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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Fact and opinion

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RI.4.8CCSS RI.5.8England: Y5/6 Reading (fact and opinion)England: KS2 SATs Reading

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Fact and opinion.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Finding and retrieving information

Leads to: Claims, reasons and evidence; Which source is most reliable?

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Finding and retrieving information). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. To make a paper boat, fold a sheet of paper in half. Fold the corners down to make a triangle. Then fold up the bottom edges and open out the middle. What shape do you make after folding the corners? (a triangle / a square / a star / a circle) → a trianglePrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  2. Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level. It is in the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal and China. Which mountain range is Mount Everest in? (the Alps / the Himalayas / the Andes / the Rockies) → the HimalayasPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  3. The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. It can grow longer than two buses and eats tiny shrimp-like animals called krill. What do blue whales eat? (fish / seaweed / sharks / krill) → krillPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Fact and opinion. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: A: Paris is the capital of France. B: Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Which sentence is an opinion?
  • Step 1: Arguments have a claim supported by reasons and evidence.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: B
  • Answer: B
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. A: Water freezes at 0 °C. B: Winter is the worst season. Which sentence is an opinion? (A / B) → BPrompt: What is the writer's main claim?
  2. A: Paris is the capital of France. B: Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Which sentence is an opinion? (A / B) → BPrompt: What is the writer's main claim?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. A: Football is boring to watch. B: A football team has eleven players on the pitch. Which sentence is a fact? (A / B) → BPrompt: What is the writer's main claim?
  2. A: Spiders have eight legs. B: Spiders are the creepiest animals. Which sentence is a fact? (A / B) → APrompt: What is the writer's main claim?

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Finding and retrieving information.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Claims, reasons and evidence; Which source is most reliable?.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Fact and opinion

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A: Our school should have a longer lunch break. B: Our school lunch break lasts 45 minutes. Which sentence is an opinion?

    • A. A
    • B. B

  2. Question 2

    A: Water freezes at 0 °C. B: Winter is the worst season. Which sentence is an opinion?

    • A. A
    • B. B

  3. Question 3

    A: Paris is the capital of France. B: Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Which sentence is an opinion?

    • A. A
    • B. B

  4. Question 4

    A: Spiders have eight legs. B: Spiders are the creepiest animals. Which sentence is a fact?

    • A. A
    • B. B

  5. Question 5

    A: Football is boring to watch. B: A football team has eleven players on the pitch. Which sentence is a fact?

    • A. A
    • B. B

  6. Question 6

    A: Chocolate ice cream is the best flavour. B: Ice cream is made with milk or cream. Which sentence is a fact?

    • A. A
    • B. B

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Answer key: Fact and opinion

  1. 1. A. A

  2. 2. B. B

  3. 3. B. B

  4. 4. A. A

  5. 5. B. B

  6. 6. B. B