Lesson
3
:

Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding

Grade

Grade 4

UNIT

8

Understanding

Last Updated:

June 3, 2025

In Unit 8, Lesson 3, “Writing an Opinion Piece About Understanding,” 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 understanding
  • 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 4 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.4.1

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B

Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.C

Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.D

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.F

Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.A

Use correct capitalization.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.D

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3.A

Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

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)

Self-Awareness A4

Explain a time when you put yourself in “someone else’s shoes” in order to understand their perspective and point of view

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills A3

Understand and recognize the characteristics of healthy relationships (e.g., honesty, compromising, sharing, encouragement)

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will write an opinion piece about how you can show understanding and why it is important to show understanding. 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 (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 understanding. Write on the board:
    Topic: There are many different ways we can show understanding.
    Opinion: The best way I can show understanding is by listening to all my students and thinking about their different points of view, especially if they differ from mine.
    Reason 1: Because all my students are different, they have different points of view. I can understand everyone better, and can understand the whole class better, when I listen to and think about everyone’s different points of view.
    Reason 2: My students need to know that I care about them. Listening to their different points of view is an important way I can show that I care about them.
    Reason 3: Listening to my students’ points of view helps us to build good relationships and have a good classroom environment where we can all learn and grow to become the best people we can be.
    Conclusion: In my opinion, the best way I can show understanding is by listening to all my students’ different points of view to improve my understanding, show that I care, and create a good classroom environment.
  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 4 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 how you can show understanding and 3 reasons why it is important to show understanding.

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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