Launch Your Opinion Writing Unit with this Engaging Lesson!
Today was the kids first day back to school after winter break.
Our third quarter writing focus is opinion writing. I LOVE to teach this unit to my kiddos. It is so fun and I get to know them even better as I read their opinions on so many different topics.
So to launch our learning today I had a last minute brainstorm. I have always started our unit with an anchor chart with a piece of my own opinion writing. Last year I think I wrote about the best flavor ice cream… but this year I decided to write about something with a little more punch!
I pulled the kids to the floor and told them that I wanted them to read what I was writing. I asked them to sit silently and listen the whole time and that we would not talk about it until I was done. I could have written it ahead of time, but I wanted to build the suspense and really get their attention…
And boy… did I get their attention!
My first sentence was…
I think kids should go to school on Saturdays and Sundays.
Now, please know that is DEFINITELY not what I really think. But to see the looks on their faces was priceless!
Next I wrote the three reasons that supported my thinking. I know that some people like to use the O.R.E.O. (opinion, reason, example, opinion) method to teach the opinion writing format, but personally I think it is sometimes hard for third graders to write a reason and give an example to go with that reason. So instead of “example” I have them give a reason and then “elaborate” on that reason.
As I was writing the reasons to support my opinion I would pause for effect and look at them, maybe make a comment or two, and can you believe some of them were scowling at me or giving me thumb’s down!
Then I restated my opinion to wrap the piece up.
Use Color to Help Students See the Different Parts of an Opinion Writing Response
For the anchor chart- I used the same color marker (red) for the introductory opinion sentence and for the closing opinion sentence. I wrote the supporting reason sentences all in purple.
After I finished writing the piece I did not give them any time to talk about the topic- we only looked at the chart to see what we noticed.
The first and last sentences were the same color- both opinions. Then I asked them what the other sentences were for and they told me it was “why” I thought that kids should go to school on Saturdays and Sundays.
So we underlined each reason and labeled those. Notice that I still have not given them an opportunity to discuss the actual topic.
Here is the anchor chart we made…
I then sent them back to their seats and gave them an opinion writing organizer. I have a simple one for free, if you are interested in using it- you can grab it for here.
I then asked their opinion about kids going to school on Saturdays and Sundays and told them to write their opinion statement in the first box on the organizer.
Then I went around the room and let the kids share their opinions aloud. This is where I got quite a surprise! My class was split almost 50/50 on the subject. I was shocked!!!!
We proceeded to go one box at a time, and I tried to let each kid share at least one reason to support their opinion.
Again- shocked- twice in one day!!! Their reasons were fantastic and well thought out.
Here were a few of their responses:
Those for kids going to school on Saturdays and Sundays-
*you will be smarter and have a better chance of getting into college
*good, healthy meals are served when you are at school
Those against kids going to school on Saturdays and Sundays-
*you wouldn’t be able to go to church on Sunday
*wouldn’t be able to play sports because a lot of games are on the weekends
*not have as much time to spend with family and friends
We then finished up our organizers with the restatement of our opinions. I did not publish these since they were our first attempts with opinion writing, but I easily could have because they were very well done!
Only at the very end did I tell them that I really DO NOT think kids should go to school on Saturdays and Sundays. I had 2 different kids come up to me at recess and tell me they were so glad that wasn’t what I really thought- one girl told me she was worried that I had gone bananas!
I do have a few Opinion Writing resources available in my TpT Store if you are looking for additional practice prompts:
Hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!
6 Responses
Thank you so much for sharing, this is great.
I like your opinion writing organizer! I am looking forward to sharing it with my students.
Thank you for sharing this helpful information. I strongly believe that my students will have a better understanding after this activity.
I love the outline, simple to utilize