Worksheet

A Case for a School Community Garden

Students evaluate a student op-ed about a school community garden, then plan a claim, reasons, evidence, and conclusion.

Grade 6ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toW.6.1

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What’s included

Single worksheet
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1 Common Core standard
Printable answer key
13 questions
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Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 6
Subject: ELA
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students distinguish claims, reasons, relevant evidence, and counterclaims in an argument.
Students evaluate whether evidence supports a reason without overstating what it proves.
Students plan an argument with a clear claim, supported reasons, and a conclusion.

How to use

Have students read the fictional op-ed and evaluate its argument. Then use the final planning frame to develop a short argument for the proposed garden.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

W.6.1

Write arguments that back up a claim with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Preview

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Name Date

A Case for a School Community Garden

Evaluate an argument, then plan your own.

Read and Evaluate

Read this fictional student op-ed. An op-ed presents a writer's position on an issue. Use only the information provided to answer the questions.

Give the Empty Courtyard a Purpose

1Beyond our school's cafeteria windows sits a fenced courtyard with cracked pavement and three empty planting beds. Students pass it every day, but few have a reason to enter. Our school should turn those beds into a small community garden shared by students, staff, and families. We should begin with the existing beds rather than attempt a costly redesign of the entire courtyard.

2First, the garden could give classroom lessons a practical setting. During a spring trial, Ms. Chen's science class planted one bed and recorded changes in plant height. According to the class project log, all six lab groups used their measurements to create graphs. Instead of treating the courtyard as a decoration, teachers could use it as a place to collect and discuss data.

3The garden could also create opportunities for families and students to work together. At the trial's Saturday planting session, fourteen students and nine family members prepared soil and planted seeds. The sign-in sheet recorded attendance, and several students worked beside adults they had not met before. One event cannot prove that everyone will participate, but it shows that a shared project can bring people together.

4Some families reasonably worry that a garden would be neglected during summer. In a survey following the trial, eight families offered to take weekly watering shifts. Offers are not the same as a complete schedule, however. Before expanding, the school should assign an adult coordinator and confirm coverage for every summer week. If gaps remain, the project should stay limited to one bed.

5A garden will require work, and its success is not guaranteed. Still, the trial offers a stronger starting point than an empty courtyard. Approve a small garden with a confirmed care schedule, then review participation and classroom use after one growing season.

Which statement best expresses the writer's main claim?

A. The school should replace the entire courtyard with new planting beds.
B. The school should require families to attend weekend planting sessions.
C. The school should develop a small shared garden with confirmed care.
D. The school should keep the courtyard for science classes alone.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 5 that most directly states the recommendation identified in question 1.

A garden will require work, and its success is not guaranteed.Still, the trial offers a stronger starting point than an empty courtyard.Approve a small garden with a confirmed care schedule, then review participation and classroom use after one growing season.

Which detail best supports the reason that a garden could provide practical classroom learning?

A. All six lab groups created graphs from their plant measurements.
B. Fourteen students attended the trial's Saturday planting session.
C. The courtyard contains three beds that are currently empty.
D. Eight families offered to take weekly summer watering shifts.

Classify each statement by its role in the argument.

The garden might be neglected during summer.The sign-in sheet recorded nine family members at the planting session.A garden could make classroom lessons more practical.The project log showed that six lab groups graphed plant measurements.A garden could give families and students a shared activity.

Reason to support the garden	Evidence from the trial	Concern about the proposal

How does the writer respond to the concern about summer care in paragraph 4?

A. By suggesting that summer watering is less important than planting
B. By arguing that the survey already guarantees enough volunteers
C. By proposing that teachers take responsibility for every watering shift
D. By requiring a coordinator and full coverage before the garden expands

Underline the sentence from paragraph 4 that most directly supports your answer to question 5.

Some families reasonably worry that a garden would be neglected during summer.In a survey following the trial, eight families offered to take weekly watering shifts.Offers are not the same as a complete schedule, however.Before expanding, the school should assign an adult coordinator and confirm coverage for every summer week.If gaps remain, the project should stay limited to one bed.

A student adds this sentence: “The planting session proves that every family will support the garden.” Which revision best matches what the evidence actually shows?

A. The planting session proves that most families prefer gardening to other activities.
B. The planting session shows that some families were willing to participate.
C. The planting session shows that families can manage the garden without staff.
D. The planting session proves that future events will attract larger groups.

Which additional evidence would be most relevant to the concern about summer care?

A. A map showing the courtyard's distance from each classroom
B. A list showing which vegetables students would like to grow
C. A schedule showing an assigned volunteer for each summer week
D. A photograph showing students preparing soil during the trial

Choose the transition from the word bank that makes the second sentence a result of the first.

Word bank: For example · Therefore · In contrast

The trial produced classroom data and brought families together. , the school has good reasons to consider a small garden.

10.

Which sentence would best strengthen the conclusion without introducing an unsupported new reason?

A. With a care plan, a small garden could support learning and community connections.
B. With more planting beds, a garden could supply vegetables for the cafeteria.
C. With enough advertising, a garden could become the town's most popular attraction.
D. With a larger budget, a garden could also help raise students' test scores.

Plan Your Argument

Plan your own short op-ed supporting a school community garden. Use the trial information as evidence. Write in your own words and do not claim more than the evidence proves.

11.

Claim: Write one sentence stating what the school should do. Make your position specific enough to guide the rest of your argument.

12.

Reasons and evidence: Write two short paragraphs. In each, give a different reason supporting your claim, cite one relevant detail from the trial, and explain how that detail supports the reason. Use a transition to connect the paragraphs.

13.

Closing: Write three or four sentences that acknowledge the summer-care concern, offer a practical response, and conclude by restating your recommendation. Do not introduce a new reason for the garden.