Your next great Lessn starts here.

Welcome to Opinion Writing! – Learning to share our thoughts – Understanding what an opinion is – An opinion is what you think or feel about something – The importance of expressing opinions – Sharing opinions helps us communicate preferences and ideas – Examples of opinion writing – For example, ‘I believe pizza is the best food because it s tasty and you can choose your own toppings!’ | This slide introduces the concept of opinion writing to second graders. Begin by explaining that everyone has thoughts and feelings about different things, and it’s great to share them. Clarify that an opinion is what someone believes or feels, and it’s not necessarily a fact. Emphasize that expressing our opinions is important because it helps us tell others what we like, what we don’t like, and why. Use simple, relatable examples to illustrate opinion statements, such as preferences for food, games, or activities. Encourage the students to think of their own examples and be ready to discuss why it’s important to respect others’ opinions as well.

Understanding Opinions in Writing – What is an opinion? – It’s what you think or feel about a topic. – Opinions are not facts – They can’t be proven right or wrong. – Everyone’s opinion is unique – Each person has their own views. – Respect all opinions – It’s important to listen and be kind. | This slide introduces the concept of opinions to second graders. Begin by explaining that an opinion is what someone thinks or feels about something, and it’s completely normal for different people to have different opinions. Emphasize that opinions are not facts; they are subjective and cannot be proven right or wrong. This is a key distinction that will help students understand the nature of opinion writing. Encourage students to think about their own opinions on various topics and to recognize that everyone’s opinion is valuable. It’s also crucial to teach them the importance of respecting others’ opinions, even when they differ from their own. This will foster a classroom environment of mutual respect and open-mindedness.

Expressing Our Opinions – What is an opinion? – Example: Chocolate ice cream is the best! – Share why you think it’s the best. – Example: Cats make great pets! – Compare cats to other pets you know. – Example: Summer is the best season! – Discuss what makes summer so fun. | This slide introduces students to the concept of opinion writing. An opinion is what someone thinks or feels about something. Start by explaining that everyone has different opinions and that’s okay. Use the examples provided to show how opinions are personal preferences. Encourage students to think about why they prefer certain things over others and to use those reasons to support their opinions. In the next class, ask students to write their own opinion sentences and explain their choices, fostering their ability to express themselves and understand others’ perspectives.

Opinion vs. Fact in Writing – Understand what a fact is – Facts are proven true, like ‘Dogs have four legs.’ – Learn what an opinion is – Opinions express feelings, like ‘Dogs are the best pets.’ – Practice distinguishing them – We’ll look at sentences and decide if they’re facts or opinions. – Example: Fact or Opinion? – ‘Ice cream is cold’ vs. ‘Ice cream is the best dessert.’ | This slide introduces the concept of facts and opinions, which is crucial for developing critical thinking and writing skills. Facts are objective statements verifiable by evidence, while opinions are subjective and based on personal feelings or beliefs. Engage the class in an activity where they identify whether a statement is a fact or an opinion. Provide clear examples to illustrate the difference. For instance, ‘The sky is blue’ is a fact, whereas ‘The sky is prettiest when it’s blue’ is an opinion. Encourage students to think of their own examples and explain their reasoning. This will prepare them for writing opinion passages where they must clearly state their viewpoint and support it with reasons.

Writing Our Opinions – Start with your opinion statement – ‘I believe dogs are the best pets.’ – Give reasons for your opinion – ‘Dogs are friendly and loyal companions.’ – Use opinion phrases – Phrases like ‘I think’ or ‘In my opinion’ show it’s your idea. – Example: Favorite Fruit – ‘In my opinion, apples are the best because they’re crunchy and sweet.’ | This slide is aimed at teaching second graders how to express their opinions in writing. Begin by explaining that an opinion is what someone thinks or feels about something. Show them how to start with a clear sentence that states their opinion. Then, guide them to provide reasons that support why they think that way, which helps to convince others. Teach them to use phrases that indicate it’s their personal view. For practice, use an example like choosing a favorite fruit and explain why it’s their favorite, using the phrases taught. Encourage students to think of their own opinions and reasons to prepare for a class activity where they will write and share their opinion passages.

Completing an Opinion Passage – Practice with an opinion passage – Start with ‘In my opinion, parks are important because…’ – Express your thoughts on parks – Think of reasons why parks matter – Consider personal and community benefits – How do parks benefit you and the community? – Examples: fun play areas, fresh air, community events | This slide is aimed at helping second-grade students understand how to express their opinions in writing. Begin by explaining what an opinion is and how it can differ from person to person. Use the example provided to show how to start an opinion passage. Encourage students to think about their own experiences with parks and what makes them special. Discuss as a class the various reasons parks are important, such as providing space for play, exercise, and community gatherings. Have students complete the sentence with their own reasons and examples, and prepare to share their opinions with the class. This activity will help them practice writing opinion passages and support their reasons with examples.

Class Activity: Share Your Opinion – Think of a favorite thing – Write your opinion on it – I think dogs are the best pets! – Give two reasons why you like it – Dogs are friendly and you can play with them. – Get ready to tell the class | This activity is designed to help students practice expressing their opinions and providing reasons to support them. Start by asking students to think of something they really like, such as a favorite food, game, or animal. Encourage them to write a sentence about why they like it, followed by two reasons that explain their opinion. For example, a student might write, ‘I think ice cream is the best treat because it’s sweet and comes in many flavors.’ Once they have written down their opinions and reasons, invite students to share with the class. This will help them understand the structure of opinion writing and how to back up their thoughts with supportive statements. Provide guidance and positive feedback as they share to build their confidence in public speaking and opinion writing.