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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. The town library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. When does the library close on Saturdays? (2 p.m. / 5 p.m. / It is closed all day. / 9 a.m.) → 2 p.m.Prompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  2. The school fair raised $460. The money will buy new books for the library and a bench for the playground. What will the money buy? (football kits / books and a bench / a new school bus / computers) → books and a benchPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  3. 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 circle / a triangle / a star / a square) → a trianglePrompt: 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: 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?
  2. 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?

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: 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?
  2. 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?

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: 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

  2. Question 2

    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

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. A
    • B. B

  4. Question 4

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

    • 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: 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

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Answer key: Fact and opinion

  1. 1. B. B

  2. 2. A. A

  3. 3. A. A

  4. 4. B. B

  5. 5. B. B

  6. 6. B. B