You will learn
- Say what a fact is.
- Find facts in a short text or picture.
- Tell a fact from an opinion.
- Write down simple facts.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A fact is true.
- An opinion is what someone thinks.
- We can find facts in books, pictures and from people.
- We write facts down.
Words to know
something true
what someone thinks
where we find information
a short piece of writing to help us remember
1. Discover: Facts about frogs
Ama reads: A frog is an animal. It lives near water. It lays eggs. It can jump far. She says, “These are facts!” Kofi says, “I think frogs are cute.” “That is an opinion,” says the teacher.
Think: Which is a fact: Frogs jump far or Frogs are cute?
2. Understand: Facts
Idea 1: What is a fact?
A fact is something true that can be checked: A frog lays eggs.
Idea 2: Fact or opinion?
An opinion is what someone thinks: Frogs are cute. Different people may have different opinions.
Idea 3: Gather facts
Find facts in books, pictures or from people. Write them down in short notes.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Find a fact
Find a fact about frogs.
- Read the text.
- Pick a true statement.
Answer: A frog lays eggs.
Example 2 (We do it together): Fact or opinion?
Frogs are cute.
- Can it be checked?
- No, it is what someone thinks.
Answer: opinion
Example 3 (You try): Note it
Write a note about frogs.
Show the steps and answer
- Use a short sentence.
- Write the fact.
Answer: Frogs live near water.
Did you know?
Libraries have non-fiction books that are full of facts on every topic.
Why this matters
Knowing facts and where to find them helps you learn and share true information.
4. Explore: Fact finders
Find three facts.
- Choose a topic.
- Look in a book or ask someone.
- Write three facts.
- Share with a partner.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can gather facts and write them down.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- A fact is ___.
- One fact is ___.
- An opinion is ___.
- I found this in ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Which is a fact: Frogs lay eggs or Frogs are cute?
Frogs lay eggs
Question 2. Is Frogs are cute a fact?
no, an opinion
Question 3. Write a fact about frogs.
Frogs live near water.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A fact is something ___.
- An opinion is what someone ___.
- Frogs lay ___.
- Where do frogs live?
- We find facts in ___.
Level 2: Grow
- Fact or opinion: Dogs bark.
- Fact or opinion: Dogs are the best.
- Write a fact about a cat.
Level 3: Stretch
- Write three facts about an animal.
- How is a fact different from an opinion?
- Kofi says frogs are cute is a fact. Is he right?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Find three facts about an animal in a book and tell a family member.
Show a sample answer
A cow has four legs.
Another one. Write one fact and one opinion about food.
Show a sample answer
Fact: rice is a grain. Opinion: rice is tasty.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Ask: can I check it?
Fix: Write in your own words.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what a fact is.
- I can find facts.
- I can tell fact from opinion.
- I can write simple facts.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- A fact is true.
- An opinion is what someone thinks.
- Find facts in books, pictures and people.
- Write short notes.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Sharing information orally. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a fact? [1 mark]
- What is an opinion? [1 mark]
- Write a fact about a cow. [1 mark]
- Fact or opinion: Dogs are the best. [2 marks]
- Explain how to gather facts. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- something true [1]
- what someone thinks [1]
- a valid fact [1]
- opinion [1]; it cannot be checked [1]
- choose a topic [1]; find facts in books, pictures or from people [1]; write short notes [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A fact is something ___.
- An opinion is what someone ___.
- Frogs lay ___.
- Fact or opinion: Dogs bark.
- Fact or opinion: Dogs are the best.
- Write a fact about a cat.
- True or false: facts can be checked.
- True or false: opinions are always facts.
- Write three facts about an animal.
- Write one fact and one opinion.
Homework
Find three facts about an animal and write them down.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A fact is something ___. | true | 1 |
| 2. An opinion is what someone ___. | thinks | 1 |
| 3. Frogs lay ___. | eggs | 1 |
| 4. Fact or opinion: Dogs bark. | fact | 1 |
| 5. Fact or opinion: Dogs are the best. | opinion | 1 |
| 6. Write a fact about a cat. | a valid fact | 1 |
| 7. True or false: facts can be checked. | true | 1 |
| 8. True or false: opinions are always facts. | false | 1 |
| 9. Write three facts about an animal. | three facts | 1 |
| 10. Write one fact and one opinion. | a fact and an opinion | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 true; 2 thinks; 3 eggs; 4 near water; 5 books. Level 2: 1 fact; 2 opinion; 3 a valid fact. Level 3: 1 three facts; 2 a fact can be checked; 3 no, it is an opinion.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what a fact is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Find facts in a short text or picture | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Tell a fact from an opinion | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Write down simple facts | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Mixing up facts and opinions. Ask: can I check it?
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use a simple text with a picture.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns to find and write down simple facts. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look up facts together.
- Ask: is that a fact?
- Visit the library.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what a fact is; find facts in a short text or picture; tell a fact from an opinion; write down simple facts.
Prerequisite knowledge. Describing pictures.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Read the frog text and ask what we learned.
Explanation (10 min). Teach facts and opinions.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise fact finders.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners share their facts.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Is it true? Can we check it?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use a simple text with a picture. Extension. Find facts in two sources.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Mixing up facts and opinions. Ask: can I check it?
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use a simple text with a picture. Enrichment. Find facts in two sources and compare. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 1 » Writing; Grade 1 » Reading: Informational Text; Grade 1 » Speaking & Listening. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core W.1.7 (participate in shared research and writing projects) and W.1.8 (with guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question) and RI.1.1; Cambridge Primary English Stage 1 (non-fiction reading). These sources informed the lesson.