“I live and die by your website!” ~ a coordinator in Washington

Arizona ELA Standard: 8.RI.8

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Natural Disasters Tournament
Natural Disasters Tournament
Earthquake vs. hurricane. Tsunami vs. wildfire. Students set the criteria, argue their case, and crown a champion. Warning: it gets heated.
Gr 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Chess Variant: Monster Chess
Chess Variant: Monster Chess
What if you had really weak chess pieces, but you could always move twice?
Gr 1-8
Charge of the Light Brigade – Chess Variant
Charge of the Light Brigade – Chess Variant
What if one side played with THREE QUEENS and the other had SEVEN KNIGHTS!? What if?
Gr 2-8
The 8th Wonder of the World Tournament
The 8th Wonder of the World Tournament
Which of these eight wonders deserves to become the Eighth Wonder of the World!?
Gr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Exploration Technology Tournament
Exploration Technology Tournament
Which of these pieces of exploration technology is most important? Most underrated? Most long-lasting?
Gr 1-8
Precipitation Tournament
Precipitation Tournament
Eight types of precipitation battle it out in this tournament.
Gr 1-8
Tournament of Ancient Inventions
Tournament of Ancient Inventions
Which of these inventions of the ancient world is most influential? Least useful today? Most taken-for-granted?
Gr 1-8
Paradox: Rebuilding A Ship
Paradox: Rebuilding A Ship
What if we completely rebuild something slowly? What if we completely rebuild it all at once? Is it still the same thing?
Gr 1-8
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome
How high-performing students can often feel like they aren’t really that great.
Gr 2-8
Paradox: The Barber’s Paradox
Paradox: The Barber’s Paradox
The barber shaves everybody who doesn’t themselves. So… does the barber shave himself?
Gr 1-8
Paradox: Crocodile Dilemma
Paradox: Crocodile Dilemma
A crocodile makes a deal. But the deal creates a paradox. Can your students untangle a 2,000-year-old logic puzzle?
Gr 1-8
Paradox: The Liar’s Paradox
Paradox: The Liar’s Paradox
Nothing like a paradox to get your kids brains exploding 🤯! This one starts with five simple words: “This statement is a lie.”
Gr 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Propaganda and Logical Fallacies
Propaganda and Logical Fallacies
Let’s see how propaganda techniques can make even something great seem bad.
Gr 1-8
Persuasion and Packaging: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
Persuasion and Packaging: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
How does a drink’s packaging affect us emotionally and logically?
Gr 4-8
Depth and Complexity: ⚖️ Ethics
Depth and Complexity: ⚖️ Ethics
Want to add drama to any topic? Use the Ethics prompt!
Gr 2-8