| aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type | Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson |
| Which subject | English |
| What age group | Year or Grade 4 |
| What topic | Opinion writing |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Any other preferences |
Introduce Grade 4 students to the concept of opinion writing and inspire them to express their thoughts clearly and confidently.
Begin the lesson by rearranging the classroom into two sides — one for the "Yes" team and one for the "No" team.
Write a playful yet debatable statement on the board, such as: "Chocolate milk should be served at every school lunch!"
Divide the class into two groups. One group will argue in favor of the statement (the "Yes" team), and the other will argue against it (the "No" team).
Give each team 3-5 minutes to discuss their points and prepare a few arguments to support their stance. Encourage them to think about reasons and examples they can use in their debate.
Allow each side a few minutes to present their arguments. Remind students to listen respectfully and take notes on the points made by the opposing team.
After the debate, gather the students back as a whole class. Ask reflective questions such as:
Conclude this warm-up by telling students that today they will learn how to turn their opinions and arguments into well-structured written pieces. Explain that opinion writing is all about clearly expressing what they think and backing it up with good reasons.
Encourage students to think about their own opinions on topics they care about, as they will soon write their own persuasive opinion pieces. Show excitement about the writing journey ahead!