Example Lesson Plan:

Grade 2; English Activity: Writing My Opinion about Stuff; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Steven Kroll
SC Standard for 2nd Grade from Meaning, Concept and Craft in Writing:
SC Standard 1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
1.1 Explore print and multimedia sources to write opinion pieces that introduce the topic, state an opinion
and supply reasons that support the opinion, use transitional words to connect opinions and reasons, and
provide a concluding statement or section.
Objectives of this Lesson:
- The students will learn to write basic sentences about their opinions and thoughts on the actions of
reducing, reusing and recycling. Good Charli!
Materials:
-

Paper with lines for class (Writing booklet)

Writing utensils if children need them
Story book

Lesson Outline:
Initiation:
-

(10 min) Read story book Stuff; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Steven Kroll
- While reading point out the different items that can be recycled
- Ask if the children have anything that can be reused in their home
(clothes/toys)
- Activity #1: (5 min) While still together have them share ideas about what
recycling/reusing is and why it is important (reinforcing skills of listening and speaking ideas aloud).
- Explain what to agree and to disagree mean.
Body:
- Activity #2: (15 min) Have students go back to seats and write 5 sentences about what
they thought of the book. Have clarifying questions about things they could say (Ex: Why is recycling
and reusing important and good? Do you agree with the phrase one mans trash is another mans
treasure? Do you want to donate your old toys, etc. now? Do you think our class should reuse
items?) but allow room for creative thoughts, opinions, and answers.
- Activity 3: (20 min) Call on certain students that think they have really creative answers
to share aloud to encourage the other students to think. Then allow students to choose a partner they can
switch their writing assignment with. Have them read each others and decide whether they agree or
disagree with each other. (Reiterate what it means to agree or disagree.) Finally, come back together as a
class and share whether they agreed or disagreed and may push as to why?
Closure:
- (10 min) Come back to circle time after handing in the writing assignments. Talk again
about what it means to agree and disagree and how writing your opinions down and speaking them aloud
is good but to back up what you believe is constructive.
- Talk about practical ways of bringing the ideas of reusing, reducing and recycling into the
classroom and home.
Assessment:
Formative - During reading the teacher will assess if the class is following along by watching their eye contact
on the book, and asking questions in a group discussion and in one-on-one discussions. Students will
demonstrate that they have understood the lesson by relaying their opinions to the teacher and the
other students. good
Summative - There will be homework later that day and throughout the week, which will be graded, on writing
about opinions as well as understanding the concepts of reusing, reducing and recycling. good