Can You Prove It? Facts and Opinions!

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• Explain that a fact is a statement that can be proven true, while an opinion is a statement that cannot be proven true. Facts can be confirmed by checking books or reliable internet sources. If a fact is about a person, you can ask that person whether the fact is true. The same doesn't go for an opinion.
• Hold up your copy of the Facts and Opinions worksheet. Read aloud the first statement: Mystery novels are the most exciting books to read.
• Model the process of determining whether this is a fact or opinion by asking yourself, "Is this a statement that can be proven true? No, so it's an opinion."
• Read the next statement: My new backpack cost me only $35.99.
• Again, model for students how to determine whether this is a fact or opinion. Ask yourself, "Is this a statement that can be proven true? Yes, I can ask the person who bought the backpack how much it cost. I could also look at his receipt. This statement is a fact."

Guided Practice

• Have students take out their second index card.
• Ask them to write a large "F" on one side of the card and a large "O" on the other side.
• Briefly explain the exercise that you'll be conducting. You'll read some more facts and opinions to the class. After hearing each statement, each student will hold up an F card if she thinks it's a fact and an O card if she thinks it's an opinion.
• Complete this activity with the remaining sentences on the worksheet. After students vote for each word, let them know the correct answer. Ask a student who answered correctly to explain how she arrived at her answer.

Independent working time

• Distribute a Fact or Opinion? The Blobfish and More worksheet to each student.
• Give the class about ten minutes to complete the worksheet.
• Go over the answers, and make sure to provide an explanation for each one.