1 Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion

Home , Opinion

Kindergarten: Opinion Writing POWER Lesson Title: Stating an Opinion Focus: Understanding that opinion writing means stating one’s opinion and giving a concrete reason Standard(s):

ELAGSEKW1: Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are “writing” about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is…).

Target: The student can state an opinion about a text. Part 1: Lesson Introduction The very first step in opinion writing for kindergarten students is to understand exactly what an opinion is. Other lessons in this series of power/writing lessons have included a basic definition of what an opinion is as well as the definition of a fact. Kindergarteners tend to want to include much emotion into their opinions on topics. While this is acceptable, it is really persuasive writing that they are producing. We must teach our younger students the difference between persuasive writing and opinion writing because they are really not the same. Generally speaking, when one writes in a persuasive nature, he/she is trying to convince the reader that the opinion being expressed is correct. Therefore, this type of writing relies on a lot of emotion and just a little bit of fact. On the other hand, opinion writing occurs when the writer explains his/her opinion and gives reasons to support this opinion. While opinion writing can use some emotion, depending on the topic, the majority of the reasons relies on facts as the foundation. Opinion writing is best completed when the writing is directly connected to a text. Therefore, students have a solid foundation upon which to base their opinions. This lesson will use two texts with similar themes. Following the reading of the texts, students will explore two writings about the text: one will be a persuasive writing and the other will be an opinion writing. The emphasis will be on how the opinion writing relies on REASONS within the text that support the opinion.

As an introduction to this opinion writing power lesson, explain to your students that you are going to share two read-alouds with them. The following texts will be used:

The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1DEvJKPgbo

Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40xWk-4ZLxE

At the conclusion of the two read-aloud videos, have a short discussion with your students. Items to discuss will include the overall main topic from both texts, friendship. Discuss with

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing 2 students their favorite parts of each book and allow them to reveal their reasons during the discussion.

Part 2: Mini-lesson/Teacher modeling The mini-lesson will focus on how to create an opinion about each text. Begin by sharing with students the definition of opinion:

Opinion: a thought or belief about something or someone. Your opinion is what you think, feel, or believe.

Explain to students that they have listened to and discussed two books which share a common topic, making a friend. Further explain to them that in opinion writing, the purpose is to EXPLAIN your opinion (your thought, belief, or feeling) by using reasons. The reasons should all be things that are in the text…not things that you “think of” because you read the text. Share with students the following example:

My favorite book was about Beekle. I just loved Beekle. I think you should love him too. He made me laugh. I know he would also make you laugh. I want a friend like Beekle.

Ask your class if the writing above begins with an opinion. They should answer YES. It does state an opinion in the first sentence: My favorite book was about Beekle. Next, ask your class if the other sentences are strong reasons, or facts, to support the opinion or are these sentences simply reasons stating why someone should agree with the opinion. Students should be shown that the reasons are all ones that tell why someone should agree with the writer’s opinion. The sentences try to persuade the reader to agree with the writer by using emotion. There is really nothing from the text included.

Next, model another writing using the same opinion.

My favorite book was about Beekle. One reason is because Beekle is an imaginary friend. Another reason is that Alice needed a friend. The last reason is that Beekle is happy because he was picked by Alice. These are the reasons why I liked the story about Beekle.

Ask your class if the writing above begins with an opinion. They should answer YES. Like the first example, this writing has the same opinion sentence at the beginning. Next, ask your class if the other sentences are the same or different from the first example. Students should

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing 3 respond that the second example is different. Further explain to students HOW the two writings are different. Show students that the first example writing is a general type writing that just tries to convince others to have the same opinion as the writer. The reasons are all ones that are tied to the feelings of the writer. The writer wants everyone to agree with him/her in the first writing. That is what makes it persuasive. However, the second example is the opinion writing. It states the same opinion (first sentence) but continues to use REAL REASONS or examples from the book about WHY the opinion is true. All of the reasons stated in the second writing come from the story. The reasons stated in the first example are just the writer’s own reasons, or feelings, based on HOW the writer wants the reader to feel after reading what he/she has written.

*This may be a complex concept for kindergarten; however, it is important that students have a grasp of opinion writing and how it is different from persuasive writing. While persuasive writing is important, the key behind opinion writing is the connection to text and the supporting facts that make up the foundation of the writing.

Part 3: Guided practice During guided practice, students will be creating a persuasive writing piece and an opinion writing piece using the same topic sentence. Students will rely on the models used in the modeling section of the lesson to construct new writings. To provide support for struggling students and the overall complexity of this lesson for all students, it is suggested that students work in small groups to complete these writings. Supporting templates are provided on pages 5-6 of the lesson to help in the process. (The reading level is high for accessing the templates. You may need to read these with the class as a whole group and then allow student groups to tackle the assignment.)

Place students in groups of three. Give each group one template. Together, the students will write either a persuasive piece or an opinion piece using the guidance of the samples. At the end of the activity, student groups will share their work. Part 4: Independent work time During independent work time, students will be given several examples of writings that are persuasive or opinion-based. Students will identify whether the writings are persuasive or opinion. (Depending on student reading ability, the reading level is high for the given assignment. You may need to read this aloud for all students.) The activity is on page 7.

Part 5: Review Assessment Review & Closing Assessment will be based on students’ Review the independent work with the class. recognition of what constitutes opinion writing.

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing 4

Part 6: Extensions Enrichment Support For students who excel and recognizing the Struggling students may be supported difference between persuasive writing and through conversation and pictures. Working opinion writing, allow them to explore with students in small groups, form a topic further examples. One idea is to create a that can easily be discussed by using facts. center in which students are given a topic. For example, use recess as an example topic. Students will take this topic and “research” Ask your group to list three reasons recess is information. Next, students will “pretend” important. Share the reasons. Focus on the that they are news anchors. They will ones that are facts and not merely emotional prepare two news stories on their topic. One reasons. By connecting the dots using real life will be written using persuasive techniques experiences, students can connect the dots and the other will be written using facts and between how opinion writing relies on facts details from the research. If technology is that are true and can be proven while available, allow students to record their news persuasive writing relies on how something spots to share with other students. makes the writer feel in order to get the readers to feel the same way.

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing 5

PERSUASIVE WRITING

EXAMPLE:

My favorite book was about Beekle. I just loved Beekle. I think you should love him too. He made me laugh. I know he would also make you laugh. I want a friend like Beekle.

Write an original piece using the text about Scaredy Squirrel. You will write three new sentences. The first and last sentences have been written for you.

My favorite book was about Scaredy Squirrel.

______.

I want a friend like Scaredy Squirrel.

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing 6

OPINION WRITING

EXAMPLE:

Write an original piece using the text about Scaredy Squirrel. You will write three new sentences. The first and last sentences have been written for you.

My favorite book was about Scaredy Squirrel.

______.

These are the reasons why I liked the story about Scaredy Squirrel.

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing 7

Persuasive or Opinion?

Read the following writings. One is persuasive writing and the other is opinion writing. Write a “P” or an “O” depending on the type of writing shown.

______My favorite book is The Cat in the Hat. I just love this story. It always makes me laugh. The fish is really funny. I think you would love it too.

______My favorite book is The Cat in the Hat. One reason is because it teaches a good lesson. Another reason is because the book has great characters. The final reason is that a boring day was changed into an exciting day. These are the reasons my favorite book is The Cat in the Hat.

______My favorite book is The Napping House. One reason is because the bed is cozy. Another reason is because everyone is sleeping in the house. The last reason is because the dog also gets to sleep with the people. These are the reasons my favorite book is The Napping House.

______My favorite book is The Napping House. I wish my house were like the napping house. It would be fun to have all of those animals in my bed. I know you would like it too. The napping house is fun!

Power Lesson Kindergarten Opinion Writing