Joan O’Halloran
EDC 921 – Spring, 2008
Lesson Plan: Developing an Informed Opinion
Objectives:
Students will:
1. read/find important points in pairs and participate in a discussion of a recent newspaper article
on a satellite that is in an uncontrolled fall to Earth and brainstorm solutions
2. use at least two resources found on the Internet to discover more about this topic
3. develop an informed opinion about the best solution to the problem of minimizing risk to life
and the environment
4. post on the class blog a 2-3 paragraph essay that discusses their informed opinion with links to
the articles that helped form their opinion.
Prior Knowledge:
1. familiarity with class blog
2. understanding of how to create a link to information
Procedure:
1. Students in pairs, read, discuss, and decide on the important points of the article.
2. Pairs report out and class comes to consensus – teacher writes points on chart paper ;students
write points on the article
3. Write on overhead – “How should the government solve this problem?”
4. Note proposed solutions and ask “How do you know if any of these solutions are practical?”
5. Brief discussion of the reliability of claims made without evidence
6. Read, highlight, and discuss the requirements of the assignment and rubric. (see next page)
7. Students begin assignment.
8. Teacher monitors student progress
Accommodations: Paired reading and discussion supports ESL students and poor readers. Discussing
and writing the important points focuses students who have processing problems and attention deficits
and also models thought processes. This also allows students to see, hear, verbalize and write the
important points. Reviewing and highlighting the assignment requirements and rubric focuses all
students.
Extension: students who are interested in Earth/Space science may research the asteroid Apophis and
create a PowerPoint, poster, pamphlet, etc, presentation for additional credit.
Assessment: Formative assessment of students’ understanding of the topic will be made throughout
the paired reading and discussion of important points. Summative assessment will be based on the
rubric that follows the task.
Standards/Unifying Themes of Science:
 Scientific Inquiry: Communicate understanding and ideas; Use evidence to draw
conclusions
 Nature of Science: Attitudes and dispositions of science (avoiding bias, divergent
ideas, healthy skepticism)
Name: ___________________________________
Period: _____ Date: _______
Task:
1. Using the suggested links, search for and read articles on this topic.
2. Try to find articles with different solutions. For example, one expert might believe that
there is no real threat, another may suggest using a warhead to explode the satellite in
space, another may suggest some other solution.
3. Based on your research, develop your informed opinion as to the best solution.
4. Post your informed opinion on our class blog. Write several paragraphs that state
your opinion, give details supporting your opinion, and link the reader to the articles –
you must use at least 2 supporting articles - that support your opinion.
5. Remember, science is based on claims that are supported by evidence! Support your
claim. You are writing to persuade – make sure that your argument is logical and
detailed.
6. Finally, take a good look at what your work and complete the student portion of the
rubric
Rubric:
Criteria
Excellent
Response includes well
Comprehensive developed opinion, many
supporting details, and more
(30 points)
than 2 linked articles. A
thorough understanding of
the topic is evident.
Response is free of errors in
mechanics, usage, grammar,
Coherent
and spelling (MUGS).
(10 points)
Evidence of appropriate use
of scientific vocabulary.

Time
Management
(10 points)


Consistently used time
well
Focused on task with no
reminders
Did not distract others
Satisfactory
Response includes
opinion, acceptable
supporting details, 2 linked
articles. An adequate
understanding of topic is
evident.
Response has few MUGS
errors that do not interfere
with understanding. Some
evidence of appropriate
use of scientific
vocabulary
 Used time well
 Focused on task with 1
or 2 reminders
 Did not distract others
Student Total
Teacher Total
GRADE:
Needs Improvement
Opinion is not
obvious, details are
unclear, or less than 2
linked articles.
Understanding of topic
is limited.
Response contains
many MUGS errors,
and little evidence of
appropriate scientific
vocabulary



Poor use of time
Frequent
reminders to stay
on task
Distraction to
others
Reflection:
My classes actually did read the article on the satellite several weeks ago. The reading
lead to a great class discussion and served as a hook for our unit on Astronomy. The
discussion was as far as we took it. I read a student’s post, I can’t remember where, that
impressed me. This student related his opinion on people choosing to have cosmetic
surgery on their hands. He linked his research to his points as he wrote. I thought about
the satellite article and the possibility of my students doing something similar.
This lesson plan reflects what I hope will become an important use of blogging in my
classroom. I spend a great deal of time on the unifying themes of Scientific Inquiry and
the Nature of Science. One of my favorite sayings is “The less you know, the more you
believe.” My students need as much practice as they can get in the area of scientific
thinking. Developing an informed opinion and publishing that opinion gives all students
the chance to be heard. This type of assignment improves reading, writing, and critical
thinking skills. Classroom discussions frequently revolve around the most talkative and
outgoing students. Quiet and reluctant students do not participate fully. Blogging would
give students an opportunity express their opinion and then read other opinions and
comment. Commenting in writing for all to see makes (or should make) the writer very
thoughtful of his/her facts and of the ‘etiquette’ of response. These are useful skills
regardless of the discipline. The ability to link research to the opinion eliminates the
bibliography and the conversational tone of a blog is more engaging than a formal essay.
That being said, I also see problems implementing this lesson plan. This type of
assignment could not be our first venture into blogging. My students would need a certain
amount of experience navigating the blog and practice with blog etiquette. Success
depends on student engagement with the topic and blogging. I wonder how I will organize
my teaching time to prepare my students to make use of this wonderful technology.