Lesson
3
:

Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding

Grade

Grade 2

UNIT

8

Understanding

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

Unit 8, Lesson 3, “Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding,” reinforces the vocabulary word understanding. Students will write an opinion piece in which they introduce the topic they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Demonstrate comprehension of the word understanding.
  • Write an opinion piece that introduces the topic they are writing about, states an opinion, supplies reasons that support the opinion, uses linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provides a concluding statement or section
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

  • Prohuman Grade 2 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.2.1

Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2

Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.6

Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.1

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.3

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

Intellectual Character A

Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy and humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking

Intellectual Character A3

Recognize different approaches to problem-solving

Intellectual Character B

Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy and humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking

Self-Awareness A2

Identify personal strengths (e.g., honesty, curiosity, listening)

Social-Awareness A3

Demonstrate the ability to listen carefully and intentionally to others

Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making 1

Describe a rule or principle that everyone should strive to live by (e.g., be kind, be honest, try your best)

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will write an opinion piece about what you think is the most important way you can show understanding and why. 

An opinion piece does five things. 

  1. First, it introduces the topic you are writing about.
  2. Second, it states your opinion.
  3. Third, it supplies reasons that support your opinion
  4. Fourth, it uses linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect the opinion and reasons
  5. Finally, it provides a concluding statement or section
  6. Here is an example of an opinion piece about this topic. Write on the board:
    Topic: Understanding is when a person seeks knowledge and tries to learn the truth. They think about other people’s views that might be different from their own.
    Opinion: I think the most important way I can show understanding is by listening to a parent or guardian’s views.
    Reason 1: My parents or guardians are older than me and have more life experience.
    Reason 2: My parents or guardians care about me and want me to be well.
    Conclusion: In my opinion, the most important way I can show understanding is by listening to my parents or guardians when it comes to making decisions.
  7. Now each student will write their own 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 2 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 you can show understanding in your own life and why. Using complete sentences, you will identify your topic, state your opinion, write two reasons, and provide a closing statement.

Topic:

Opinion: 

Reason 1: 

Reason 2: 

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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