Stop and Go Statements

Fostering Understanding of Fact and Opinion

Stage of Literacy Development:

Stage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Stage 3: Literacy for Growth

Ages:

6-10

Grade Range:

2nd 3rd 4th

Food Groups:

Primary:
Knowledge Building

Activity Description

Preparation:

Prepare the task cards
1. Cut out cards from construction paper
2. Write the word “fact” on one side of the card and the word “opinion” on the other side
3. Each student will need 1 task card
Prepare the Stop/Go Sign
1. Cut out a hexagon from a piece of construction paper
2. Write the word “Stop” on one side of the paper and the word “Go” on the other side
Select 8-10 statements
1. Include statements that are facts and statements that are opinions

Implementation:

Review the terms “fact” and “opinion”
1. Provide examples of each term
Explain the game
1. Tell students that they will determine whether a statement is a fact or an opinion by holding up a card and showing the correct side
2. If they are correct, students move up when the Go side of the Stop/Go sign is shown until the Stop side is shown
3. If students are incorrect they stay where they are
Play the game
1. Hand out the task cards
2. Have all students begin in a straight line at the back of the classroom
3. Share 8-10 statements and have students respond and move until 1 student has moved to the front of the classroom

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- Color code each side of the task cards
- Prior to the game pre-teach the terms "fact" and "opinion" and give student a number of examples
- Share the statement twice before allowing students to move

LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:

- Pre-teach the terms "fact" and "opinion"
- Following the activity meet with the student to review the terms and discuss examples of each

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Select statements with which students will be familiar

Differentiated Instruction:

- Display each statement on a sentence strip as it is read aloud
- Select and read aloud non-fiction texts that include statements that are facts and statements that are opinions

Related References

Evidence: 
Sun, Y., Zhang, J. & Scardamalia, M. (2010). Knowledge building and vocabulary growth over two year, grades 3 and 4. Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences, 38, 147-171.

Activity Objective

The goal of Stop and Go Statements: Fostering Understanding of Fact and Opinion is to foster the development of knowledge by helping students gain a deeper understanding of the differences between facts and opinions.

What You Need

Prep Time:

20 minutes
- Prepare task cards
- Prepare Stop/Go sign
- Select 8-10 statements

Task Time:

10-20 minutes
- Teacher reviews terms
- Teacher explains game
- Students play game

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Scissors

Students:
- Task cards

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while reviewing terms and explaining game

Facilitator:
- while students play game

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during review of terms, explanation of game and playing of game

Assessment Ideas:

- Make observations and use a checklist to track students understanding of the differences between the terms "fact" and "opinion"

- In small groups or one-on-one share a short text and use a checklist to assess students' ability to identify sentences from the text as either facts or opinions

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Play this game during a unit of study in science or social studies as a way to review concepts and reinforce the differences between a fact and an opinion

- Play this game after reading a story as a way to check for understanding and practice the comprehension strategy, retell

- Play this game in a gymnasium or outside and have students move in different ways

Additional Comments:

- Emphasize the differences between a fact and an opinion during your review. Help students understand that a fact can be proven while an opinion is usually someone's feelings about the topic.

- Explicitly teaching the differences between facts and opinions will help students apply their knowledge of these terms while reading independently.

- Teaching and practicing new concepts through a game is a fun and motivating way for students to develop their understanding.

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Prepare a Stop and Go sign that uses 2 different colors and a large font for students who may have a visual impairment