Fact or opinion sort: a 15-minute 3rd grade reading game
What it is: a 3rd grade reading game where students sort statements into facts (can be proven true or false) and opinions (what someone thinks or feels), and learn the signal words that often mark opinions.
Time: about 15 minutes. Grade: 3rd grade.
Materials: statement cards ("Dogs have four legs," "Dogs are the best pets," "Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius," "Winter is boring"), two sorting mats, and a poster of opinion signal words (best, worst, should, I think, beautiful).
- Say: "Pizza is a food from Italy. Pizza is delicious." Ask: "Which one could we check?"
- Define fact and opinion, and post the signal words.
- Pairs sort 12 cards and underline any signal words they find.
- Discuss tricky cards, such as a statement that sounds like a fact but is false: still a fact statement, just untrue.
- Pairs write one fact and one opinion about their school.
Differentiation: students who need support sort 6 cards with signal words in bold. Students who are ready find facts and opinions in an ad or a book review. English learners can use the frames "This is a fact because..." and "This is an opinion because..."
Quick check: say a statement about lunch and ask a student whether it is a fact or an opinion and how they know.
Need it for another grade or subject? Ask us on the request page and our team will write it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 29, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades 3–5
- Subject
- Reading
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.