have trouble staying focused. Some kids in our class are very fidgety, and they say that chewing gum helps them sit still when they’re doing homework. We’d rather watch them chew than see them squirm around in their seats.

Many schools have been letting students chew gum, and we think that our school should be the newest on the list! We promise that we will always throw our gum in the trash.

So what do you say? May we chew?

Sincerely,

Mr. Parker’s class 

We have an idea that could turn us into better students. Let us chew gum in class! We know that chewing gum is against school rules. But you might want to change the rules once you read this letter.

Some studies suggest that gum-chewing improves your memory and helps you focus. One study even showed that scores went up for students who chewed gum while taking tests!

Some kids in our class are very fidgety. They say that chewing gum helps them sit still. We’d rather watch them chew than see them squirm around in their seats.

Many schools have been letting students chew gum. We think our school should be the next on the list! We promise that we will always throw our gum in the trash.

So what do you say? May we chew?

Sincerely,

Mr. Parker’s class

Tenemos una idea para hacer de nuestra escuela un lugar más feliz y convertirnos en mejores estudiantes: ¡Déjenos mascar chicle en clase! Sabemos que mascar chicle va contra las reglas de la escuela, pero tal vez quiera cambiar las reglas después de leer esta carta. 

Varios estudios sugieren que mascar chicle mejora la memoria y ayuda a la concentración. ¡Un estudio incluso demostró que los estudiantes que mascaron chicle mientras tomaban un examen mejoraron sus notas!

Mascar chicle también es bueno para los niños que tienen problemas de concentración. Algunos niños son muy inquietos y dicen que mascar chicle les ayuda a quedarse sentados mientras hacen las tareas. Preferimos verlos mascar que retorciéndose en sus asientos. 

Muchas escuelas les han permitido a sus estudiantes mascar chicle y ¡creemos que nuestra escuela debería unirse a la lista! Prometemos que siempre tiraremos el chicle en los cubos de basura. 

Así que, ¿qué cree? ¿Podemos mascar chicle? 

Sinceramente,

La clase del Sr. Parker

Dear students, 

Dear students, 

Queridos estudiantes:

MADLEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (GUM); HASAN EROGLU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (SHOES)

Ewww. Not again!

Thank you for taking the time to research this topic. I’m sorry to say my answer has to be no. 

The studies you mention are interesting. But none has really proved that gum helps people concentrate. 

As for your promise to always throw your gum in the trash, I appreciate it. But not every kid will be tidy with his or her gum. Wads of gum ruin floors and carpets and clog drinking fountains. One school in Glendale, California, banned gum after spending more than $2,500 on cleaning it up! I’d rather spend our money on more books for the library. 

Finally, gum can be distracting—all those chomping mouths and popping bubbles. 

I love gum too. I’m actually a champion bubble-blower. But I think that school should be a no-gum zone. 

Sincerely,

Principal Hernandez 

Thank you for taking the time to research this topic. I’m sorry, but my answer is no.

The studies you mention are interesting. But none has really proved that gum helps people focus.

And thank you for your promise to always throw your gum in the trash. But not all kids will be neat with their gum. Wads of gum ruin floors and carpets. They clog drinking fountains. One school in California banned gum after spending more than $2,500 on cleaning it up! I’d rather spend our money on more books for the library.

Plus, gum can distract students. All that chewing makes a lot of noise!

I love gum too. In fact, I’m a champion bubble-blower. But I think school should be a no-gum zone. 

Sincerely,

Principal Hernandez 

Gracias por tomarse el tiemo de investigar este asunto. Lamento decirles que mi respuesta tiene que ser no. 

 Los estudios que mencionan son interesantes, pero ninguno ha probado que el chicle ayuda a la gente a concentrarse en realidad. 

En cuanto a la promesa de siempre tirar el chicle en el cubo de basura, lo agradezco. Sin embargo, no todos los niños serán así de cuidadosos con sus chicles. Los pegotes de chicle arruinan los pisos y las alfombras y obstruyen las fuentes. Una escuela en Glendale, California, prohibió los chicles tras gastar más de $2,500 en una limpieza! Yo prefiero gastar nuestro dinero en más libros para la biblioteca. 

Por último, el chicle puede ser una distracción, todas esas bocas masticando y explotando burbujas. 

A mí también me encanta el chicle. Hasta soy campeón en soplar burbujas. Pero creo que la escuela debería ser una zona sin chicle. 

Sinceramente,

Director Hernández

Slideshows (1)
Activities (2)
Quizzes (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (2) Download All Activities
Quizzes (1)

More About the Story

Skills

main ideas and supporting evidence, opinion writing

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The debate has a clear purpose: to present arguments for and against allowing students to chew gum in school. 

Structure

The debate consists of two short letters. Both include cause-and-effect and compare-and-contrast structures.

Language

The language is mainly conversational but includes some challenging words, such as fidgety andsquirm.

Knowledge Demands 

No specific background knowledge required.

Step-by-Step 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