In this lesson, students learn the definitions of and difference between facts and opinions. Listening skills and memory are also exercised through stories and touch-screen activities.

"Setting the Stage" - Before starting the lesson, ask students to make statements that they think are true. Also ask how they feel about a favorite color or movie. Do they understand the difference between a fact and opinion? These questions should tell the teacher how much the students already understand about the subject before starting the lesson. After the lesson, ask the same questions.

"Introduction to Facts and Opinions"
Simple definitions are presented to start the lesson. Encourage the students to talk about what they know, such as their favorite pet, as guided by the Learning Station. Then, discuss the difference between a fact and an opinion.

"The Facts and Opinion Game"
Touch-screen game - This question and answer game uses colorful and fun images and sound effects to show the difference between facts and opinions. As statements are presented, students decide if they are fact, by choosing the chimpanzee icon, or if they are opinion, by choosing the lions icon. There is more than one lion to represent more than one opinion. If the correct answer is chosen, the animal icons will play their respective instruments. If the wrong answer is chosen, there will be no response. Encourage students to create as many 'fact sentences' or 'opinion sentences' as possible. The teacher can take this opportunity to also talk about some of the subjects presented, such as meerkats from Africa or the image of Earth from outer space.

"The Science Fair"
By using a story about children, students have a different way to learn about the difference between facts and opinions. Encourage discussion after the story. The pull-down menu on the screen toolbar can be used to restart the story if it would be helpful to review the dialog.
Hands-on activity - As a break and to encourage creativity, students next make robot masks similar to the one in the story. Use paper bags, markers or crayons, scraps of paper, tissue, yarn or other items to make the masks interesting and unique. The teacher should cut holes out for the eyes. Encourage discussion about their creations. Are their statements, facts or opinions?

"The Treehouse Story"
Touch-screen activity - This story is a good memory exercise, as well as a way to teach students to pay close attention to detail. Students choose the correct items on the Learning Station after listening to questions that are presented. Encourage them to listen carefully. After the questions and answers, students can choose what items they would use on the learning station to build a treehouse. In their opinion, what are the best items to use?
Hands-on activity - The teacher can determine how simple or how complicated building the treehouses should be. Using craft sticks or cut pieces of cardboard, glue the sticks onto paper or cardboard bases. Some students can make three-dimensional houses as a building project, while others may want to create a simple picture of a treehouse. Students are then asked describe their creations. Encourage full sentences. Ask fact and opinion questions.

"Safari in Africa"
Using photographs and video, a wealth of information is presented to the class about a variety of African animals. Encourage the students to use their best listening skills.
Videotape activity - After the animals are presented, students have the opportunity to take turns pretending to be the teacher asking classmates questions. As the teacher videotapes performances, encourage students to create full sentences about the animal of their choice. The animal images are presented on the Learning Station as icons. As each icon is chosen, it will return to full screen image. Touch the screen again, and the icons reappear. Use the advance or forward button on the toolbar to advance the program.
Teacher tip - Five animals are presented: giraffes, lions, rhinoceros, elephants and leopards. Additional photos or books can be used to expand upon the lesson. Talk about the sounds made by the different animals or lack of, as in the case of the giraffe. Use the globe or map to locate Africa.

Before Students Go Home - Review
Review the definitions of 'fact' and 'opinion'
Ask for opinion and fact statements about the treehouse or robot masks the students created
Review the animals of Africa; ask for fact and opinion about these animals

Supply List for Activities
"Today I Discovered" - parents handout and videotape
Paper bags or sacks to make robot masks; scraps of paper, or other items to decorate the masks, scissors to cut eye-holes, glue, crayons or markers
Craft sticks, cardboard or other materials to build treehouse (complicated simple construction at teacher's option)
Optional - additional books or materials covering African animals
Preprinted picture of African animals