Lesson 12 — My Opinion and My Reason

Summary

Learners state an opinion about a familiar, friendly choice and give one reason for it, using an “I think… because…” frame. An opinion with a reason is the beginning of thinking that others can weigh and answer.

Objectives

• Write a simple opinion piece that states an opinion and gives a reason. (D04.S3.02.02)

Connection

Every day you hold opinions: this food is tastier, this game is fairer, this path home is shorter. An opinion alone is just a feeling named out loud; an opinion with a reason is something a friend can think about and answer. When you say “I think… because…,” you let others meet your thinking instead of just hearing it — the start of every fair decision people make together.

Materials

• Friendly opinion prompts (everyday choices to have an opinion about)
• An opinion frame (“I think… because…”)

Preparation

• Prepare a few friendly, low-stakes opinion prompts (no right answer, nothing personal or hurtful).
• Prepare the opinion frame in the home language.

Facilitator note

This lesson is written to the learner (“you”) so it works in a classroom and for a self-directed learner. Opinions here are friendly and low-stakes — favorite fruits, games, seasons — never about people’s worth, and never used to rank learners. Model one full “I think… because…” before learners write, then guide and release. The reason must actually support the opinion; a reason that just restates the opinion (“I think mango is best because I like mango”) is gently guided toward a real reason (“because it is sweet and cool”). Disagreement is welcome and kind: learners may hold different opinions with different good reasons, and both can be right. Work in the home language; every language has its own words for “I think” and “because.” A learner may speak, sign, dictate, or write the opinion — the reasoning is the learning.

Procedure

1. Gather (5 min). Think of a food, game, or place you love. That is your opinion — what you think or feel.
2. Meet opinion and reason (5 min). An opinion is what you think. A reason tells why you think it. When you add “because,” your opinion becomes something others can think about.
3. Watch a model (5 min). Listen to one full example: “I think… because…” Notice how the reason explains the opinion.
4. Say it first (10 min). Pick a prompt. Say your opinion aloud with your reason: “I think… because…” Say it in your home language.
5. Write it (15 min). Write your opinion and your reason on the frame. Read it back and check: does the “because” part really explain why?
6. Share and listen (5 min). Read your opinion to a partner and listen to theirs. It is fine to disagree — you can both have good reasons.
7. Close (5 min). An opinion with a reason is thinking you can share. Next, we use a reason to explain how something works.

Differentiation

• Support: Complete the frame aloud and have a scribe write it; begin with a two-word reason, then grow it.
• Support (non-speaking): Sign, point to pictures, or use a device to give the opinion and its reason — the reasoning is the learning.
• Extension: Give two reasons for one opinion, and tell which reason is the stronger one.

Assessment

• Formative (observation/peer): Can the learner state an opinion and give a reason that truly supports it, in their home language?

Home connection

Tell someone at home one opinion and one reason tonight — “I think… because…” — and listen to theirs.

Resources

• CASEL SEL Framework (respectful disagreement and relationship skills): https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/