Texas TEKS 5.25.E

Social Studies5th GradeSocial studies skills

The Standard

apply foundational language skills to engage in civil discourse about social studies topics, including those with multiple perspectives.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students listen closely, take turns, and speak respectfully about public issues. They state a claim, use relevant evidence, ask clear questions, and accurately summarize another viewpoint.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain two viewpoints without mocking or misrepresenting either one. The student supports a position with evidence and responds to disagreement with a relevant question or reason.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think civil discussion means everyone must agree. They may interrupt, attack the speaker, give opinions without evidence, or describe an opposing view unfairly.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Read two viewpoints on a school rule. Summarize one viewpoint, then write a respectful response that includes evidence and a clarifying question.

Lesson moves

Give groups perspective cards and evidence strips about a local issue, then have students build and present one evidence-based claim.
Ask, "Should recess be longer?" and require students to summarize a classmate's view before sharing their own response.
Play Civil Discourse Bingo with squares for citing evidence, asking a question, paraphrasing, disagreeing respectfully, and inviting another speaker.
Read short public comments about a proposed park, then hold a mock city council meeting with assigned community roles.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 5.25.E, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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