Class Debate

This discussion-based worksheet is designed for Grades 4-6 and helps students explore the major themes of Esperanza Rising through structured debate and thoughtful conversation. Students respond to five debate prompts connected to key issues in the novel-such as class differences, immigration, perseverance, labor strikes, and hope-by sharing their opinions and supporting them with examples from the text. The worksheet supports both small-group and whole-class discussions, encouraging students to listen respectfully, speak clearly, and think critically. A final reflection prompt asks students to evaluate which topic sparked the strongest discussion and explain why, promoting metacognition and self-awareness.

Learning Goals

• Speaking & Listening Skills (Upper Elementary ELA) – Participate in collaborative discussions and debates
• Textual Evidence Use – Support spoken opinions with specific examples from the novel
• Critical Thinking – Analyze complex social and emotional issues through literature
• Reflective Writing – Evaluate discussion experiences and explain personal insights

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with upper elementary ELA and social studies standards
• Discussion-Driven Learning – Encourages respectful dialogue and multiple perspectives
• Text-Connected Prompts – Keeps conversation grounded in the novel
• Builds Confidence in Oral Expression – Supports students in sharing ideas clearly
• Flexible Use – Works well for literature circles, Socratic seminars, or classroom debates
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clear prompts and reflection space

This class debate worksheet helps students engage with Esperanza Rising beyond written responses by exploring its themes through discussion. By expressing and defending ideas with textual evidence, learners strengthen communication skills, deepen comprehension, and develop empathy for different perspectives. The reflection component ensures students think about not just what they discussed, but how and why those conversations mattered.

This worksheet is part of our Esperanza Rising Worksheets collection.