Student handout — Discussion & Debate
Pocket money and snack shops near school: should kids spend their own allowance on sweets?
Pocket money and snack shops: allowance or parents pay?
Word bank
| Word | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| allowance | money a parent gives regularly (weekly or monthly) |
| budget | a plan for how to spend money |
| run out | to have no money left |
| spoil (food) | to make someone eat badly or behave badly by giving too much |
| independent | able to do things yourself, without help |
| approve | to say yes, it's okay |
Pros and cons: check the ones you agree with
Allowance (kids decide):
- [ ] Kids learn to plan their own money.
- [ ] Kids feel more grown up.
- [ ] Kids might buy only candy and chips.
- [ ] Kids might run out of money early.
Parents pay each time:
- [ ] Parents can stop too much junk food.
- [ ] Parents know exactly what their kid eats.
- [ ] Kids ask for money every day, which is annoying.
- [ ] Kids don't learn to plan ahead.
Sentence frames
- I think ___ because ___.
- In my opinion, kids should ___.
- One problem with ___ is ___.
- I agree / disagree with my partner because ___.
Discussion questions (pick one per group)
- Should an allowance come with rules, like "no more than one snack a day"?
- Is it better to get allowance every week or every month? Why?
- Should kids lose allowance if they don't do chores?
- If you had your own allowance, what would you spend it on first?