Lesson Plan
What's On Your Mind?
What’s on their minds? In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to creatively express their opinions in the context of a "letter to the editor." Students will make connections between real social issues and writing!
Grade:
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Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson, your students will be able to produce a letter to the editor which addresses relevant social issues and includes an opinion with reasons. They will be able to work cooperatively to edit their work.
Introduction
(5 minutes)- Gather the class in a circle and write an opinion statement on the board. A good example opinion statement could be something like: Every kid should have a cell phone.
- Ask your students to share whether or not they agree with the statement on the board. Remind the class to back up their opinions with an explanation as to why they feel the way that they do.
- Tell to your class that citizens in a city or state can make a difference by expressing their opinions on important matters. Explain that one way to express an opinion is to write a letter to the editor, or the person who is in charge of the final content of a text, particularly a newspaper or magazine.