Martin Luther King Jr.: A Fact or Opinion Activity

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

A brief biography of Martin Luther King Jr. reinforces students' understanding of the difference between fact and opinion.

Subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, History

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

Objectives
Students will:

• discuss the difference between fact and opinion,
• read or listen to a brief biography of Martin Luther King Jr.
• complete the Martin Luther King Jr.: Fact or Opinion? work sheet.

Keywords
civil rights, critical thinking, fact, Martin Luther King, opinion

Materials Needed

• brief biography of Martin Luther King Jr.
• Martin Luther King Jr.: Fact or Opinion? work sheet.

Procedure
Do your students understand the difference between fact and opinion? Explain to students that a fact is real or true and its truth can be verified. An opinion is a belief or judgment that cannot be verified; it may or may not be true.

If the concepts of fact and opinion are new for your students, complete the first four steps of the activity below together. If students have been exposed to the concept previously, organize them into small groups and have them complete those steps independently.

• Choose a book or movie that all students can use as a frame of reference. Ask students to share what they know about the book or movie. Write their statements on a chalkboard, a chart, or an overhead transparency.
   
• Create a simple two-column graphic organizer; labeling the columns "Fact" and "Opinion." The graphic organizer headline should reflect the title of the book or movie being discussed.
   
• Read each of the students' statements about the book or movie, and ask students to determine whether the statement is a fact or an opinion.
   
• Write each statement in the correct column on the graphic organizer.
   
• Explain to students that they will apply their understanding of fact and opinion to a story about the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
   
• Share with students a brief online biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. Read aloud the biography page, and project the Internet page for all to see. If possible, print a copy of the page for each student.
   
• Distribute the Martin Luther King Jr.: Fact or Opinion? work sheet and have students complete the work sheet individually or in small groups.
   

Assessment
Students correctly identify eight of the ten statements as fact or opinion. The correct answers are:

1. F
2. O
3. O
4. F
5. F
6. O
7. O
8. F
9. O
10. O

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