Learning Activity

Weak or Strong Statements: That Is the Question

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

3

Overview

The students will listen to a read-aloud of "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," and jot down opinion sentences they hear as they listen. They will learn how to write strong introductions and conclusions for their paragraphs. They will write a paragraph summarizing the wolf's opinions in the book.

This resource was created in partnership with Dothan City Schools.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 3

ELA21.3.5

Express ideas, opinions, and feelings orally in a logical sequence clearly, accurately, and precisely, using appropriate volume, clear pronunciation, and standard English grammar.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.3.5

Vocabulary

  • Ideas
  • Opinions
  • Feelings
  • Logical sequence
  • Accurately
  • Precisely
  • Appropriate volume
  • Clear pronunciation
  • Standard English grammar

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Orally communicating ideas, opinions, and feelings, requires a logical sequence, accurate and precise language, appropriate voice volume, clear speech pronunciation, and the use of standard English grammar.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Orally express ideas, opinions, and feelings in a logical sequence and with accurate and precise language.
  • Use appropriate voice volume, clear speech pronunciation, and standard English grammar when orally presenting ideas, opinions, and feelings.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • When presenting their ideas, opinions, and feelings orally, they must use a logical sequence, an appropriate volume for speaking, clear pronunciation of words, and standard English grammar, so others can clearly comprehend (understand) what they are trying to express.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 3

ELA21.3.38

Compose and develop a well-organized paragraph with a topic sentence, details to support, and a concluding sentence.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.3.38

Vocabulary

  • Compose
  • Develop
  • Well-organized paragraph
  • Topic sentence
  • Details
  • Concluding sentence

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A well-organized paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Write a well-organized paragraph that consists of a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • A well-written paragraph includes a topic sentence to introduce the topic, provides supporting details to explain the topic, and ends with a concluding sentence.

Phase

After/Explain/Elaborate
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The students will be able to identify opinion sentences in written literature. 
  • The students will be able to explain the difference between weak and strong introductions and conclusions in paragraphs. 
  • The students will use their knowledge to compose and develop a well-organized paragraph including an enticing topic sentence, details to support their opinion, and a strong concluding sentence. 
  • The students will participate in an oral discussion explaining their reasons for why they believe a statement is an opinion by expressing their ideas in a logical sequence clearly, accurately, and precisely.

Activity Details

Begin with listening to the read-aloud of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. (The teacher may read it if he/she has a copy.) As the students listen to the story, they should write the opinion statements they hear on a sticky note. At the end of the story, allow the students to come up and stick them on the board. The students will take turns reading aloud what their peers wrote and there will be an oral discussion as to whether or not it is an opinion and why.

Have each student open the Google Slides Presentation in Google Classroom so they can all actively participate. Once the activity is completed, explain the importance of an introduction and a conclusion. Remind them the introduction should come before the opinion. Go over their answers together as a class.

Finally, the students will write a summary of the story based on the viewpoint of the wolf. They will need to include an introductory sentence, three opinion sentences, and a conclusion sentence. They will turn this in to the teacher.

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will use the sticky note responses, discussion, Google Slides Presentation, and written paragraph to assess students' mastery. The teacher will listen and observe the students' oral responses during the discussion to verify they can express opinions, ideas, and feelings in a logical sequence clearly, accurately, and precisely, using appropriate volume, clear pronunciation, and standard English grammar. The teacher will assess the student's ability to independently compose and develop a well-organized paragraph including an introductory sentence, detail sentences that support the opinion, and a concluding sentence. 

Acceleration

The advanced students could choose a book of their choice and write an opinion paragraph based on a character's viewpoint.

Intervention

If some students are still struggling with choosing strong introductions or conclusions, they can bring their computers to the back table and do the activity with the teacher as s(he) models how to decide which ones are strong or weak.  The teacher can use the opinion writing graphic organizer used in the during activity as a model as well.

Related Learning Activities

Learning Activity (Before)

What's Your Opinion

Learning Activity (During)

Opinions, Opinions, Opinions, Oh My!

Learning Activity (After)

Weak or Strong Statements: That Is the Question

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Add the Google Slides Presentation to Google Classroom.

Purchase the book The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A.Wolf as told to Jon Scieszk if the teacher would rather read it aloud instead of using the digital read-aloud.

Digital Tools / Resources

Read Aloud of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB07RfntTvw

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

hharden5684
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