Author - Elyse Barrett
Category - Lesson Plans, English, Writing, Storytelling
Lesson Plan Duration - 2 day(s)
Grade Level - 3-5

Lesson Plan Description

We will discuss, as a class, the difference between facts and opinions, especially pertaining to their usage in newspaper articles and in stories. We will begin a worksheet containing several sentences, and the students have to decide whether each is a fact or an opinion. After doing the first 3 together, they will complete the worksheet with a partner.

Primary Learning Objective(s):

After the class has a strong understanding of facts vs. opinions, each student will use a personal photo, brought from home, to use in a storytelling exercise. They will each use their photo to tell a story describing the events that took place before and after the photo was taken, and obviously, while the photo was taken. They will incorporate 5 facts and 5 opinions into their essays/stories, underlining facts in green and opinions in red.

The class will finish writing them at home and prepare some way to present what they have written. In class I will have given them several different options in regards to their presentations, connecting to each of the 8 multiple intelligences. Each student will choose their own way, out of my 8 options.

Write a "photo story" incorporating both facts and opinions, as the students understand both. This is a general introduction to nonfiction and fiction writing.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

Students will learn the difference between facts and opinions, they will be able to identify both facts and opinions, they will build skills necessary for writing paragraphs and essays, and finally they will use knowledge of facts and opinions to use in a story/essay.

Procedures/Activities:

Prime Time 1: Facts and Opinions worksheet Downtime: Complete with a partner, then go over and discuss the worksheet Prime Time 2: Discuss the "Photo Story" assignment ("A picture is worth a thousand words...") Show a popular photo (like those taken around the assassination of MLK Jr., for example) as an example to the class. Explain what is to be done, including different presentation options. Begin prewriting exercise/brainstorming.

Materials/Equipment:

Facts and Opinions worksheet (30 or so copies) Prewriting/Brainstorming worksheet (they may just draw it themselves in notebooks) Photo example Writing materials

Assessment Guidelines:

Formative assessment --> the "Photo Story" itself assesses the students' understanding of the fact vs. opinion lesson. Further, their presentations will show their overall understanding and their ability to present their understanding.