ALEX Learning Activity

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.

• 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

This is a helpful website that breaks down each part of the opinion writing process. There are also opinion writing packages you can purchase by grade level if you choose.

Links to related activities:

Before Activity - What's Your Opinion

During Activity - Opinions, Opinions, Opinions, Oh My!