Should School Safety Drills Be a Surprise?
Schools practice safety drills every year. Children practice fire drills and weather drills. They learn how to walk quietly and listen to teachers. But adults have different ideas about safety drills. Some adults think drills should be a surprise. Other adults think teachers should tell students before a drill starts.
Some people think surprise drills are helpful. In real life, bad weather or trouble does not give a warning. When a drill is a surprise, students and teachers practice acting fast. Leaders can also see what needs work. They think surprise practice makes people ready for anything.
Other people think surprise drills can scare children. When a drill happens without warning, students might feel afraid. They might think something bad is really happening. Feeling scared can cause big worries and tears. These people say teachers should always tell students first. Practicing calmly still teaches everyone what to do, without making anyone feel upset.
Both sides want the very same thing. They both want children and teachers to stay safe at school. They just disagree on the best way to practice.
- drills:
- Practice activities that teach people what to do in an emergency.
- safety:
- Being safe and protected from hurt or danger.
- surprise:
- Something that happens without you knowing it was coming.
- warning:
- A sign or message that something is about to happen.
- calmly:
- Doing something in a quiet, peaceful way without getting upset.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Fact & Opinion
Distinguish verifiable statements from judgments, beliefs, and preferences in context.
Claims & Evidence
Trace and evaluate how claims are supported by reasons and evidence.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What do students practice during school safety drills?
- 2What are two kinds of drills mentioned in the story?
About this opinion / argumentative passage for 2nd Grade
“Should School Safety Drills Be a Surprise?” is a opinion / argumentative reading passage about School Safety, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 1 minute to read (180 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.