Lesson: #1

Lesson Title: Facts and Opinions

Grade: 3

Duration: pages 200-2008, 30 minutes

Primary Discipline: ELA

Objective:

The learner will be able to…

• Distinguish between fact and opinion.
• Understand the features of a nonfiction story.

NYS Standards:

• ELA Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding

Materials:

• Pictures of rescue dogs for opening motivation
• “Aero and Officer Mike” by Joan Plummer Russell story, from Harcourt School Publishers ‘Storytown Theme 2’
• ‘Fact and Opinion Chart’ worksheet
• ‘Fact and Opinion Chart’ on Smartboard

Procedure/Activity:

Prior to the start of this lesson, students will have already been introduced to facts and opinions. Therefore they will be aware of what they are to be picking up from the story. Students have previously been introduced to the different genres of writing such as fiction and nonfiction.

Students will be asked to gather in a group on the floor in the reading area of the classroom.

• Motivation
• The teacher will begin a discussion regarding the different types of rescue dogs, and what job each dog is specifically trained to perform.
• Ask questions such as, “Does anyone know what a rescue dog is or does?” or “Has anyone ever seen a rescue dog?”
• During the discussion, one by one, the teacher will hold up pictures of rescue dogs.
• Review
• After the motivation discussion, the teacher will review with the students the difference between fact and opinion by asking them to raise their hands and orally give an example of each.
• The teacher will also review what a nonfiction story is.
• “What is a nonfiction story usually about?”

• “Aero and Officer Mike”
• Once the review has been completed, the teacher will begin reading the story titled “Aero and Officer Mike.”
• Due to the reading level range among the students in the class, throughout the story the teacher will ask comprehension questions about the story plot or vocabulary, to ensure that all students understand the story.

• Fact and Opinion Chart

o Once the allotted pages have been read, students will be asked to go back to their desks.

o The ‘Fact and Opinion Chart’ worksheet will be handed out for students to complete on individually. It should be completed using facts and opinions from the story that was just read, “Aero and Officer Mike.”

o After allowing about 10 minutes for individual work, as a class the teacher will go over some possible facts and opinions to complete the chart by asking for volunteers to provide some answers.

o As students respond the teacher will fill in the chart on the Smartboard. This will act as a guide for students to compare their own answers, and ensure that the students correctly identified facts and opinions.

Assessment: Students will be informally assessed throughout the entire lesson. Specifically their participation in the reviews prior to the story, as well as after when filling in the ‘Fact and Opinion Chart,’ will be used as an informal assessment.