Fact vs Opinion Lesson in Grade 4 Learning Objectives Students will be able to differentiate between fact and opinion statements and write examples of each. Activity Introduction Description Tell students that today they will learn to differentiate between facts and opinions, and write examples of each type of statement. Ask students what they already know about facts and opinions, and how they tell them apart. Record student responses on a piece of chart paper. Aids Chart paper, markers Overhead projector Show students the video on facts vs. opinions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ngkj2LxKs&t=25s Explicit Tell students that a fact is a statement that can be Instruction/Teacher proven or checked, while an opinion is a statement modeling that tells what a person thinks, feels, or believes and cannot be proven. Inform students that authors often state an opinion and then back up their opinion with facts. Read the sentences from the worksheet and ask students to raise one hand if it is a fact and two hands if it is an opinion. Guided Practice Divide the class into two groups. Distribute the Fact and Opinion Sorting cards to the groups. Give directions aloud and model how to differentiate fact from opinion for the first two statements. After the groups finish sorting, ask them to check the answers of another group. Discuss the results. Independent Hand out a sticky note to each student, and instruct Practice them to write a fact on one sticky note and an opinion statement on the other. Refer students to the examples previously read and the video for inspiration. Once they have finished writing, collect the sticky notes and redistribute them to the students, making sure they did not get their own sticky notes. Divide the board into two parts, one labeled 'Fact' and the other 'Opinion'. Give students a minute to read the sentences on the sticky notes and invite them to come up to the board to sort their statements, and put them on the correct side. Review the sorting activity to fix any errors. Fact and opinion statements 2 sets of Fact and Opinion Sorting Cards (precut) Sticky notes Pencils White board Markers BrainPOP UK Fact and Opinion Video (5m11s) In this educational, animated video for students aged 7-14 Tim and Moby explain the distinctions between these two important concepts. In this educational, animated movie you’ll learn that facts are supported by evidence that everyone can agree on, while opinions are based on personal beliefs and judgments. You’ll also learn the difference between an informed opinion and an uninformed one, and how bias can blur the line between truth and fiction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ngkj2Lx-Ks&t=25s Questions 1. Who created this message? 2. What techniques are used to attract my attention? 3. How might people understand this message differently? 4. What lifestyles, values and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message? 5. Why was this message sent? Possible Answers BrainPOPUK Bright cartoon-like footage Audio signals Younger kids (3-6) may not fully understand the terms and content, while adults may find watching this video distracting due to the techniques being used Parents teach their children to question what they see and hear. People may have different perspectives on the same matter. Differentiating between facts and opinions is an important skill that can be learned. This video was created with educational purpose for children aged 7-14 to help them distinguish facts from opinions. Fact and Opinion Statements 1. Running is the best form of exercise. 2. A triathlon involves running, bicycling, and swimming. 3. During World War II, the prime minister of Great Britain was Winston Churchill. 4. World War II was the most important war in world history. 5. Dogs are genetically related to wolves. 6. Cats are cuter than dogs. 7. Parrots have the ability to mimic human speech. 8. My neighbor’s parrot is very annoying.
