CERCA SLIDES
Designing Our Communities
What are the benefits and challenges of different communities, and how do they design solutions to face these challenges? From sports programs to school gardens to transportation, AI in higher education, and water supply – community designs can generate great discussions and argument-building for your students.
CERCA Slides by Grade

Grade 3: A Safer Sport
What are the most convincing pieces of evidence in the text for the argument that there should be an age limit for kids to play tackle football?
CCSS.RI.3.2
CCSS.W.3.1

Grade 4: Unified Sports
According to the evidence in the article, what are the most important benefits of the Special Olympics Unified Sports program for the athletes who participate?
CCSS.RI.4.2
CCSS.W.4.1

Grade 5: Chasing Greatness
Based on the information in the article, is playing in the OTE league worth the risk for young basketball players?
CCSS.RI.5.2
CCSS.W.5.1

Grade 6: Straight from School Gardens to Lunchrooms: Delicious or Dangerous?
Analyze the author's use of the video, subheadings, bullet points, and examples in the text. Do these text features help the author make a strong case for building school gardens?
CCSS.RI.6.7
CCSS.W.6.1

Grade 7: A Surprising Reason Preventing Some Students From Finishing College: Lack of Transportation
Trace the claim and evidence for the author's argument to find solutions to transportation barriers for college students. What is the most effective evidence for his argument: research, expert opinions, or personal experiences?
CCSS.RI.7.1
CCSS.W.7.1

Grade 8: California Just Ran on 100% Renewable Energy, but Fossil Fuels Aren’t Fading Away Yet
How does the author use details and visuals about the California model to appeal to the audience in this argument for using clean energy?
CCSS.RI.8.2
CCSS.W.8.1

Grade 9: Influencers Aren’t Going Anywhere. So What Does That Mean for Today’s Teens?
Trace and evaluate the author’s claim and supporting evidence. What does the author argue could be done to address both the positive and negative impacts of social media influencers on adolescents?
CCSS.RI.9-10.1
CCSS.W.9-10.1

Grade 10: America's Clean Water Crisis Goes Far Beyond Flint. There's No Relief In Sight.
How does the author use descriptive details and anecdotes to appeal to the audience in this argument for safe water access?
CCSS.RI.9-10.2
CCSS.W.9-10.1

Grade 11: Animals Notice—and Adapt—When Humans are in National Parks
Trace and evaluate the author's claim and evidence, including text features, to evaluate whether this information does or does not support the author's argument.
CCSS.RI.11-12.7
CCSS.W.11-12.1
