Scott Foresman Reading Street

SKILLS

STRATEGIES IN CONTEXT

Fact/Opinion
Text Structure

Test

Selection Test:
Unit 5
Benchmark Test: Unit 5

Reteach/
Review

TE: 3.4 111b, DI•55; 3.5 193b, 229, 265, DI•53;
3.6 353b, DI•54

PB: 3.2 33, 37, 38, 63, 67, 68, 96, 123, 127, 128

Practice

TE: 3.4 86–87;
3.5 170–171;
3.6 332–333

Introduce/
Teach

Fact and Opinion

	Distinguish between fact and opinion.
	Understand text structure.

INTRODUCE

Write a paragraph about your classroom that includes both facts and opinions. (For example: My desk is near the window. I like to have students' desks face my desk. I arranged the room so that every student can see my desk.) Have students tell which statements are facts (statements 1 and 3) and which are statements of opinion (statement 2). Then read the information on
p. 170. Explain the following:

In nonfiction, authors give statements of fact and opinion. Good readers can tell the difference between the two.
Sometimes an author will compare and contrast two statements of fact or two statements of opinion. Other times, the author will compare and contrast facts with opinions.

Use Skill Transparency 22 to teach fact and opinion and text structure.

TEACH

SKILL Use paragraph 1 to

model how to differentiate fact from opinion.

MODEL I know that words that express feelings are clues that the statement is an opinion. In paragraph 1, I see these "feeling" words: best and favorite. So I would say that the first two sentences are opinions.

STRATEGY Help students locate

the clue words that signal compare and contrast structure.

MODEL I see the phrase on the other hand, which tells me that the author is setting up some kind of contrast. Here, the author is contrasting what the sister doesn't like (board games) to what she does like (charades).

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

SKILL Possible responses: "I think

board games are the best family activity," "Playing a board game with family or friends is my favorite thing to do on a rainy day."

STRATEGY Clue words: "On the other

hand"

WRITE Have students work in small

groups to complete the graphic organizer. Then ask them to complete the writing assignment on their own.

then… use Practice Book 3.2, p. 63 to provide practice.

If… students are unable to complete Write to Read on
p. 170,

Fact and Opinion

Available as Skill Transparency 22

A statement of opinion gives someone’s
thoughts or feelings about something.
Words that express feelings, such as
favorite and wonderful, are clues that
this might be an opinion.

A statement of fact can be proved true
or false.

Fact and Opinion

Text Structure

Strategy

Fact and Opinion

Skill

Board games include everything you need
right in the box. There is nothing to think up or
to make. The rules are printed out. That’s the
best part! There shouldn’t be any arguments
among players. Hundreds of board games are
sold every year. The people who buy them
can’t all be wrong.

Skill This
paragraph includes
some opinions.
What are they?
What clue words
do you see?

I think board games are the best family
activity. Playing a board game with family or
friends is my favorite thing to do on a rainy
day. However, my sister doesn’t agree. She
likes playing charades with a group. To her,
board games are boring.

Opinions

Facts

Good readers notice when authors
organize their writing to compare and
contrast. Some clue words that signal a
compare and contrast structure are
however, on the other hand, but, and
although. Writing that compares often
includes facts and opinions. As a reader,
you must watch for these.

Strategy: Text Structure

Strategy Here is
a clue that signals
a compare and
contrast text struc-
ture. What is it?

Here you have two kinds of games,
two people, and two ideas. Which
game is best? You decide.

On the other hand, my sister favors
charades. She says it’s a creative game.
Players must think of books, movies, or songs
that will stump the other team. Players use their
imagination and always have a great time.

Write a short paragraph
about your favorite game
using facts and opinions.

Read “The Best Game.”
Make a chart like the one
above. Fill it in as you read.



	Close
	Access Content Beginning/Intermediate For a Picture It! lesson on fact and opinion and text structure, see the ELL Teaching Guide, pp. 148–149. Advanced Before students read “The Best Game," have volunteers tell about their favorite games. List on the board several of the more challenging words from the reading (including charades, creative, stump, and imagination) and encourage students to use the words in their descriptions. Practice Book 3.2 p. 63 with \| without Answers