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Handwriting/journal paper we use in our journals. These were saved as PNG and JPG images and can be cropped for use in creating worksheets or other projects.

You can download this in a zip file from our TPT store HERE.

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Handwriting/journal paper we use in our journals. These were saved as PNG and JPG images and can be cropped for use in creating worksheets or other projects. You can download this in a zip file from our TPT store HERE.

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Make an ALL ABOUT ME! Book | Activity | Education.com

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Spark your kids' interest in writing by helping them write a mini-book about their favorite subject: themselves!

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Opinion Writing Lesson Plan

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First Graders: Writing an Opinion and Giving Reasons - Opinion writing is an important skill for young students to develop. As they learn how to share their opinions on the page, students will begin to develop an understanding of how to form strong points, how to structure a cohesive argument with a main idea and supporting information, and how to own their personal thoughts and ideas.

With kids developing more self-confidence in their opinions and a greater set of skills that they may use to explain why they hold certain beliefs, young students will be better equipped to face more advanced writing assignments and conversations with their peers and the adults in their lives.

In this lesson, students will learn how to differentiate between facts and opinions and how to recognize that others may not have the same beliefs that they do. As they practice stating their thoughts as opinions and giving reasons for their personal beliefs through both speech and writing, students will learn how to express their ideas in a construction fashion and how to identify when others are stating facts versus offering opinions.

First Grade Opinion Writing Lesson Plan

Title: Writing an opinion piece
Subject: Writing
Grade Level: 1 st grade (age 6-7)
Time Duration: 30 min.
Materials: Chart paper, markers, paper, pencils

Objective: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.1)
Anticipatory Set:
How many of you have heard of the word "opinion"? Can you tell us where or how you heard it? What do you think it means?

Chart student answers on chart paper as they answer.
Direct Instruction:
"Opinion" means to tell others what you think about something.

For example, "It is my opinion that Chocolate ice cream is the best flavor." But not everyone will have the same opinion.

(Ask students.... "Student: What is your opinion about chocolate ice cream?" Tell them they can answer: "I think that chocolate ice cream is _________".

Now, when I tell my opinion, I need to give reasons why I think the way I do.

"I think chocolate ice cream is the best flavor because it is sweet and tastes great on a hot day".

I gave two reasons here. Can you tell what they are?

(Now, practice with another student who volunteers to come to the front of the class)

When we speak or write, we should use this format: (have this posted for students to look at).

In my opinion, I think that _______________________. One reason for this is __________________________. Another reason is _________________________. This is why I think ____________________________________.
Guided Practice:
In pairs, students will tell their partner their opinion about the best TV show and tell two reasons why. Teacher will walk around and correct/help as needed.

After about 5-7 minutes, ask for students to share out what their partner said. Be sure students speak in complete sentences and use the format given.
Independent Practice:
Students will write a short paragraph using the above format explaining what is the best movie they have seen.
Closure:
What is an opinion?
Assessment:
Students are able to write a short paragraph using the format outlined in this lesson. Suggested Topic: Best video game to play with friends.

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Until next time, write on...
If you enjoyed this First Grade Opinion Writing Lesson Plan,
please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.
I appreciate it!

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First Grade Opinion Writing Lesson Plan ⋆ JournalBuddies.com

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First Graders: Writing an Opinion and Giving Reasons - Opinion writing is an important skill for young students to develop. As they learn how to share their opinions on the page, students will begin to develop an understanding of how to form strong points, how to structure a cohesive argument with a main idea and supporting information, and how to own their personal thoughts and ideas.

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VocabularySpellingCity provides hundreds of free first grade level spelling and vocabulary lists that align with 1st grade language arts curriculum. First grade teachers can choose from a wide variety of lists to create assignments using VocabularySpellingCity's interactive games, activities, and printable worksheets to supplement their spelling or vocabulary lessons.

First grade spelling word lists include Dolch and Fry sight word lists and phonetic word pattern lists (CVC, word families). In addition to sight word lists for first grade, VocabularySpellingCity also offers word structure lists, such as compound words and contractions, that tie into 1st grade grammar standards. First grade students have the opportunity to practice grade-level literacy skills through VocabularySpellingCity's online games. First grade-level games include audio and visuals that allow students to practice skills independently and build mastery.

First Grade Vocabulary Instruction

First grade is a critical year as students undergo the transition from emergent readers to beginning readers. Not all students show an immediate affinity for reading; some develop literacy skills gradually, over time. Teachers must be able to plan and implement literacy lessons accordingly to meet the needs of all growing readers. VocabularySpellingCity supports teachers by providing differentiated 1st grade level spelling and vocabulary lists that can be used to reinforce the first grade words in a strong spelling and vocabulary curriculum.

In first grade spelling, students should demonstrate a command of words with common spelling patterns and frequently used irregular words, as well as grade-level sight words. VocabularySpellingCity's Splat-N-Spell allows first grade students to build sight word recognition and sight word fluency at the same time. Teachers can import Dolch and Fry sight word lists for use during independent literacy centers for sight word practice.

First grade students are also expected to apply grade-level phonics to decode one- and two-syllable words. VocabularySpellingCity offers SillyBulls, an engaging interactive game, to practice syllable segmentation and phonics.

In addition to spelling skills, first graders should understand standard grammar and continue to explore word meanings and word relationships. VocabularySpellingCity provides vocabulary list of 1st grade words that include homophones, homonyms, antonyms, and synonyms. The vocabulary word lists can be paired with games, such as WhichWord? Definitions, in order for students to identify the corresponding word meanings.

First grade educational standards that are supported by VocabularySpellingCity.

Select a link below to view available 1st grade word lists:

Import first grade word lists for spelling, high frequency words, or vocabulary for each unit as organized in popular reading programs.

Import first grade high-frequency word lists, as well as spelling word lists aligned with Irene Fountas' and Gay Su Pinnell's K-3 spelling continuum.

Import first grade vocabulary word lists.

Import first grade words from content-specific vocabulary lists.

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1st Grade Vocabulary and Spelling Word Lists

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VocabularySpellingCity provides hundreds of free first grade level spelling and vocabulary lists that align with 1st grade language arts curriculum. First grade teachers can choose from a wide variety of lists to create assignments using VocabularySpellingCity's interactive games, activities, and printable worksheets to supplement their spelling or vocabulary lessons.

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Writing personal narratives is one of the first writing genres we learn in first grade! My students are usually successful in this writing venture because they get to write all about themselves. How were they feeling? What happened to them? Who was there? These are all things my students can answer and my job is to help them expand on it and turn it into a complete writing piece.

I have been using the same writing unit for the past 5+ years with my first graders and it has yet to let me down. I wanted to share the steps I have my students take when introducing writing personal narratives through small moments.

Step One: What is a Small Moment?

To kick off our unit, I introduce what a small moment is with this anchor chart:

The first grade teacher above, purely.primary, just projected the mini anchor chart from my narratives unit and traced it onto chart paper! On the first day, I also like to read my students an example of a personal narrative and we see if it meets all the expectations from the anchor chart. Some of my favorite personal narrative picture books are:

( please note the following are Amazon affiliate links. When an item is purchased through these links, I receive a small amount back)

Step Two: Let's Brainstorm

Next, we brainstorm! We brainstorm all sorts of small moments and where we can find them.

To help my students think of their small moment, I use a graphic organizer that helps us brainstorm moments we've had at school, during holidays or special events, we think about times we felt happy, sad, angry, nervous, and more!

Once my students have picked their small moment, we use a circle map to think of the details surrounding this small moment:

When filling in the details, I have my students try to answer some of the question words:

Who was there?

What were you doing/wearing/thinking?

Where were you?

When was this?

Why were you there?

How were you feeling?

Step Three: Draw & Stretch it out (Rough Drafts)

After we brainstorm the details of our small moment, I like my students to draw out the beginning, middle, and end of their stories. When they draw, I try to have them add details from the day.

Then we streeeeeetch out our drawings. Each drawing (1, 2, & 3) gets its own stretch it out sheet for students to begin putting words onto paper to form their own personal narratives. These are the times where I like to talk about using a clear opening to set our story up and wrapping it all up with nice closing.

Step Four: Adding some FUN!

After we have our rough drafts in order and a base to our story, it's time to add some FUN!

We use Jonathon London's FROGGY books as mentor texts for the following writing skills. Each day, I introduce one skill with the anchor chart, we read a FROGGY book and see how Jonathon London uses it, then we go into our rough drafts and try to add it into our story!

Step Five: Let's Edit & Revise

Before we publish, we know that writers must go back into their stories to revise and edit! We spend a few days editing our own stories and we also try to edit/revise a partner's story. Editing someone else's work is a very difficult thing to do in first grade. especially towards the beginning of the year when my students cannot read their partner's work yet. I still find it to be very beneficial to the entire writing process and my students' understanding of what the writing process looks like a feels like. I also like to listen to my students explain their work to a partner as they point out different parts of their stories.

The above checklists are found in my personal narratives writing unit.

Step 6: Publish

Last, but certainly not least, my students go on to publish their final works! They must read through their rough drafts or "sloppy copies" as we call them and re-write them focusing on their neatest handwriting and colorful illustrations. My students also think of a title for their story and create a cover page.

Those are the basic steps we take as we create our narratives. In my narrative unit, I have detailed lesson plans for each day of this unit that are more in-depth. I also have had many teachers ask me if my students only write one personal narrative throughout the unit. My answer is NO! My students actually write, edit, and revise many different narratives throughout a 5-7 week period. I like for my students to have a lot of choice, so every day during writer's workshop they can add to the narrative they are working on currently, or start a new one taking the steps they already learned how to do. So they may be working on a few different narratives at one time. That being said, usually abotu half of my class choose to only work on one at a time.

We do only go through the publishing portion once. My students choose the one narrative they want to publish from beginning to end!

All the lessons seen in this post can be found in my personal narratives writing unit:

You can also find lessons for opinion & informative writing included at a discount when you buy the first grade beginner bundle:

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Writing Personal Narratives in First Grade - Susan Jones

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Writing personal narratives is one of the first writing genres we learn in first grade! My students are usually successful in this writing venture because they get to write all about themselves. How were they feeling? What happened to them? Who was there? These are all things my students can answer and my job is to ...

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Storybird - Read, write, discover, and share the books you'll always remember.

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Become a better writer with Storybird's creativity tools. Online courses, challenges, and reader feedback will help you improve your writing.