Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Writing an Opinion in Response to the Story
Students need to have lots of opportunities to share their opinions based on text. For this lesson, the teacher will read the story, Jack and the Beanstalk, multiple times before the students create their opinion. The detailed process of...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Introduction to Opinion Writing
Young scholars' opinions are a crucial step in the foundation of good writing. After reading 'I will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato', students will state their own opinion about a topic through writing.
New York Times
New York Times: The Voter Suppression Trail
[Free Registration/Login Required] Great learning "game" to help people understand the difficulties many people face when they want to vote in the United States. Based on the infamous Oregon Trail video game, see if your selected person...
CPALMS
Cpalms: Calling All Kid Presidents
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, students will watch a video of Kid President giving a speech and another of a student's winning speech to be vice-president of the student council. They will also read an excerpt from...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Should Girls Be Allowed to Play High School Football?" by Josh Bean
A learning module that begins with "Should Girls Be Allowed to Play High School Football?" by Josh Bean, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Time to Kiss This Nonseuss Goodbye!
In this lesson, students will choose their favorite from an assortment of Dr. Seuss books and state a reason why for their choice. Examples of student work are included. Students will also have fun dressing up as their favorite Dr. Seuss...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The War in Afghanistan: What Should American Policy Be? [Pdf]
Article on American policy and the war in Afghanistan in which students read background history and assert an informed opinion about what they think the U.S. role in Afghanistan should be. Small group work and questions for writing and...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Native American Petroglyphs Close Read Compare and Contrast
Students will read an article by Byron Loosle on the meaning of Native American symbols and compare that to a video clip of an actual Native American explaining the symbols. There is a difference of opinion and students will weigh both...
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: Shakespeare's School
An article suitable for a range of ages discussing Shakespeare's education, and how it may have influenced his plays. Extracts from this article can usefully be used to initiate a classroom discussion. Student scan also seek to use the...
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: The First Black Female Poet?
This article looks at a ballad, 'Bars Fight,' by 18th century African-American writer Lucy Terry. It considers the literary qualities of a ballad, and its historical role in society. It then goes on to consider why a Black slave might...
Education.com
Education.com: L.1.1.j Worksheets
[Free Registration/Login Required] In first grade, students are taught to independently write different types of sentences. These types include declarative (a statement of fact or opinion), interrogative (a question), imperative (a...