Distinguish Between Facts & Opinions

 

Lesson Plan of Distinguish Between Facts & Opinions

Subject English

Grade VI

Students` Learning Outcomes

• Apply critical thinking to interact with text using intensive reading strategies (while reading) to:
• Locate an opinion.
• Distinguish fact from opinion made by any statement..

Information for teachers

• A fact is a piece of information that actually exists or such events that have occurred in reality. as; “The sun sets in the west”.
• Opinion is a view or judgment formed about something which is happened, (not necessarily based on fact or knowledge). Individuals have different opinions. As; “I like sunset”.
• It is important that students learn to distinguish between facts and opinions. Also, it is equally important that they learn to accept that others might have different opinions and that we should respect their opinions.
• Opinions are never right or wrong which is set by the different peoples. It is just another way of looking at a thing.
• While teaching the lesson, consult textbook at all steps wherein and when applicable during process of lecture.

Material / Resources

Writing board, chalk/marker, chart paper,  duster and textbook

Introduction

• Introduce the topic by writing following three pairs of sentences on the board: (don`t write the information given in brackets, this is for your reference only.)
• Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan (fact: officially stated in all document.) it is a very peaceful city (opinion).
• Monsoon begins around July and ends in August (fact: stated in geography books and happens regularly every year). It is the best season of the year (opinion)
• My friend Bilal always stands first in his class (fact: his results show this). He is the best boy of the class (opinion).
• Tell them the difference between a fact and an opinion in very simple words.
• Tell students that people argue because they think that their opinion is the only right one; or that their opinion about something is a fact. As; we think Pakistan is a wonderful country. This is an opinion not a fact because people may have different opinions about Pakistan too.
• Write the following definitions on a chart paper and display in your classroom for discussion and better learning.

Fact: Knowledge or information based on real happenings; reality; truth, Opinion: View, a way of looking at something

• Select a page from the textbook which has some facts and opinions in it.
• Ask them to open the page of the textbook which you have selected. Ask half of the class to find and underline facts and the other half to underline opinions from the given page/chapter of the textbook.

Development

Activity 1

• Divide the class into two groups. Let the groups be seated in front of each other.
• Give them a topic to discuss. Try to select a topic which is of higher interest for the students. As; cricket/television/homework, vacation,
• After discussion, ask one group to make a list of facts about the topic.
• Ask the other group to make a list of opinions about the topic.
• Students then read out their lists and make the other group listen and ask questions when required.
• Ask the other group of students to listen to the discussion and stop the discussion where they hear a fact. They must explain how it is a fact and not an opinion. Then continue the discussion.

Activity 2 Copy the following table on the board and call some students to write fact or opinion in the 2nd column     Write “Fact” or  “Opinion”   Sentences   “Fact” or  “Opinion” .      The car was blue. Fact .      The man had lost his coat.   Fact             Lahore lions are the best cricket club in Pakistan.     Opinion             I don`t like that television programme.   Opinion           Atif`s album sold the most copies last year.     Fact           I believe that he can win.   Opinion         Shahid Afridi was the highest wicket taker in World Cup 2011. Fact           Shahid Afridi is the most stylish cricketer in the world. Opinion             Mango is the most delicious fruit in the world. Opinion .    Allama Iqbal wrote many poems for children. Fact     Discuss and make the students think of answers with reasons. Make correction where needed. (Answers are written in 2nd column for the teachers) Students may copy the work in their notebooks. Sum up / Conclusion Ask students about the definition of fact and opinion. Ask them to give some examples of their own. Assessment Ask the students: (pair or small group work on strips of paper) Write three facts about school. Write three opinions about school. Or Write two facts about food. Write two opinions about food. Help the students paste the strips on the classroom wall with tape (facts and opinions separately). Check the statements with the students and make corrections where needed. Ask the students to copy any 5 facts and opinions from the wall in their notebooks. You can also have voting for the best/interesting fact and opinion. Follow up Ask the students to read any article of a newspaper and circle facts and underline opinions.