Telling Facts from Opinions About the Past
About this lesson
Children hear short statements about life long ago and decide whether each is a fact that could be checked or an opinion someone holds. They then work in pairs to rewrite an opinion as a fact. This practises an early skill historians use. You need the whiteboard and scrap paper, and it takes about 15 minutes.
- Grade
- 4
- Subject
- History
- Time
- 15 min
- Prep
- 5 min
Objective
Students will tell whether a statement about the past is a fact that can be checked with evidence or an opinion, and explain how they know.
Prep
5 min: write 8 numbered statements about life long ago on the board, half facts and half opinions
Materials
- whiteboard and markers
- scrap paper
- pencils
Steps
- Say: 'A fact about the past can be checked with evidence like old letters, photos or objects. An opinion is what someone thinks or feels.' Write the clue words best, worst, better, should, boring and fun on the board as opinion signals.
- Read each board statement aloud, for example 'Before electric lights, many homes used candles' or 'Life was more fun before cars.' Children show thumbs up for fact or a flat hand for opinion.
- After each vote, ask one child how they know and how a historian could check it, such as by looking at old photos, objects or diaries.
- In pairs, children pick one opinion from the board and rewrite it as a fact on scrap paper. For example, change 'Old schools were boring' to 'Some old schools had one room for all ages.'
- Invite three or four pairs to read their before and after sentences while the class gives a thumbs up if the new sentence could be checked.
Quick Check
Say one new statement, 'Horses were the best way to travel long ago,' and have each child whisper to a neighbour whether it is a fact or an opinion and which word gave it away.
Differentiation
Make it easier: Use only four statements and underline the opinion clue words before reading them.
Make it harder: Have pairs write one fact and one opinion of their own about the same object from the past, such as an old-fashioned telephone, and challenge another pair to tell which is which.
Good For
- Before lunch
- End of day
- Supply teacher
- Review
