Common Core Academy 2011
2nd Grade – Writing
Lesson Title:
BOY WERE WE WRONG ABOUT DINOSAURS
Objective/
Purpose
To state an opinion about a text and to be able to give the reasons behind the
opinion.
Common Core
Standard(s):
Writing Standards K–5
1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are
writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use
linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and
provide a concluding statement or section.
Science
Standard 4. Life Science
Objective 1. Tell how external features affect an animal’s ability to survive in its
environment.
BIG IDEA: Some kinds of living things that once lived on earth have completely
disappeared, although they were similar to others who are alive today.
INDICATOR 3:
Create possible explanations as to why some organisms no longer exist, but
similar organisms are still alive today.
Speaking and Listening Standard 1
Comprehension and Collaboration
Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2
topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful
ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and
texts under discussion).
Build on others’ talk in conversations by linking their comments to the remarks
of others.
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Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs
Ask for clarification and further explanation as needed about the topics and texts
under discussion.
Reading Standard: Foundational Skills
Standard 4
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Reading Standard: for informational texts
Standards 2 & 8
Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific
paragraphs within the text.
Describe how reasons support specific points the author makes in a text.
Materials
needed
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“Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs” by, Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Other dinosaur books
Composition books/ Journal
T-chart
Large chart paper
Large T chart
State the
Essential
Question
What is my opinion about how dinosaurs became extinct?
Anticipatory
Set
Start with stating the purpose of the lesson. Tell the students the reason you
have chosen to do this lesson. Remember this is not to learn about dinosaurs but
to learn about forming an opinion from reading a text. Talk about what an
opinion is. Review this throughout your lesson by restating the purpose of your
lesson.
Activate student’s background knowledge by asking students what they know
about dinosaurs, showing them “Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs”, and
asking the essential question. Begin the T Chart about dinosaurs: What we know
about dinosaurs and what the books state about dinosaurs.
Fill in the chart with the students’ responses.
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Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs
BODY OF THE LESSON
Teacher
Model
1. Ask the essential question again and then write your opinion on a new
chart in front of the class. Explain to them that you are using what you
already know about dinosaurs to form your opinion about the essential
question.
For example: Dinosaurs once lived on the earth because scientists have
discovered their fossil bones all over the world. They also found
dinosaur eggs and footprints.
Dinosaurs are no longer living today, they are extinct. Scientists have
many theories, but I think large, erupting volcanoes caused a change in
the weather. This change caused the dinosaurs’ habitat to be destroyed
and they became extinct. They could not survive in the changed habitat.
Scientists have found volcanic ash with the dinosaur bones, which
makes me believe my opinion is correct.
Guided
Instruction
1. Talk to the students about inferring; taking what you know about the
subject of dinosaurs and what the books state to make a conclusion.
An inference is a conclusion based on the evidence you have read and
what you know. An opinion is your personal feelings or ideas about a
topic.
We are going to read the book “Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs”
and we will draw a conclusion /infer and form an opinion from our
reading.
2. Start reading the book and have the students help you form an opinion
by inferring after you have read the first couple pages. Talk to them
about the importance of inferring and making an opinion from your
inferences.
3. Remind them that the purpose of the lesson is to be able to form an
opinion from what is read. Remind them that good readers do this while
they read.
4. Write their opinions down on the chart paper. Keep reading the book
stopping at the Iguanodon piece. Ask students why they think the
scientists were wrong. Write their opinion on the chart. Talk to them
about later adding details to their thoughts.
5. Make sure they use reasons to support their opinion. Continue reading
and stopping to write an opinion from each page or pages.
Independent
Practice
1. After you have finished the book, use the other side of the T chart to fill
in ideas that students have learned. Review the T chart about what they
knew about dinosaurs before reading and about what they learned from
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Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs
the book.
2. Give the students their own T chart and have them write down
everything they know about dinosaurs now. Then have them research
more about dinosaurs from other books or on the Internet. Students fill
out their T chart with new facts that they have learned about dinosaurs
that support their opinion.
3. Ask students the essential question again and have them draft their
opinion and give reasons for that opinion in their journals or writing
book. Remind them to add ideas from their chart to support their
opinion.
Review
Revise and Edit
The next day, have students come back to the rug and review your chart of
opinions. Show students the rubrics and revise together looking for correct
punctuation and capitalization. Use an orange marker (or any correction
color) to make the corrections. Then have them go to their paper and do
the same thing.
The following day teach a mini lesson on verbs and adjectives. Show
students how to add or change them to make their opinion piece have more
details by doing this to the opinion piece that you wrote together. Then
students go to their text and add adjectives and more descriptive verbs.
Have students rewrite their opinion piece creating a final draft.
After all revisions are completed have students use the 3 point rubric to
evaluate their writing.
Student sharing
Circle share: When the revision is finished have students bring their papers
and come to the rug and sit in a circle. Tell them that each person is going to
have an opportunity to share their piece and that after each piece we are going
to have a group discussion about their opinion and how they formed it. Talk
about this kind of discussion and how each individual’s opinion is valued and
there is no right or wrong. Have the students share their piece having a
discussion.
Use the speaking and listening standard 1 to guide this discussion.
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Boy Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs