Lesson
3
:

Writing an Opinion Piece About Gratitude

Grade

Grade 3

UNIT

3

Gratitude

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

In Unit 3, Lesson 3, “Writing an Opinion Piece About Gratitude,” students will write an opinion piece in which they introduce the topic they are writing about, state an opinion, create an organizational structure that lists reasons, use linking words and phrases, and provide a concluding statement or section.

SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Demonstrate comprehension of the word gratitude
  • Write an opinion piece that introduces the topic, states an opinion, creates an organizational structure that lists reasons, uses linking words and phrases, and provides a concluding statement or section
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

  • Prohuman Grade 3 Unit 3 Worksheet 3: Writing an Opinion Piece About Gratitude

VOCABULARY:

  • Gratitude: I am thankful for many things, big and small.

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.A

Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.B

Provide reasons that support the opinion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.C

Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for example) to connect opinion and reasons.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.D

Provide a concluding statement or section.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.4

With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1.C

Use abstract nouns (e.g., childhood).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1.F

Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1

Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1.I

Produce simple, compound, and complex sentences.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2.E

Use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words and for adding suffixes to base words (e.g., sitting, smiled, cries, happiness).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.3

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

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

Moral Character A5

Offer examples of when you expressed gratitude to another person

Intellectual Character B4

Demonstrate the ability to analyze data, facts, and information

Self-Awareness A3

Explain the ways in which you use and practice your personal strengths (e.g., your willingness to help others, your positivity)

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will write an opinion piece about what you are most grateful for 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 opinion and reasons.
  5. Finally, it provides a concluding statement or section.
  6. Here is an example of an opinion piece about gratitude. Write on the board:

    Topic: There are many different things we can be grateful for.
    Opinion: I am most grateful for my family.
    Reason 1: My family is always there to help me have meals to eat.
    Reason 2: My family helps me to make sure I have clothes to wear.
    Reason 3: My family helps me to make sure I go to school and get a good education.
    Closure: In my opinion, I am most grateful for my family because they help to make sure I have food, clothing, and education, which are needed for my well-being.
  7. 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 3 UNIT 3 WORKSHEET 3: WRITING AN OPINION PIECE ABOUT GRATITUDE

Gratitude: I am thankful for many things, big and small.

ACTIVITY: Write an opinion piece about what you are most grateful for and why.

Topic:

Opinion: 

Reason 1: 

Reason 2: 

Reason 3: 

Conclusion:  

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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