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Making a Balanced Argument Template (Years 5-6)

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Children can use this handy template to write down points for and against an argument, as well as their own opinion. It's ideal for helping them to form a balanced argument, or to pick out the key points from an argument they have read.

• Key Stage: Key Stage 2
• Subject: English
• Topic: Reading Skills
• Topic Group: Reading
• Year(s): Years 5-6
• Media Type: PDF
• Resource Type: Worksheet
• Last Updated: 22/11/2021
• Resource Code: E2WAE193
• Curriculum Point(s): Explain and discuss their understanding of what they have read, including through formal presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on the topic and using notes where necessary. Provide reasoned justifications for their views.

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• Balanced Argument Ks2

Balanced argument KS2 – Best resources for primary debates

Help primary pupils learn to debate, discuss or argue a point articulately and expressively, whether in spoken or written language, with these activities, ideas and lesson plans…

Taking part in a balanced argument KS2 lesson is beneficial for your pupils for a number of reasons, including in terms of their language development, literacy skills and overall educational growth. Make the job a little easier with these super ideas and resources…

Best balanced argument KS2 resources

How to host better debates in primary, why teach pupils about balanced arguments, class debates lesson plan.

Are computers better than books? Help pupils make clear and confident arguments with this free debate KS2 lesson plan from Noisy Classroom director, Debbie Newman. You’ll start the lesson off with a game of argument tennis…

#TopicalTuesdays news debates

First News is a weekly newspaper for young audiences, covering global headlines and empowering children with an understanding of the world in which they are growing up.

Every Tuesday, over at Plazoom there is a free #TopicalTuesdays resource to download, containing a news clipping from First News and a worksheet of related activities to try in your classroom.

There are always two writing tasks, a research activity and a topic to debate as a class or in small groups, covering everything from climate change and charity stunts to teacher shortages and the school concrete crisis.

The Noisy Classroom debate resources

Want a website packed full of advice, ideas and resources to help your pupils become persuasive speakers, critical listeners, analytical thinkers and engaged citizens?

The Noisy Classroom is a training organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the use of speaking and listening in the classroom. It helps teachers use a range of debate, discussion, dialogue, role play and enquiry as part of the Noisy Learning experience.

On the site you’ll find debate and discussion topics and sheets with question prompts, videos of children debating, ideas on improving debate skills and embedding it across the curriculum, a reading list and loads more.

Would you let Daleks live on Earth?

Would your class let Daleks live on Earth? Should the Doctor give up being a Time Lord? This Pie Corbett non-fiction resource lets them consider the facts and write arguments for and against these dilemmas.

Banksy – artist or vandal?

In this Real Writing model text resource for Year 4 from Plazoom, pupils can read ‘Banksy: Artist or Vandal?’ by Ross Montgomery, an interesting balanced argument discussing whether Banksy’s work should be considered as art or vandalism.

Over the three-week unit, pupils will learn the origins of the word ‘graffiti’ and will investigate how the author has used the present perfect form of verbs when discussing the issue of graffiti.

Following a debate about graffiti, pupils will write their own balanced argument about this issue, showing opposing viewpoints.

Spark debate by exploring acts of heroism in sport

The Olympics has produced many acts of heroism that can be used to spark debate in the primary classroom. In this KS2 lesson plan you can inspire your children by introducing them to the noble actions of German long-jumper Lutz Long at the 1936 Olympic Games.

Children will discuss reasons for and against Lutz Long helping Jesse Owens, then you’ll try a ‘conscience alley’ drama activity to explore different viewpoints.

Persuasive writing worksheets and resources

While not quite the same as an oral debate, persuasive writing naturally involves a lot of the same skills. So help kids put together a convincing argument, whether it’s in an essay, advert, debate or letter, with these lessons, ideas, activities and more for KS2 persuasion .

They’re a key ‘real world’ skill, so here’s how to avoid yours descending into a shouting match, says Laura George…

We all go into class debates with the best intentions. You’ve set everything up perfectly – you’ve had research lessons, looked at examples, set rubrics and outcome grades. Then when the actual event comes around, your loudest pupils are the main attraction, the quiet ones add the odd comment and some pupils hide at the back and say nothing at all. Sound familiar?

I didn’t want to get rid of debates in my classroom. After all, recent research says that they are intrinsically linked to collaborative learning skills and critical thinking – skills that employers are very keen on.

Instead, I decided to adapt the way I run them to ensure that all pupils get heard (while also avoiding the prospect of SLT popping in to a lesson that looks more like a scene from  Jeremy Kyle  then  BBC Question Time ).

Try a silent version

Help to give a voice to quiet children by hosting a silent debate. In this model, instead of taking it in turns to listen, pupils are completely silent throughout. This is how it works.

On each table put an A3 sheet containing a stimulus such as an image, quote or newspaper headline. Next, let the pupils go around and add questions to the sheets. Now ask children to go round again, writing answers to the questions asked by others.

Do they agree? Has someone got something wrong? Can they correct the error? Suddenly, within 10 minutes, everyone will have made at least 10 points. No one is hiding at the back or shouting over anyone else – bingo!

Next, gather the sheets in and see what points were made, where confusions lie and what pupils still want to know. This is evidence of the debate that you can hold on to. Extend the task by making copies of the sheets and ask pupils to research further answers at home.

Down the line

Of course, it’s still important that we teach pupils to be vocal. Try this idea. Ask pupils to sit in two lines of chairs facing each other – one row is on the ‘disagree’ side while the other is ‘agree’.

Set a question and ask the children to debate with the person opposite them for two minutes. Having to argue a point of view that is not necessarily their own is a fantastic skill to grasp. Next, ask pupils on one side to move down one seat so that they have a  new partner to talk to .

When you get to the end, ask the children to change sides. This approach keeps everyone involved and is also easy to monitor.

Next, add to the challenge by asking children to debate while sitting on their hands or keeping their eyes shut. Suddenly the task seems a lot harder. Pupils will start to see that debating involves other skills beyond just talking.

If you’re feeling brave, tell the children that they can only shout or whisper. This shows particular children what it’s like to be at the receiving end of their specific style and might nudge them to improve their technique.

Don’t shy away

Whether you choose to opt for the peaceful tranquillity of the silent debate or interrupt your neighbouring teacher with a shouting match, don’t shy away from debates.

They need a lot of structure but can also be amazingly rewarding and will allow pupils to flourish in a key ‘real world’ skill.

• Give pupils clear instructions Minimal planning leads to debates that spiral into something of little worth. Children need to put in the time in lessons or at home – a debate shouldn’t be seen an easier option than written work. In fact, it’s just as challenging.
• Don’t just focus on words Encourage children to try different physical gestures. A good debater uses many different skills – it’s not just about what they say.
• Let it spill over Don’t make your debate the final activity in your scheme of learning. Instead, use it to introduce a topic, recap key points or progress independent learning.
• Record the learning Pupils will be proud of their efforts and it’s only right that you celebrate that. Pick out key phrases and add to a working display with their name. Alternatively, video the debate and turn it into your own chat show to watch next lesson, or use your silent debate sheets as wall displays.

Laura George is head of RS and PSHE at King’s Rochester in Kent. Follow her on Twitter at  @mrs_educate .

Engaging in argumentative writing allows students to expand their vocabulary and improve sentence structure. It provides a practical context for applying grammatical rules and using varied language features.

Students will need to critically analyse and evaluate information from different sources. This process enhances their ability to comprehend complex texts, identify key points and discern between credible and unreliable sources.

“The ability to construct a balanced argument is simply a valuable life skill”

Regular practice in constructing arguments helps children develop writing fluency. They become more adept at organising their thoughts coherently and expressing themselves clearly, both of which are valuable skills across academic disciplines.

Engaging in argumentative writing also hones students’ rhetorical skills. They learn how to use persuasive techniques, such as appeals to emotion, logic and credibility to effectively convey their ideas and viewpoints.

As they get older, being able to analyse and construct arguments is important for exam success. And there’s the fact that the ability to construct a balanced argument is simply a valuable life skill. It equips students with the tools to communicate effectively, make informed decisions and engage in meaningful discussions, all of which will be essential in various aspects of their lives.

In fact, as principal teaching fellow Amanda Corrigan explains, oracy is more than a skill for future lawyers, entrepreneurs and politicians. It’s for children who have to fight deportation , or for the rights of their brothers and sisters, or for the care their parents need in later life.

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• Balanced Arguments
• Information for Parents
• Home Learning
• 20th - 24th April

Writing a balanced argument

• How to write a balanced argument
• Part1-What Is a Balanced Argument?
• 1. Weighing up the Evidence Task
• 2. Should Homework be Banned Activity Sheet
• 3. For and Against Planning Sheet Task

• Part 2 - Balance Argument PowerPoint.pptx
• 4. Useful Words and Phrases.pdf
• Balanced-Argument-Writing-Frame (Easy)
• Writing a Balanced Argument Worksheets (Medium)
• Balanced Argument Writing Sheet (Hard)
• Balanced Argument Checklist
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The Great British Homework Debate 2024 – Is It Necessary At Primary School?

Alexander Athienitis

The homework debate is never much out of the news. Should homework be banned? Is homework at primary school a waste of time? Do our children get too much homework?

Not long ago, UK-based US comedian Rob Delaney set the world alight with a tweet giving his own personal view of homework at primary school. We thought, as an organisation that provides maths homework support on a weekly basis, it was time to look at the facts around the homework debate in primary schools as well as, of course, reflecting the views of celebrities and those perhaps more qualified to offer an opinion!

Here’s how Rob Delaney kicked things off

Gary Lineker leant his support with the following soundbite:

And even Piers Morgan weighed in, with his usual balance of tact and sensitivity:

A very experienced and knowledgeable Headteacher, Simon Smith, who has a well-earned following on Twitter (for someone working in education, not hosting Match of the Day) also put his neck on the line and, some might think controversially, agreed with the golden-heeled Crisp King of Leicester…

Fortunately Katharine Birbalsingh, Conservative Party Conference keynote speaker and Founding Headteacher of the Michaela School, was on hand to provide the alternative view on the importance of homework. Her op-ed piece in the Sun gave plenty of reasons why homework should not be banned.

She was informative and firm in her article stating: “Homework is essential for a child’s education because revisiting the day’s learning is what helps to make it stick.”

KS2 Maths Games and Activities Pack

A FREE downloadable games and activity pack, including 20 home learning maths activities for KS2 children to complete on their own or with a partner.

How much homework do UK primary school children get?

Sadly, there’s little data comparing how much homework primary school-aged children in the UK and across the globe complete on a weekly basis. A study of teenagers used by The Telegraph shows that American high-schoolers spend an average of 6.1 hours per week compared with 4.9 hours per week of homework each week for UK-based teens.

Up until 2012, the Department of Education recommended an hour of homework a week for primary school Key Stage 1 children (aged 4 to 7) and half an hour a day for primary school Key Stage 2 children (aged 7-11). Many primary schools still use this as a guideline.

Teachers, parents and children in many schools across the land have seen more changes of homework policy than numbers of terms in some school years.

A ‘no-homework’ policy pleases only a few; a grid of creative tasks crowd-sourced from the three teachers bothered to give their input infuriates many (parents, teachers and children alike). For some parents, no matter how much homework is set, it’s never enough; for others, even asking them to fill in their child’s reading record once a week can be a struggle due to a busy working life.

Homework is very different around the world

We’d suggest that Piers Morgan’s argument for homework in comparing the UK’s economic and social progress with China’s in recent years based on total weekly homework hours is somewhat misguided – we can’t put their emergence as the world’s (if not already, soon to be) leading superpower exclusively down to having their young people endure almost triple the number of hours spent completing homework as their Western counterparts.

Nonetheless, there’s certainly a finer balance to strike between the 14 hours a week suffered by Shanghainese school-attendees and none whatsoever. Certainly parents in the UK spend less time each week helping their children than parents in emerging economies such as India, Vietnam and Colombia (Source: Varkey Foundation Report).

Disadvantages of homework at primary school

Delaney, whose son attends a London state primary school, has made it plain that he thinks his kids get given too much homework and he’d rather have them following more active or creative pursuits: drawing or playing football. A father of four sons and a retired professional footballer Gary Linaker was quick to defend this but he also has the resources to send his children to top boarding schools which generally provide very structured homework or ‘prep’ routines.

As parents Rob and Gary are not alone. According to the 2018 Ofsted annual report on Parents Views  more than a third of parents do not think homework in primary school is helpful to their children. They cite the battles and arguments it causes not to mention the specific challenges it presents to families with SEND children many of whom report serious damage to health and self-esteem as a result of too much or inappropriate homework.

It’s a truism among teachers that some types of homework tells you very little about what the child can achieve and much more about a parent’s own approach to the work. How low does your heart sink when your child comes back with a D & T project to create Stonehenge and you realise it’s either an all-nighter with glue, cardboard and crayons for you, or an uncompleted homework project for your child!

Speaking with our teacher hats on, we can tell you that homework is often cited in academic studies looking at academic progress in primary school-aged children as showing minimal to no impact.

Back on Twitter, a fellow teacher was able to weigh-in with that point:

Benefits of homework at primary school

So what are the benefits of homework at primary school? According to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) (the key research organisations dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement) the impact of homework at primary is low, but it also doesn’t cost much.

They put it at a “+2 months” impact against a control of doing nothing. To put this into context, 1-to-1 tuition is generally seen as a +5 months impact but it’s usually considered to be expensive.

“There is some evidence that when homework is used as a short and focused intervention it can be effective in improving students’ attainment … overall the general benefits are likely to be modest if homework is more routinely set.”

Key to the benefit you’ll see from homework is that the task is appropriate and of good quality. The quantity of homework a pupil does is not so important. In this matter Katharine Birbalsingh is on the money. Short focused tasks which relate directly to what is being taught, and which are built upon in school, are likely to be more effective than regular daily homework.

In our view it’s about consolidation. So focusing on a few times tables that you find tricky or working through questions similar to what you’ve done in class that day or week often can be beneficial. 2 hours of worksheets on a Saturday when your child could be outside having fun and making friends probably isn’t. If you really want them to be doing maths, then do some outdoor maths with them instead of homework !

At Third Space Learning we believe it’s all about balance. Give the right sort of homework and the right amount at primary school and there will be improvements, but much of it comes down to parental engagement.

One of our favourite ways to practise maths at home without it become too onerous is by using educational games. Here are our favourite fun maths games , some brilliant KS2 maths games , KS1 maths games and KS3 maths games for all maths topics and then a set of 35 times tables games which are ideal for interspersing with your regular times tables practice. And best of all, most of them require no more equipment than a pen and paper or perhaps a pack of cards.

Homework and parents

One of the key benefits cited by EEF is in regard to parental engagement. Time after time, the greatest differentiator between children who make great progress at school – and those, frankly – who don’t is due to the same factor in the same studies: parental engagement .

It is a fair assumption that if a parent is engaged in their child’s learning, they’re probably going to be the same parents who encourage and support their child when they’re completing their homework.

Whereas parents who are disengaged with their child’s school and schooling – for whatever reason (sorry, Piers, it’s rarely due to laziness), are highly unlikely to be aware of what homework gets set each week, let alone to be mucking in with making sure it gets handed in completed and on time.

We also encounter time and again, the issue of parents’ own lack of confidence in maths. A survey by Pearson found that:

• 30 percent of parents “don’t feel confident enough in their own maths skills to help their children with their primary school maths homework”
• 53 per cent insisted they struggled to understand the new maths teaching methods used in modern classrooms. Fortunately that’s what we’re here to address.

Setting the right homework at primary school can be tricky

Although we disagree with Piers, we can see what he may be driving at in terms of setting appropriate homework.

The question quickly becomes what would Piers think of as being ‘interesting’ homework, and if all four of his children would agree upon the same thing being ‘interesting’.

That’s the problem.

One would imagine Piers would find it hard enough finding one task to satisfy the interest of all of his four children – it’s almost impossible to find a task that will engage the interest of 30 or more children in their out of school hours.

Each with different emotional, behavioural and learning needs, then sprinkle in the varying levels of poverty each family suffers (be it financial or in terms of time), and you can see how it isn’t just about being a good or bad teacher – whatever that means – in regards to being able to set Morgan-approved homework tasks.

What does this mean for my child?

Ultimately, the question at the top of mind whenever a parent thinks about homework is a more general one – am I doing the best for my child?

Although the world is changing at a faster pace than ever before in human history, what’s best for children hasn’t changed that much (if at all).

One-to-one support is best, and young people benefit most from adult-child conversations where they acquire new vocabulary and language structures to form and share their thoughts and opinions.

These insights – that one-to-one support is best and that regular, structured adult-child conversations are life-changing within a child’s development – are what inspired us to create Third Space Learning.

A platform where children can engage with a community of specialist tutors in a safe, structured learning environment where they are able to engage in one-to-one conversations that enable them to progress in their learning with confidence.

• How to help your child with their maths homework – A parents guide
• The Best Homework Hacks: 18 Tips And Tricks To Help Busy Parents Get It Done Faster!
• The 20 Most Recommended Teaching Blogs for UK Teachers and School Leaders

DO YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE SUPPORT IN MATHS?

Every week Third Space Learning’s maths specialist tutors support thousands of students across hundreds of schools with weekly one to one tuition designed to plug gaps and boost progress.

Since 2013 these personalised one to one lessons have helped over 150,000 primary and secondary students become more confident, able mathematicians.

Learn about our experience with schools or request a personalised quote for your school to speak to us about your school’s needs and how we can help.

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The Pros and Cons of Homework

Updated: December 7, 2023

Published: January 23, 2020

Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

Photo by  energepic.com  from  Pexels

Why should students have homework, 1. homework encourages practice.

Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .

2. Homework Gets Parents Involved

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

3. Homework Teaches Time Management

Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.

4. Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication

Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.

5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time

Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.

6. Homework Reduces Screen Time

Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

1. homework encourages a sedentary lifestyle.

Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework.

While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom.

Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.

2. Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home

While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad .

3. Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job

School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.

4. Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results

Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success.

The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements.

It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity.

Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.

5. Homework Assignments Are Overdone

The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.

On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.

The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.

It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.

Related Articles

A KS2 lesson that encourages pupils to consider the Pros and Cons of plastic before making and justifying a personal opinion about the positive and negatives associated with plastic.

This lesson has a linked Lesson Resource file .

NC references

• listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers
• ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge
• use relevant strategies to build their vocabulary
• articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions

Learning objectives

To read a range of facts about plastic, consider and justify whether they are positive or negative.

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Persuasive Writing - school uniform

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

22 February 2018

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schoolgirl114

amazing thanks.

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

agallagher901

That was a fun resource- just exactly what we needed at that point- thank you!

it was really good thank you

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