Happy Sunday! I hope you’re enjoying a long weekend. Our district has done away with February vacation, but we do get Presidents’ Day off and Tuesday as well.
Today I wanted to share an activity that I do with my students when it comes to opinion and persuasive writing. I thought it might be something you could put in your lesson plans too.
I read my class The Three Little Pigs, while exploring the idea that different perspectives lead to different opinions. To achieve this, I read the classic version of the story, showcasing the pig’s point of view. Then, I follow up with “The True Story of The Three Little Pigs,” which presents the wolf’s side of the tale.
The students were immediately captivated by the shift in perspective, and it always sparks a lively discussion about the different motivations and experiences of the characters. I act completely shocked…like we have all been DUPED all these years! It’s so fun to see how their opinions change as they consider the alternative viewpoint.
Following the readings, I encouraged my students to compare and contrast the two “villains” – the wolf and the pigs. They fill out an organizer and have a partner discussion to build up support for the persuasive writing assignment.
Next, each student formulates their own opinion on the matter and express it persuasively. They use evidence from both stories to support their viewpoint and present well-reasoned counter-arguments.
The activity not only enhanced their writing skills but also fostered critical thinking and empathy. It was great to witness their creativity as they explored the minds of the characters, and the resulting persuasive pieces were filled with strong language and explanations.
Give it a try in your classroom! It’s a great way to make opinion and persuasive writing more engaging and relevant to the students’ lives. If you want to grab a copy of the organizers that I use for this activity, you can get them here. If not, you can easily use standard organizers that you already have.
I love to add a little art piece with the writing to jazz it up (and motivate kids to get their writing done)!
Looking forward to hearing about your experiences if you decide to incorporate this into your lesson plans. Enjoy your time off!
~Heather
