Mars Showdown Worksheet Red Planet Showdown
Mars Evidence Duel • Front Page
NAME:
DATE:
PERIOD:
Mission: A claim is an author's main point, but it means nothing without strong proof. In each duel, read both sides. Pick the side with the strongest, most factual evidence , and use the sentence stem to write your explanation.
Duel 1
Human Survival: Backup Planet vs. Protecting Earth
Check the winning box below
Side A: Mars Is Our Backup Pick A
"Humans need a city on Mars so our species survives if a giant asteroid hits Earth."
Evidence: Fossil records prove that giant asteroid impacts have wiped out over 75% of living species in the past, including dinosaurs. A second home planet protects humans from total extinction.
Side B: Earth Is Our Only Real Home Pick B
"Earth is thousands of times easier to survive on than Mars, even after a disaster."
Evidence: Mars has freezing temperatures (-80°F), deadly space radiation, poisonous dust, and unbreathable air. Even the harshest place on Earth has breathable oxygen and liquid water.
Sentence Stem: "I chose Side _____ because their evidence proves that _________________________. This evidence is stronger because..."
Duel 2
The Trillion-Dollar Question: Inventions vs. Earth Problems
Check the winning box below
Side A: New Technology Pays Off Pick A
"Spending money on space missions creates inventions that improve life on Earth."
Evidence: NASA reports show that past space programs invented everyday items we use today, including scratch-resistant glasses, clean water filters, cordless tools, and phone cameras.
Side B: Fix Earth's Crises First Pick B
"Spending trillions on Mars wastes money that could feed hungry people and clean oceans."
Evidence: Experts estimate building a small base on Mars would cost over $1 trillion. Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that $40 billion per year could end world hunger.
Sentence Stem: "Side _____ has the more convincing evidence because it shows that _________________________. This is important because..."
Turn over for Duel 3 and your Championship Final Stance
Back Page
Part 2: Astronaut Health vs. Robots & Final Verdict
Student Name: ___________________________
Duel 3
Exploration Method: Human Astronauts vs. Robotic Rovers
Check the winning box below
Side A: Human Brains Work Faster Pick A
"Human scientists can make faster discoveries and solve surprise problems on Mars."
Evidence: Apollo astronauts on the Moon collected 842 pounds of rocks and did complex field experiments in days. Robotic rovers take months to drive across a single crater.
Side B: Robots Don't Get Sick or Die Pick B
"Deep space is too dangerous for living bodies, making robot rovers the smarter choice."
Evidence: Medical tests show astronauts lose bone strength and face dangerous cancer risks from space radiation. Rovers like Curiosity have worked for over 12 years without food or oxygen.
Sentence Stem: "I ruled that Side _____ wins this duel because their evidence proves that _________________________. This matters because..."
Championship Round
Your Final Case: Should Humanity Colonize Mars?
Official Ruling
Step 1: Your Claim (Your Thesis Statement)
Sentence Stem: "In my opinion, humanity [should / should not] colonize Mars because..."
Step 2: Your Strongest Evidence (A Real Fact, Measurement, or Scientific Data)
Sentence Stem: "The most convincing piece of evidence supporting my claim is that..."
Step 3: Your Reasoning (Explain How Your Evidence Proves Your Claim)
Sentence Stem: "This evidence proves my claim because..."
Sixth Grade Argument Checklist:
Clear Claim (Yes or No) Real Facts (Not Just Opinion) Sentence Stems Completed
Mars Showdown Slides Sixth Grade Argument Challenge
Red Planet Showdown
Claim vs. Claim: The Mars Colonization Evidence Duel
Big Question: Should humans build a city on Mars?
Goal: Find the Strongest Proof
How To Play
How The Showdown Works
A claim is an author's main point—but it needs rock-solid proof to win!
1
Read The Duel
Read two opposing claims battling over human survival, money, and space danger.
2
Test The Evidence
Spot the difference between proven facts and hopeful guesses or opinions.
3
Pick & Explain
Check the winning box and finish the sentence stem to prove why your side won.
Rule: Don't just vote for what sounds cooler—vote for the side with better proof!
Evidence Checklist
What Makes Evidence Strong?
Ask these three simple questions to find the champion evidence.
Is It A Real Fact?
Does it use real numbers, science, or history instead of just someone's personal opinion?
Does It Match?
Does the proof actually back up the exact claim, or is it an interesting fact that changes the subject?
Is It Hard To Defeat?
Does it stay strong even when the other side brings up a tough counterargument?
Strong: Real measurements, historical records, science tests Weak: Wishes, guesses, "everyone says so," emotional appeals
Class Warm-Up Practice
Which Side Has Stronger Proof?
Claim: "Robot rovers are better for exploring Mars than human astronauts."
Contender A (Fact-Based)
"Rovers have explored Mars for over 12 years without food, water, or air, sending back 1.2 million soil tests at 1% of the cost of sending humans."
Real facts: measured years, test counts, and exact costs
Contender B (Opinion-Based)
"Millions of middle school students follow Mars rovers online, and most people agree that robots look really cool in space photos."
Weak proof: popularity and personal opinions
Vote: Point Left for Contender A or Right for Contender B! Sentence Stem: "Contender A wins because it uses real data like..."
Action Phase
Deploy: Complete Your Mission
Grab your front-and-back sheet. Complete all 3 duels and the final championship!
Your Task
• Front: Complete Duel 1 (Survival) and Duel 2 (Money).
• Back: Complete Duel 3 (Health vs. Robots) and your Final Stance.
• Sentence Stems: Use the provided stems to write complete explanations.
Helpful Questions
• Does this evidence provide real facts or just opinions?
• Does this proof actually answer the other side's argument?
Work Time: 12-15 Minutes
Be ready to defend your ruling out loud!
Mars Showdown Answer Key Red Planet Showdown
Teacher Answer Key
Instructional Guide, Exemplar Sentence Stems & Discussion Points
Grade 6 Argument Black & White Print Edition
Teacher Tip: In an evidence duel, either side can earn full credit. Students are graded on whether they cite specific factual proof from the text and use the provided sentence stem to explain why their evidence outweighs the opponent's claim.
Duel 1 Key
Human Survival: Backup Planet vs. Protecting Earth
Analysis & Exemplars
Side A Strength (Backup Planet):
Uses historical fossil evidence (dinosaurs, 75% extinction). Strong long-term reasoning, but extinction events occur over millions of years (low immediate urgency).
Side B Strength (Protecting Earth):
Uses measurable physical science (freezing -80°F temperatures, radiation, poison soil, no oxygen). Highlights that Earth remains far more livable even after disaster.
[Exemplar Response: Choosing Side B - Earth First]
"I chose Side B because their evidence proves that Mars has deadly radiation, -80°F temperatures, and unbreathable air, while Earth still has air and water even after a catastrophe . This evidence is stronger because it uses scientific facts about how human bodies survive, proving that fixing Earth is way more realistic than trying to live on a poisonous planet. "
[Alternative Valid Response: Choosing Side A - Mars Backup]
"I chose Side A because their evidence proves that fossil records show past asteroid impacts wiped out over 75% of life on Earth . This evidence is stronger because it shows that staying on only one planet leaves humans with a 100% risk of eventual extinction if a giant space rock strikes. "
Duel 2 Key
The Trillion-Dollar Question: Inventions vs. Earth Problems
Analysis & Exemplars
Side A Strength (New Inventions):
Names concrete, relatable inventions (water filters, phone cameras, cordless tools). Proves that space spending is an investment that benefits regular people.
Side B Strength (Fix Earth Crises):
Uses direct numerical comparison ($1 trillion Mars base vs. $40 billion UN hunger budget). High ethical and humanitarian appeal for public funding priorities.
[Exemplar Response: Choosing Side B - Fix Earth First]
"Side B has the more convincing evidence because it shows that one Mars base costs over $1 trillion, but just $40 billion a year could solve world hunger on Earth . This is important because it uses real cost numbers from the UN to prove that helping billions of starving people today is a much better use of tax money than sending a few people to space. "
[Alternative Valid Response: Choosing Side A - Technology Payoff]
"Side A has the more convincing evidence because it shows that space missions directly invented clean water filters and phone cameras that help billions of people on Earth . This is important because solving hard problems on Mars will create new solar power and medical tech that saves lives here on Earth. "
Turn over for Duel 3, Championship Stance Exemplars, and Scoring Rubric
Key: Page 2
Duel 3 Key, Championship Models & Scoring Rubric
Evaluation & Grading Guide
Duel 3 Key
Exploration Method: Human Astronauts vs. Robotic Rovers
Analysis & Exemplars
[Exemplar Response: Choosing Side B - Robotic Rovers]
"I ruled that Side B wins this duel because their evidence proves that space radiation gives astronauts cancer and causes bone loss, while rovers have explored Mars for over 12 years without food or oxygen . This matters because it is irresponsible and dangerous to risk human lives when robotic technology can safely collect the exact same scientific data. "
[Alternative Valid Response: Choosing Side A - Human Astronauts]
"I ruled that Side A wins this duel because their evidence proves that Apollo astronauts gathered 842 pounds of Moon rocks and ran tests in days, while robots take months to cross one crater . This matters because human scientists think critically and make major discoveries decades faster than slow remote-controlled machines. "
Championship Models
Exemplar Stances for Final Student Ruling
Grading Benchmarks
Model Stance: Earth First (Against Mars Colony)
1. Claim: "In my opinion, humanity should not colonize Mars because Earth is facing urgent environmental and poverty crises that need all our global resources."
2. Evidence: "The most convincing piece of evidence supporting my claim is that building a 100-person base costs over $1 trillion, but the UN proves $40 billion per year could end world hunger."
3. Reasoning: "This evidence proves my claim because spending trillions to escape to an uninhabitable desert while millions suffer on Earth is unethical and irresponsible."
Model Stance: Space Expansion (For Mars Colony)
1. Claim: "In my opinion, humanity should colonize Mars because establishing a second home planet protects human civilization from asteroid extinction."
2. Evidence: "The most convincing piece of evidence supporting my claim is that Earth has suffered mass extinctions that wiped out 75% of all species, including the dinosaurs."
3. Reasoning: "This evidence proves my claim because no matter how well we treat Earth, space impacts are inevitable, making a self-sufficient colony our only guaranteed backup plan."
Sixth Grade Argument Scoring Rubric (10 Points Total)
Fast Grading Guide
Duels 1, 2, & 3 (6 Pts)
2 pts each: Student checks a winner and finishes the sentence stem citing specific text evidence.
Final Claim (1 Pt)
Student states a clear, direct stance (should or should not colonize) using the sentence stem.
Final Evidence (2 Pts)
Student provides a verifiable fact, statistic, or measurement rather than an unbacked opinion.
Final Reasoning (1 Pt)
Student connects the evidence back to the claim, explaining why this proof clinches the argument.
