Standards-aligned classroom resources for grades 3–8, designed to support meaningful instruction and save teachers time.

Great Debate CER Mini-Units

Grades 5–8 | Ms. Koven with Class

Great Debates: The Standardized Testing Edition (Grades 5-8)

Stop choosing between high engagement and rigorous test prep. Our 4-day mini-units turn students into confident thinkers by guiding them through the critical shift from reading to reasoning.

Classroom-Ready Differentiation

Our Great Debate series is built with the diverse classroom in mind. We don't just provide a text; we provide the scaffolds necessary for every student to succeed.

Tiered Writing Support: Every unit includes three distinct C.E.R. prompts, allowing you to differentiate by interest or complexity level.
Built-in Scaffolds: From Student Quote Banks to Pro/Con Fast Facts, we provide the assistives that turn reluctant writers into confident debaters.
Visual & Interactive Vocab: Multiple formats (Matching, Drag & Drop, and Visual Definitions) ensure vocabulary acquisition for all learning styles.
Accessibility: Scaffolded graphic organizers and sentence-starters help bridge the gap for English Language Learners and students with IEPs.

The Anatomy of a 4-Day Unit

From initial reading to a confident classroom debate—we provide the roadmap for every step of the journey.

🗓️ Day 1: The Foundation
- Deep-dive into the nonfiction article: Engaging, balanced text designed for grades 5–8.
- Academic vocabulary acquisition: Includes 3 interactive formats (Matching, Drag & Drop, and Visual Definitions).
🗓️ Day 2: The Evidence
- Comprehension check: Multiple Choice Questions with dedicated reasoning sections.
- Evidence Building: "Quote Analysis" and "Fast Fact" exploration to build a research base.
🗓️ Day 3: The Argument
- C.E.R. Framework: Drafting the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning using scaffolded organizers.
- Tiered Writing: Selection of one of 3 differentiated writing prompts to meet every learner's needs.
🗓️ Day 4: The Debate
- Structured Discussion: A civil classroom experience guided by the "Debate Guide Organizer".
- Reflection & Assessment: Final student reflection and teacher assessment using the included rubric.

4-day middle school debate lesson plan roadmap for Grades 5-8 featuring a balanced nonfiction article, academic vocabulary activities, and a differentiated CER writing prompt from the Standardized Testing Edition series.

Get Great Debate Activities on TPT

Inside the 30-Page Standardized Testing Edition

While the topics change, the quality remains the same. We use a consistent, high-leverage framework for every unit in the series to ensure your students are always prepared.

Comprehensive Table of Contents for the Great Debates Standardized Testing Edition, featuring a 4-day roadmap, vocabulary activities, nonfiction articles, tiered C.E.R. writing prompts, debate guides, and reflection rubrics.

Master Teacher Guide: Includes a detailed 2-page lesson plan, answer keys, and a "How to Run the Debate" guide for a zero-prep experience.

Complete Student Workbook: Features interactive vocabulary, balanced nonfiction articles, and tiered C.E.R. prompts.

Balanced Perspectives: Units provide "Pro/Con Fast Facts" and "Student Quote Banks" to help students ground arguments in evidence.

Assessment Ready: Includes built-in rubrics and final reflection prompts to assess Speaking, Listening, and Writing standards.

Visual preview of three differentiated C.E.R. writing prompts for middle school students.

Evidence-building tools including a student quote bank and pro-con fast facts sheet.

Complete teacher implementation kit including 2-page lesson plan, debate guide, and grading rubric.

Explore the full collection of debates here.

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