Fact and Opinion

Fourth Grade
Unit 3 Week 2
By Kristi Waltke

Facts

A statement of fact can be correct or

incorrect. You can check it by doing
research.

Mercury is the
Monkeys
are
planet
closest
mammals.
to the sun.

Opinions
A statement

of opinion cannot be proved

true or false. It is a belief or judgment. It
often contains a word of judgment, such
as best, should, or beautiful. It may begin
with the words In my opinion or I believe.

Bananas
She is the
are
the
coolest
best fruit
girl in
on
a summer
school!day.

Opinions
A statement

of opinion should be
supported. A valid opinion is supported
by facts or good logic. A faulty opinion
is not.

Fact and Opinion

Some

sentences contain both

statements of fact and statements of
It is the
opinion.
The size of a
authors
opinion that the
whale is
beautiful.

blue whale
can be
proven.

The beautiful whale can grow

as big as 100 feet long!

A photo essay like Adelinas Whales is

the best genre for fourth graders to read.
thisbe
statement
factAdelinas
or an opinion?
While it Is
can
proven athat
Whales is
a photo essay, this statement contains an
opinion. Notice best is a judgment word.

La Laguna is the most amazing place for

Adelina to grow up.
Is this statement a fact or an opinion?

It cannot be proven true or false. It

involves a belief or judgment, feelings. It
might be a valid opinion, but it is not a fact.

Adelina has lived in La Laguna her whole

life.

ThisIscan
be proven.
could
this statement
a factAorperson
an opinion?
research this statement.

Adelina and her family believe their

hometown is a special place.

It involves a belief or judgment. Notice

Is this statement a fact or an opinion?
that believe is one of words that signals
an opinion. However, there are facts in
the story that make this opinion valid.

Mother whales are proud parents. They

lift their babies up to show them off.
Is this statement
a fact
an opinion? It
It involves
a belief
ororjudgment.
cannot be proven whether whales are
proud parents or not.

Whales brains are as large as a cars

engine.

ThisIscan
be proven.
could
this statement
a factAorperson
an opinion?
research this statement.

 As

you read, try to

distinguish facts from
opinions.
Remember how to figure
out if a statement is a
fact or an opinion.
Remember that opinions
can be valid, but that
doesnt make them facts.