See how a school community discusses, votes, and improves a plan.
Read the school council note
Read the note. Then answer the questions about how the school community made its decision.
A Winter Entry Meeting
Northstar is a snowy northern town. At Northstar Elementary, second graders noticed wet boots and mittens made puddles by the side entrance after storms. They wanted a safe entry without blocking the narrow hall.
Ms. Chen helped the class council write the problem on a chart. The students invited custodian Mr. Alvarez. He could explain which spots needed to stay open and how each idea might affect cleaning. Students proposed three plans: baskets beside classrooms, drying racks beside the side entrance, or hooks on the covered porch.
Students shared reasons. One student liked baskets because younger students could find gear nearby. Another liked racks because wet gear could dry. Mr. Alvarez answered questions about wet gear and walking space. Then each student marked one choice on a ballot. Two students counted, and the class checked the totals together.
Drying racks got the most votes. The class and Mr. Alvarez tried them for a week. They noticed boots crowded the doorway, so they moved the racks against a wall and added a sign that left a walking lane. They asked classmates what was working and agreed to keep the changed setup.
1.
What problem was the class trying to solve?
○A.Choosing a winter sport for recess
○B.Finding a missing school bus
○C.Keeping the entry safe and less crowded
○D.Planning a town winter festival
2.
Why did the class invite Mr. Alvarez to the meeting?
○A.He knew how each plan might affect cleaning and open space.
○B.He counted every ballot without help from students.
○C.He chose school plans for every class.
○D.He stored all the winter gear at home.
3.
Which event happened before students marked their ballots?
○A.The class tried the racks for a week.
○B.The students moved the racks against a wall.
○C.Each student marked one choice.
○D.Students proposed and discussed three plans.
4.
Which reason from the discussion supports using drying racks?
○A.Younger students could find baskets nearby.
○B.Hooks would be placed on the porch.
○C.Wet winter gear could dry on the racks.
○D.The narrow hall needed a chart.
5.
Why did giving each student one ballot make the vote fair?
○A.Students could vote more than once.
○B.Each student had an equal chance to choose one plan.
○C.Adults could change student choices.
○D.The plan with the most colors would win.
Study the vote and the follow-up
Use the vote graph and the council note. Think about how people made and improved the decision.
6.
The drying-rack plan won with 12 votes. How many students chose one of the other two plans?
○A.12 students
○B.14 students
○C.18 students
○D.26 students
7.
Which statement is supported by the vote graph?
○A.Baskets and porch hooks received the same number of votes.
○B.Porch hooks received more votes than drying racks.
○C.All three plans received equal votes.
○D.Drying racks received more votes than either other plan.
8.
Suppose one student changed a vote from drying racks to porch hooks. Which plan would still have the most votes?
○A.Baskets
○B.Porch hooks
○C.Drying racks
○D.All three plans would tie.
9.
Circle the two actions that show the group checked its decision after the vote.
The class counted the ballots together.The class tried the racks for one week.Each student marked one ballot.Students asked classmates what was working and changed the setup.
10.
Why did the class and Mr. Alvarez move the racks and add a sign?
○A.They used what they observed to improve the chosen plan.
○B.They wanted to hold a second vote with no choices.
○C.They wanted another class to choose a new problem.
○D.They needed to hide the wet boots from students.
11.
A neighborhood group wants to choose a design for a sign at a snowy bus stop. What is a good way to make the decision together?
○A.Let one person choose without hearing other ideas.
○B.Show several designs, hear reasons, and then vote.
○C.Wait until every person likes the same design.
○D.Put up the first design someone draws.
12.
Two plans receive the same number of votes. What would be a fair next step?
○A.Count only the oldest voters' choices.
○B.Choose the plan with the best drawing.
○C.Discuss the tied plans and use an agreed fair next step.
○D.Stop working on the community problem.
13.
Circle the two details from the council note that show the class gathered information before voting.
Mr. Alvarez explained which spots needed to stay open.Students asked questions about wet gear and walking space.Each student marked one choice on a ballot.Two students counted the totals together.
Explain how the group worked together
Write complete thoughts. Use details from the council note and vote graph.
14.
Explain how the Northstar class solved the winter-entry problem together. Use at least three steps from the council note.
15.
A student says, “Once a group votes, the problem is solved.” Do you agree or disagree? Use two details from the council note to explain.