Opinion

WRITING
Writing
About &
Supporting
Our
Opinions

2017
Samantha Kelly
WEEK ONE plans 2017 Samantha Kelly

Introduction: What is an opinion? Go over the opinion anchor chart with the students and
explain to them that an opinion is what we think about something or how we feel about

M something. Our opinions are personal and we don’t have to agree on them! Read aloud the
story Red is Best by Kathy Stinson. Stop and discuss how she is sharing her opinion about
her red items. Have students write about their favorite colors.
Assemble their pages together to make a class book.
There are special words we can use to express our opinion. Remember, opinions are
personal, so they usually start with “I”. Today we are going to make a chart with

T some of these special words so we can practice using our “opinion words” to
express our thoughts and feelings. You can glue the opinion words onto the chart as
you go or have the chart pre-made. Teach kiddos to use the word “because” to
support their opinions with reasons. Provide examples as you go.
The next couple of days will be focused on verbalizing our opinions using our opinion
words (review chart, giving examples). We are going to play the game toe the line

W (included). Lay down a long piece of masking tape across the floor and ask students
to stand on either side of it. Go through the prompts “Step on the line if….” Ask for
volunteers to use opinion words and REASONS. For example, “I do not like bananas
because they are mushy.”
Yesterday we practiced sharing our opinions using opinion words. We are going to
continue practicing today with a game called “Would You Rather?” (included). Play some
music and allow kids to walk/dance around the room. When the music stops, they will
T stand next to the ONE person closest to them. Read aloud a “would you rather
question” and kids will use their opinion words to answer. They MUST use the word
“because” to share a reason that supports their opinion. Each partner should share.
When we make a choice between things, we are using our personal thoughts and feelings to make that
choice. Today we’re going to make a graph as a class on what our favorite recess activity is. Then

F we’re going to support our choices using our personal opinions. Use a pocket chart or magnetic tape
on a white board to make the class graph. Students will choose between swings, slide, or monkey bars
for their favorite recess activity. They will place their smiley face above their choice. Ask students
to turn to a partner and verbalize their choice and their reasons why, then release them to write
about it (with opinion words) on the provided template.
 2017 Samantha Kelly

An OPINION
is something
you THINK

Or
FEEL
It’s personal!
Our Best
Colors

By:
2017 Samantha Kelly
 By:

I think is
best because
example anchor chart
I can use
opinion words!
I think…My favorite…
I believe… I like…
I do not like… I feel…
I can support
my opinion!

I like watermelon because

it is sweet and juicy!
2017 Samantha Kelly
 I can use
opinion words!

I can support
my opinion!
I like watermelon because it
is sweet and juicy!
 Toe The Line
Step On The Line If You….
*do not like bananas
*like to read books
*have blue as your
favorite color
*think dinosaurs are scary
*love to eat broccoli
*feel happy during recess
*are afraid of storms
*like to draw
*would like to have a pet
fish
2017 Samantha Kelly
Punch holes through the top left corner and put on a ring.

Would You

Talking points for sharing

opinions with a buddy.
2014 Samantha Kelly

Would you
rather have
indoor recess or
outdoor recess?
Why?

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Would you
rather go
swimming or go
to the park?
Why?

Would you
rather eat only
pizza or only
hamburgers for
the rest of your
life? Why?

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Would you
rather come face
to face with a
dinosaur or a
shark? Why?

Would you
rather build a
snowman or go
sledding?
Why?

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Would you
rather fly in an
airplane or ride
on a train?
Why?

Would you
rather have the
superpower to
be invisible or to
fly? Why?

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Would you
rather swim in a
pool of spiders
or a pool of
snakes? Why?

Would you
rather have a
tail or have
antlers?
Why?

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Would you
rather be a
firefighter or a
doctor?
Why?

Would you
rather be
extremely strong
or extremely
fast? Why?

2017 Samantha Kelly

What do you like
to do at recess?

slide monkey
swing bars
2017 Samantha Kelly
2017 Samantha Kelly
Name: graph, Chat,
& write
What do you like to do at
recess?

slide monkey swings

bars

I like the
because

2017 Samantha Kelly

WEEK TWO plans 2017 Samantha Kelly

Our opinions can be different. Since opinions are personal thoughts and feelings, it is
okay for our opinions to be different. Sometimes we might agree, and sometimes we

M might not. That’s okay! Read the book Duck! Rabbit! aloud. In this book, there are
differing opinions about whether the picture is a duck or rabbit. Discuss the difference
in opinion as you go. Have students write about their opinion: duck or rabbit
on the included sheet. Refer back to the opinion words chart.
Yesterday we talked about how our opinions can be different. Several of you thought the pictures in
the book we read were ducks, and others thought they were rabbits! Today we are going to

T continue exploring our different opinions. Make the Our Opinions Are Personal anchor chart. You will
be asking students to share opinions on carrots, snakes, and flowers. Have them think, pair, share
first. Then ask for a volunteer to share their opinion, making sure to refer back to the opinion words
chart for correct wording. Write it yourself or pass the pen. Then ask for someone with a
DIFFERENT opinion to share and write it as well. Repeat the process for each picture.
We have been talking about our opinions using our special opinion words. Now it’s time for us to start
writing about them. For the next few days, choose from the included What’s Your Opinion and In My
Honest Opinion writing papers. Pick one of them to model and complete today, then the other one to

W model and complete tomorrow. Once they have been appropriately modeled, they are great for
morning work, homework, writing station and independent work time. Come together at the beginning
of the lesson to discuss using opinion words and giving good reasons to support opinions, then release
them to complete a page. Come back together for sharing.

T Model and complete a What’s Your Opinion or In My Honest Opinion page (whichever one you
did not model and complete yesterday)
For the last few weeks, we’ve been talking and writing about our opinion of different topics.
We can have an opinion on anything in the world! Today we’re going to start forming opinions
about things we read. We can have opinion about texts – books, magazines, comics, poems…
anything we read! Read aloud a book of your choice and as you are reading, stop to share
opinions. “I like this book because it rhymes and I love reading rhyming books… I like this page
because the illustrator used bright colors in the pictures… I like this story because it teaches a
nice lesson.” When finished, have students share their opinions verbally with words like “I like…
F I don’t like…. My favorite part…” Tomorrow we will be writing a book review! Show students
examples of book reviews today and tomorrow on www.spaghettibookclub.org and
www.amazon.com (pre-screen these and if applicable, show them reviews of the book you just
read!)
 2017 Samantha Kelly

Duck or Rabbit?

I think

Name:
example anchor chart
Opinions are
personal.
- I like to eat yummy carrots.
- I do not like carrots. Gross!

- I think snakes are scary.

- I love snakes. They’re cool!

- I think flowers smell good.

- I think flowers smell stinky!

It is okay if they
are different!

2017 Samantha Kelly

Opinions are
personal.
It is okay if they
are different!
 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which animal would you like as a pet?

or
dog cat

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which bug is the scariest?

or
spider bee

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which would you rather fly in?

or
hot air balloon helicopter

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which sweet treat is yummier?

or
cupcake cookie

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which season do you like better?

or
winter summer

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which would you rather ride?

or
bike skateboard

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which special class is your favorite?

or
gym art

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about worms.
OPINION

worms

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about sharks.
OPINION

sharks

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about bats.
OPINION

bats

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about tomatoes.
OPINION

tomatoes

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about basketball.
OPINION

basketball

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about pickles.
OPINION

pickles

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about horses.
OPINION

horses

2017 Samantha Kelly

WEEK THREE plans
2017 Samantha Kelly

Yesterday we read a book and talked about our opinions. We talked about what we liked about
the book and what we didn’t like about the book. We talked about our favorite parts. Today

M we’re going to read another story and then write a book review! In our book review, we will
tell people how much we liked the book, if we would recommend it to someone else to read,
what we liked about it, our favorite parts! Read a book and have students complete the
included Book Review.
Yesterday, we shared our opinion of the book _____ by writing a book review.
Today, we’re going to talk about reviewing movies! Just like with books, we can
T share our opinions about movies we’ve seen. Take students to the website:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/age/5/category/movie and watch a
few movie reviews (the one for Frozen is good!) Discuss how the review shows
some favorite parts, and the reviewer shares their opinion about the movie, then
rates it on a scale of 5 stars. Have students verbally review a movie of their
choice.
Today you should show a movie of your choice for students to review. There are
several short “movies” like Franklin or Berenstein Bears that can be viewed on

W Youtube, but I like to play a full length feature film. Once you have watched the
movie, allow children the chance to think, pair, share their opinions, then release
them to complete the Movie Review.
Students will use everything they have learned about stating and supporting their
opinions to write an opinion piece on the best pet. Read aloud the story The Perfect Pet
by Margie Palatini. I have included 4 pet picture cards for students to choose from OR

T you can give them the option of coming up with their own perfect pet.
Today they will plan their writing by choosing their perfect pet and
stating 3 reasons why on the provided Planning Page.
Yesterday, students used the planning page to choose the perfect pet and support their
opinion with 3 reasons. Today, they will use that planning page to write their culminating

F perfect pet paper. There are two templates for choosing– one with primary lines and
one with wide ruled lines. Students should draw a picture of their perfect pet and use
the lines to describe why _____ would be the perfect pet! They should be reminded to
use opinion words in their writing.
Name: Book Title:
Rate the book.
Draw your favorite part.
Write your opinion.

Would you recommend this

book to others?

2017 Samantha Kelly

Name: Movie Title:
Rate the movie.
Draw your favorite part.
Write your opinion.

Would you recommend this

movie to others?

2017 Samantha Kelly

dog fish

cat rabbit
Name:
PLANNING PAGE
The best pet is a

because

3
2017 Samantha Kelly
 The Best Pet
By:

2017 Samantha Kelly

 The Best Pet
By:

2017 Samantha Kelly

Extras!
Use these printables to extend your writing
unit, review throughout the year, or to use
for independent practice!
pizza hot dog

burger sandwich
Name:
PLANNING PAGE
My favorite lunch is

because

3
2017 Samantha Kelly
My Favorite Lunch
By:

2017 Samantha Kelly

My Favorite Lunch
By:

2017 Samantha Kelly

spring summer

fall winter
Name:
PLANNING PAGE
The best season is

because

3
2017 Samantha Kelly
The Best Season
By:

2017 Samantha Kelly

The Best Season
By:

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which vegetable is better?

or
carrots broccoli

2017 Samantha Kelly

 Name: what’s your
Opinion?
Which would you rather do?

or
go swimming go skiing

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about fishing.
OPINION

fishing

2017 Samantha Kelly

 In my
Name:
Use opinion words to tell what
you think and how you feel HONEST
about rain.
OPINION

rain

2017 Samantha Kelly