Grade
Skill/Strategy:
5
Unit
3
Week
3
Fact – Opinion / Prediction
Essential Questions: What can I use to help me make a valid prediction? How can I tell the difference
between facts and opinions?
Review: You can prove a statement of fact true or false. You can do this by using your own knowledge,
asking an expert, or checking a reference source such as an encyclopedia, a nonfiction text, or a
dictionary. A statement of opinion gives ideas or feelings, not facts. It cannot be proved true or false. A
sentence may contain both a statement of fact and a statement of opinion.
Active readers try to predict what they will learn when they read a nonfiction article. Preview the article.
Predict whether you will read mostly statements of fact or statements of opinion. This will help focus your
reading. After you read, see whether your prediction was correct.
Reading Street, Grade 5, Unit 3, p. 316
Part A: Predicting - Tell students they can use HEADINGS to help them predict what a text will be about.
Present the three headings from the attached sheet (Dinosaurs, Types of Dinosaurs, Dinosaur Characteristics)
and discuss what might be found under each heading. Then ask students to place the sentences from the
attached sheet under the appropriate heading. Summarize by asking students how they can use headings to
predict what a text will be about.
Dinosaurs
By far the most fascinating creatures ever to walk the earth were the dinosaurs. Dinosaurs lived from about 215 million
years ago until about 65 million years ago. Their name comes from two Greek words that mean “terrible lizard.” When you
see drawings or models of certain dinosaurs, it is very easy to understand how they got their name.
Types of dinosaurs Some dinosaurs were herbivores, meaning that they ate only plants. Apatosaurus and Iguanodon
were herbivores. Other dinosaurs were carnivores, or meat eaters. The most feared dinosaur of all, Tyrannosaurus, was a
carnivore.
Dinosaur characteristics Dinosaurs were marked by special body features. Stegosaurus had armor that it used for
protection. Pterosaur had wings like a bat’s. Tyrannosaurus had strong back legs but
short, weak front ones.
Reading Street, Grade 5, Unit 3, p. 317, Dinosaurs
Part B: Fact and Opinion Read each little story as a group. For each statement, decide whether it is a
fact or opinion by asking the key question, Can this be proven as true or false? Color in the Yes or No
box. If it is a fact, write how it can be proven.
1. Babe Ruth was a great baseball player. He played baseball from 1914 to 1935. For most of
those years, he played baseball for the New York Yankees. Later, he played for the Boston
Braves. People called Babe Ruth the “Home Run King” because he hit more home runs than
any player of his time.
A. Babe Ruth was a great baseball player. - opinion
B. People called Babe Ruth the “Home Run King” because he hit more home runs than any
player of his time. – fact, look it up in a book of baseball records or a book about Babe Ruth
2. The Battle of Little Big Horn was a famous battle in American history. The battle took place in
the state of Montana in 1876. General Custer and his army attacked a group of Native
Americans. The Native Americans fought back, killing Custer and 225 of his men.
A. The battle took place in the state of Montana in 1876. – fact, look at a Montana history book
B. The Battle of Little Big Horn was a famous battle in American history. – opinion
3. In 1778, Captain James Cook discovered the beautiful chain of islands called Hawaii. Hawaii
is very warm all year round. If we look on a map, we can find Hawaii near the center of the
Pacific Ocean. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state.
A. …the beautiful chain of islands called Hawaii – opinion
B. In 1778, Captain James Cook discovered....Hawaii. – fact, look in a book of the history of
Hawaii or a book about Captain James Cook
C. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. – fact, look in a book of the history of Hawaii or an
encyclopedia under the 50 states
Part C: Writing Facts and Opinions
Play the game “Two Facts and an Opinion”. Each person writes down
two true facts about themselves and one opinion. The others must
guess which is the opinion.
Model with an example:



I live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
I play the piano beautifully.
My dog’s name is Tonka.
Part D: Write to Read
Complete the Write to Read activity on page 316 using the story “Dinosaurs”. The graphic organizer
is attached.
Part A – Making Predictions
DINOSAURS
Types of Dinosaurs
Dinosaur Characteristics
Their name comes from two Greek words that mean “terrible lizard.”
Other dinosaurs were carnivores, or meat eaters.
Pterosaur had wings like a bat’s.
Tyrannosaurus had strong back legs but short, weak front ones.
By far the most fascinating creatures ever to walk the earth were the dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs were marked by special body features.
Some dinosaurs were herbivores, meaning that they ate only plants
The most feared dinosaur of all, Tyrannosaurus, was a carnivore.
Dinosaurs lived from about 215 million years ago until about 65 million years ago.
Stegosaurus had armor that it used for protection.
When you see drawings or models of certain dinosaurs, it is very easy to understand
how they got their name.
Apatosaurus and Iguanodon were herbivores.
Name _________________________________ Date __________________________________
Part B – Fact and Opinion
1. Babe Ruth was a great baseball player. He played baseball from 1914 to 1935. For most of those
years, he played baseball for the New York Yankees. Later, he played for the Boston Braves.
People called Babe Ruth the “Home Run King” because he hit more home runs than any player
of his time.
A. Babe Ruth was a great baseball player.
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
B. People called Babe Ruth the “Home Run King” because he hit more home runs than any
player of his time.
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
2. The Battle of Little Big Horn was a famous battle in American history. The battle took place in the
state of Montana in 1876. General Custer and his army attacked a group of Native Americans.
The Native Americans fought back, killing Custer and 225 of his men.
A. The battle took place in the state of Montana in 1876.
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
B. The Battle of Little Big Horn was a famous battle in American history.
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
3. In 1778, Captain James Cook discovered the beautiful chain of islands called Hawaii. Hawaii is
very warm all year round. If we look on a map, we can find Hawaii near the center of the Pacific
Ocean. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state.
A. …the beautiful chain of islands called Hawaii
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
B. In 1778, Captain James Cook discovered....Hawaii.
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
C. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state.
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
Name ____________________________________ Date ____________________________
Part D – Fact or Opinion?
1. _______________________________________________________________________
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
2. _______________________________________________________________________
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
3. ________________________________________________________________________
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
4. _________________________________________________________________________
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
5. ________________________________________________________________________
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.
6. _________________________________________________________________________
Can it be proven
as true or false?
NO - It is an
OPINION
How can I check this?
YES - It is a FACT.