Lesson
3
:

Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding

Grade

Grade 5

UNIT

8

Understanding

Last Updated:

June 10, 2025

In Unit 8, Lesson 3, “Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding,” students will write an opinion piece in which they introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose.

SUGGESTED TIME:

30 minutes

RELATED SUBJECT:

English Language Arts

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Demonstrate comprehension of the word understanding.
  • Write an opinion text on understanding, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose.
  • Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
  • Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).
  • Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
  • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

  • Prohuman Grade 5 Unit 8 Worksheet 3: Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding 

VOCABULARY:.

  • Understanding: I seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. I think about other people’s views that might be different from mine.

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A

Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B

Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.C

Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D

Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

Performance Character B1

Provide an example of a friend or role model who demonstrates self-discipline (the ability to forgo instant and immediate gratification for a larger goal or commitment)

Performance Character B2

Provide an example of a friend or role model who is dependable, reliable, and conscientious (responsible)

Intellectual Character A2

Understand the skills (being prepared, focused effort, diligent practice, attention to detail, etc.) that enable someone to acquire or polish a skill

Performance Character B4

Provide an example of a role model who demonstrates grit (perseverance and passion for a long-term goal)

Intellectual Character B4

Demonstrate the ability to analyze data, facts, and information

Civic Character A4

Explain why it is important for everyone to serve and contribute to their family, school, community, nation, globally

Civic Character B6

Describe how a role model volunteers and contributes to the common good

LESSON PROCEDURE

In the previous lesson, we learned about George Washington Carver, a scientist and inventor. Today, we will write an opinion piece about what you think is the most important way  George Washington Carver showed understanding, and what this understanding allowed him to accomplish. An opinion piece does five things. 

  1. Introduces a topic 
  2. States an opinion 
  3. Provides logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
  4. Links opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).
  5. Provides a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

Now each student will write their opinion piece on their worksheet.

NOTE: Collect and keep the worksheet on the following page for the next day’s lesson in which students will share their opinion pieces with a partner.

GRADE 5 UNIT 8 WORKSHEET 3: WRITING AN OPINION PIECE ABOUT UNDERSTANDING

Understanding: I seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. I think about other people’s views that might be different from mine.

ACTIVITY: Write an opinion piece about what you think is the most important way that George Washington Carver showed understanding and what this understanding allowed him to accomplish.

Topic:

Opinion: 

Reason 1: 

Reason 2: 

Reason 3: 

Closure:  

Prohuman K-12 Curriculum © 2025 by Prohuman Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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