Prestwick House
Author’s Purpose in Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech
President Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech, delivered on June 12, 1987 before the Berlin Wall, provides class members with an opportunity to examine three key aspects of informational text: author bias, the use of facts and...
Curated OER
Facts vs. Opinions in Ads
Learners develop criteria for determining statements of opinion. They practice discerning statements of opinions in advertisements.
Curated OER
Fighting Fake News
Fake news. Alternative facts. Internet trolls. In an age of Newspeak, it's increasingly important to equip 21st century learners with the skills needed to determine the legitimacy of claims put forth on social media, in print, and in...
Curated OER
Fact and Opinion
In this writing worksheet, students identify and describe the difference between a fact and an opinion. They place the cut-up words from the house ad in the correct column to indicate if they are fact or opinion.
Scholastic
Reading Skills Profile
Assess your young learners' reading skills, from sounding out words to general comprehension and identifying facts vs. opinions, with this excellent worksheet. The resource also includes a goal-setting worksheet that focuses...
News Literacy Project
Is It “Checkable”?
Upper elementary scholars test their checking skills with a lesson that challenges them to distinguish between fact and opinion. First, the class takes part in a discussion regarding a helpful flow chart. Next, learners follow the flow...
Curated OER
Identifying Facts and Forming Opinions
Kirsten Hall's animal books provide learners with an opportunity to practice forming statements of opinions and factual statements. Using sentence starters such as "I learned. . ." and "I think. . ." class members craft sentences cite a...
Curated OER
Understanding and Using Primary and Secondary Sources in History
Explore primary and secondary sources in this historical analysis lesson. Young researchers define the terms primary source and secondary source. They read a primary source document provided by the teacher and answer questions about the...
Curated OER
Bias
Students apply techniques of distinguishing between fact and opinion. Students identify words associated with persuasion and argument. Students read and categorizer a variety of newspapers and articles. Students identfy bias in a...
Curated OER
Let Us Do Your Selling
Sixth graders analyze several types of propaganda techniques and create a book cover using the techniques. In this propaganda techniques instructional activity, 6th graders analyze the propaganda techniques used in various ads. Students...
Curated OER
Nutty About Peanut Butter
Students brainstorm list of lunchtime sandwiches, identify difference between fact and opinion, research facts about peanut butter online, complete Nutty About Peanut Butter worksheet, and create their own fact and opinion worksheets...
Curated OER
Arthur Meets the President
Students read, Arthur Meets the President, and review the story using sentence strips and complete a book review activity with a partner. In this reading skills lesson, students work on fact and opinion and master fluency with...
Curated OER
What an Accomplishment
Students identify and discuss the images on the back of the South Dakota quarter. They discuss the differences between facts and opinions, and research information about the four presidents memorialized on Mount Rushmore.
Curated OER
Author's Opinion
Fifth graders read a text about Amelia Earhart's father and use facts from the text to identify the author's opinion. In this author's opinion lesson plan, 5th graders complete a worksheet that is provided.
Education Bureau of Hong Kong
Fundamentals of Critical Thinking
Analyzing arguments is key to critical thinking. Colorful slides teach viewers how to recognize the structure of an argument, the claims, and the validity of the evidence used to support an argument. Then, provided scenarios permit...
News Literacy Project
Get Smart About COVID-19
Pandemic or infodemic? Scholars complete an online quiz to determine if they can sort fact from fiction related to COVID-19 information. Pupils view a variety of news articles, social media posts, and video clips to practice identifying...
Curated OER
Scapegoating and Othering
Scapegoating and "Othering" is the focus of a series of activities that ask groups to consider how these behaviors contribute to hatred and intolerance. Groups are given a scenario and discussion questions based on the situation. Whether...
EngageNY
Identifying Author’s Opinion and Evidence: The Value of Sports in People’s Lives, Part I
Just like instant replay, it's time to take a closer look! Pupils work together to add ideas to a Close Readers Do These Things anchor chart. They then put their knowledge to the test as they read an informational article about the...
Curated OER
Turning Literature into News
Learners examine the newspaper. In this writing purposes lesson, students read the newspaper and discuss the purpose: to inform, entertain and persuade. Learners identify facts and opinions. Students write an article and discuss acts of...
Curated OER
Convey Ideas in Writing
Use the platforms of the 2004 presidential candidates to bring persuasive writing to your class. Young voters identify the three issues most important to them in the election and research the issues and candidates' positions. They write...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Analyzing Political Campaign Commercials
Imagine a lesson that models for learners how to separate facts from opinions. How to detect bias. How to evaluate a source of information. How to identify propaganda. Although designed for middle schoolers, the activities in this packet...
Curated OER
Birds
In this bird activity, students read ten statements about birds and identify them as fact or opinion. Afterward, they complete a word search puzzle and identify 20 words dealing with birds. An answer sheet is provided.
Curated OER
Thinking Out Loud
Students share opinions about whether a series of statements from the internet constitute facts or opinions. They read and analyze blogs published in on the web in order to understand the use of fact, opinion, and tone of voice when...
Curated OER
Identifying Opinions with Signal Words
First graders identify opinions within a text. In this language arts lesson, 1st graders discuss the definition of opinion. Students identify words that signal opinions and work together to identify opinions within the text.