Handout 5

This is What I Think

Write an Opinion

Grade Levels: K-1; can be adapted to older grades

Time Frame: Approximately two or three class periods

Overview: This lesson introduces the concept of opinion, distinguishing it from fact and story. It asks students to use a combination of drawing, copying, and writing to express opinions and give reasons for their opinions. For kindergartners, you may wish to omit the part of the lesson that covers reasons. You can adapt the lesson to older grades by teaching additional opinion words and linking the writing activity to writing a paragraph instead of drawing a picture.

College and Career Ready Standards

  • W.K.24: Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is…).
  • W.1.24: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
  • L.K.37: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Print many upper and lower case letters.
  • L.1.37: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English, grammar, and usage when writing or speaking. a. Print all upper and lower case letters.
  • L.K.41: Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.
  • L.1.41: Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships (e.g., because).

Objectives

  • Students will learn what an opinion is.
  • Students will write an opinion statement.
  • Students will give one reason to support an opinion.
  • Students will use opinion words (e.g., best,favorite) and reason words (e.g., because)
  • Students will use drawings to help express opinions.

Background Knowledge Required

No particular background knowledge is required for this lesson.

Materials Needed

  • Copies of the handout: Opinion Activity Sheet
  • Copies of the handout: Opinion with Reason Activity Sheet

Agenda

  1. Introduction: Help students discover what an opinion is and how it differs from a fact and a story. You might use the concept of pets and talk about what a pet is (fact) and then ask a volunteer to tell you how he or she takes care of a pet (story). Then tell students that people can talk about pets by giving their opinions. You might say, “An opinion is what someone thinks about something. Other people might think something different. For example, ‘Alligators make the best pets.’ Who agrees with this? Who does not agree with this? What do you think is the best pet? Good! You have just told me an opinion.”

On the board, write the sentences “The best pet is_____.” and “The worst pet is _____.” Underline the wordbest and explain that it is an opinion word. This word helps the speaker or writer give an opinion. So does worst. Demonstrate by writing two model sentences of your own, using extreme examples that students will find easy to disagree with. For example, “The best pet is an elephant.” and “The worst pet is a goldfish.”

Pass out the Opinion Activity Sheet. Have students draw pictures of either the best pet or the worst pet, in their opinion. On the lines, students should write a sentence to express their opinion about the best or worst pet. Remind them to refer to the model sentences on the board to get help with spelling and wording.

  1. Continue the Lesson (next class period): Briefly review the concept of opinion by writing model sentences on the board. Choose a new topic (instead of pets), such as a favorite snack. Point out the opinion word favorite, and remind the students that opinion words help people give their opinions. Then explain that people can give reasons for their opinions. A reason tells people why that is someone’s opinion. Give examples. “My favorite snack is string cheese because it is fun to eat.” Underline because, and explain that this word helps a person give a reason for his or her opinion.

Pass out the Opinion with Reason Activity Sheet. Have students draw pictures of their favorite snacks. On the lines, students should write a sentence or two. They should tell what their favorite snacks are (opinion) and give reasons. Remind students to refer to the model sentences on the board to get help with spelling and wording.

  1. Wrap-Up: Collect completed activity sheets. Hold up and read aloud each one, emphasizing the opinion word (favorite) and the reason word (because). If a student’s work doesn’t express an opinion and/or a reason, just read it and go on. You can provide constructive feedback in the assessment activity.

Extend the Lesson

Ask students to browse the classroom library and choose a favorite book. Pass out fresh copies of the Opinion Activity Sheet or the Opinion with Reason Activity Sheet and have them write a sentence(s) to tell what their favorite book is about and, if required, a reason for the opinion. For example, “My favorite book is about volcanoes because I can see a real one.” Then they should draw a picture of what the book is about (e.g., a volcano).

Differentiation

For students who need extra support

  • Prepare activity sheets that have fill in the blank sentences to express the opinion and reason. Ask students to underline the opinion word and the reason word in their completed sentences.

For advanced students

  • Give the option to write two reasons to support the opinion.

Assessment

  • Meet with students in small groups to review their Opinion Activity sheets. Ask each student to read his or her opinion. Affirm that this is an opinion (“Good. You told me what you think the worst pet is. That is your opinion.”)or give corrective feedback (“You told me a fact: ‘I love my cat.’ That is not an opinion. Would you say that a cat makes the best or the worst pet? Okay, write that down: ‘A cat is the best pet.’ That is your opinion. Do you see the opinion word that you used, best?”
  • Review the Opinion with Reason Activity Sheets, giving feedback to affirm or correct responses. “Emily, let’s talk about what you wrote. What is your favorite snack? Good. That is your opinion: ‘My favorite snack is a cookie.’ Can you tell me why a cookie is your favorite snack? Good! That is the reason for your opinion. ‘It tastes good.” or “Lyle, would you read your sentence to me? What you read is a story. It tells me that you ate pizza. Is pizza your favorite snack? OK, take this sheet of paper. Write a sentence that tells me that pizza is your favorite snack. Good. Do you see the opinion word that you used? You wrote an opinion. Now, can you tell me why pizza is your favorite snack?Great! That is a reason for your opinion. Write that down. Now you have written an opinion and a reason for the opinion. Nice work!”