Lesson Plan

Raegan Stead and Madeleine McIlheran

Lesson Title: In Your Opinion Grade: 3

Goals or Objectives: The students will be able to understand the aspects of opinion writing and apply
them to their own essays. They will be able to record their thoughts in the “OREO” writing planner then
transfer that onto a lined sheet of paper in paragraph form. They will ensure that all aspects of opinion
writing are included in their essays by self-checking. Then they will evaluate a peer’s paper using the
option writing checklist.

Content Curriculum Focal Points Interdisciplinary Connections:

This lesson would connect to science by having students

think about what they have learned about the seasons
and how the seasons could impact year round school.
What do they do during seasons that could impact
school? Could the weather impact school?

This lesson could connect to math by taking a poll of

how many students would prefer year-round school and
find the percentage. The students could also take their
polls school-wide and find the percentages for the entire
school. The percentages could also be broken down into
different categories.

NCTE & ILA standards 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to

http://www.ncte.org/standards/ncte-ira
comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate
texts. They draw on their prior experience, their
interactions with other readers and writers, their
knowledge of word meaning and of other texts,
their word identification strategies, and their
understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-
letter correspondence, sentence structure, context,
graphics).

12. Students use spoken, written, and visual

language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g.,
for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the
exchange of information).
ISTE standards (1 tech component) 4a: Dedicate planning time to collaborate with
http://www.iste.org/standards/standards colleagues to create authentic learning experiences that
leverage technology.

PreK-12 Proficiency standards Standard 2: English language learners communicate

http://www.tesol.org/docs/books/ information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic
bk_prek-12elpstandards_framework_318.pd success in the area of language arts.
f?sfvrsn=2

Common Core State Standards
W.3.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,
supporting a point of view with reasons.
a. Introduce the topic or text they are writing
about, state an opinion, and create an
organizational structure that lists reasons.
b. Provide reasons that support the opinion.
c. Use linking words and phrases (e.g.,
because, therefore, since, for example) to
connect opinion and reasons.
d. Provide a concluding statement or section

Grade Level Guide: Content Standards

Academic Language:
argument
decide
evidence
opinion

Students’ Needs:
English Language Learners Special Needs (can be a
group such as “struggling
readers” or individuals)

Reading the article and a Reading the article and a

peer’s paper and listening to peer’s paper, listening to the
audio components of the audio components of the
lesson. lesson, writing their essay.

Materials:
Teacher Needs:
• Powerpoint
• “Oreo” writing planner
• computer/projector
• Opinion Words and Phrases Poster
• Article Text
• lined paper
• ReadWorks opinion article (https://www.readworks.org/article/Should-School-Be-Year-Round/
83b57109-d8b5-467f-b0b9-8e55d5053d99#!vocabularySection:argument/articleTab:content/)

Student Needs:
• Pencil/pen

Language Function:
Analyze: Students will have to analyze the information given to them in the article to develop an infor-
med opinion.
Argue: Students will have to choose their side and offer reasons and examples to argue their case. De-
scribe: Students will have to discuss the side they chose and describe the ways in which it is better.
Evaluate: Students will have to use their checklists to evaluate their peers’ opinion essay.
Explain: In the powerpoint presentation, aspects of opinion essays will be explained to the students.
Students will have to explain their opinion in their essays.
Interpret: Students will have to interpret the information given to them in the article and form an opini-
on.
Justify: Students have to use reasons and examples to justify their opinion.
Synthesize: Students have to clearly and concisely state their opinion.
Before:
• Students will do a review activity involving opinion words and phrases.
• A poster board with the sections: introductory words and phrases, transitions, and opinion clues will
be placed in the front of the room.
• Students will be asked to come up with examples to put under each section and they will be allowed
to write correct words/phrases on the poster.
• The teachers will fill in any extra words while explaining to the class.
• Discuss knowledge about opinion writing.

During:
• Students will listen to direct instruction while a Powerpoint presentation provides a visual aid, in
which the concepts of opinion writing are introduced.
• After the powerpoint presentation, an “OREO” writing planner will be introduced.
• Each student will be given their own writing planner that will be used later in the lesson.
• An article from ReadWorks about year-round school will be put up on the projector and read aloud
to the students. Students will also receive a copy of the article.
• After listening to the article and discussing year-round school and school with a summer break,
students will be asked to choose which they agree with most.
• Using their “OREO” writing planners, students will state their opinion about year-round school and
list reasons and examples to support their opinion.
• After filling out the planner, students will be given a lined sheet of paper and an opinion writing
essay checklist.
• They will use the lined sheet of paper to write a formal essay in paragraph form using their planner
and checklist.
• Students will be asked to re-read their papers and use the self-check side of the checklist to make
sure their have included all aspects.

After:
• After students have finished writing they will trade papers and checklists with a partner.
• The students will read their peer’s paper and use the checklist to grade the paper.
• All papers will be submitted with their checklists.
• A class poll will be taken to see how many students would want year-round school.
• Students will be asked to share their thoughts and opinions with the class.

Assessment:
Type of assessment Description of Modifications to the Evaluation Criteria
assessment assessment so that
all students could
demonstrate learning
Informal Each student will Students could have The assessment will show the
complete an opinion extra time to students’ ability to correctly
essay, self-check complete the complete the assignment, self-
their papers using assignment, have a check their work, and give good
the checklist, then a teacher check their feedback to their peers using the
peer will use the paper, or provide checklist.
same checklist to less reasons or
grade their paper. examples in their
The students will essay.
then submit their
papers with the
completed checklist.

Resources:
• https://www.readworks.org/article/Should-School-Be-Year-Round/83b57109-d8b5-467f-
b0b9-8e55d5053d99#!vocabularySection:argument/articleTab:content/
• Opinion Words and Phrases Poster
• Article Text
• “OREO” Writing Planner
• Opinion Essay Checklist
 OREO Writing Planner

Opinion stated clearly:_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Reason you feel your opinion is correct (1st): ________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Example (with details) that supports your 1st reason: __________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Reason you feel your opinion is correct (2nd):________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Example (with details) that supports your 2nd reason:__________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Opinion restated with enthusiasm: ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
Name: ________________________________________

Partner’s Name: ________________________________

Opinion Essay Checklist

Directions: After completing the opinion essay, fill out the self-check section to ensure you have includ-
ed all aspects in your essay. Trade papers and checklists with your partner and fill out the partner check
section. Partners’ should use the feedback section to offer feedback on their partner’s essay. Place a
check mark in the empty box if the essay has that aspect and place an X if it does not.

Self-Check Partner Check

Opinion is clearly Opinion is clearly
stated in the stated in the
introduction. introduction.
1st reason for the 1st reason for the
opinion is provided. opinion is provided.
An example An example
supporting the 1st supporting the 1st
reason is provided. reason is provided.
2nd reason for the 2nd reason for the
opinion is provided. opinion is provided.
An example An example
supporting the 2nd supporting the 2nd
reason is provided. reason is provided.
The opinion is The opinion is
restated in a restated in a
concluding paragraph. concluding paragraph.
Opinion words and Opinion words and
phrases are used phrases are used
throughout essay. throughout essay.

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