The Best Pet

Adapted from materials developed by Abby CarterSecond Grade TeacherSouth Todd Elementary

Todd Co., KY

2

Writing Reading Argument MINI-UNITEmphasis

# of Lessons

ARGUMENT SKILLS

PRODUCT ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENT CLOSE READING

STRATEGIESRESPONSE TO

READINGS TOPICS

Draft, Feedback, Revise, Reflect Close reading strategies

Writing & talking to develop knowledge on

topic or issue

Forming an

opinion

3 Lessons

Entering Skills:• Listening for

facts from a video text

Foundational Skills: • Weighing

evidence to find the most convincing reasons

Product: Draft with

introduction, body, and conclusion

Researching to back

up an opinion

Watching video twice to mine it for facts / reasons

Reading headings of online articles to find additional reasons

Scaffolded writing:

introduction, body,

and conclusion

What is the best pet?

1shared reading

(video) and one small-

group reading (online article)

Mini-Unit Overview

Writing Standards Emphasized in the

Mini-Unit

• Write opinion pieces in which students provide an

introduction, state an opinion (giving reasons), and provide a concluding statement or section.

Day 1 Day 2 Days 3-4 Days 5-6

• Introduce research question (inquiry)

• Poll the class using posters of 4-5 animals: Which is the best pet?

• Have students discuss their ideas, then present them to the class.

• Students are invited to change their minds after hearing the other groups.

• Journal: Share your opinion about the best pet and why you did or did not change your mind.

• Watch video clip twice. Listen for key facts using note card list.

• Contribute to the class chart (Reasons FOR and Reasons AGAINST)

• Journal: And so I’m thinking…

• Online research: With partner/group, read one article related to your choice. Take notes.

• Draft an opinion piece using the journal entries and notes you have taken.

• Reflect: What have we learned.

• Share your opinion piece.

Mini-Unit Instructional Sequence

Inquiry Question:

What is the BEST pet?

Exploring Our Opinions

Look around the room at the pet pictures that have been posted. Think about the things it takes to make a good pet.

Choose which pet you believe would make the best companion. Stand under the picture of your choice.

Discuss with the others in your group why that animal will make the best pet.

Each group will take a turn telling why the pet they chose is “best.”

Exploring Our Opinions, Continued…

Listen to your classmates' opinions. If you had to choose another pet to be the best, which would it be? Move to stand under that animal. Tell reasons why you chose that animal as your second choice.

Each group will take a turn to explain why they chose their animal as the second best pet.

Discuss as a class the idea that everyone has an opinion, but that we use reasons to support it.

Journal Write

First I thought that thebest pet would be….

When I heard about the other animals, I did (did not) change my mind because… Did you change your

mind or stick with your first idea? Why?

• Work• Cost• Time• Fun• Safety• Noise• Needs

What are some of the issues to think about when getting a

pet?

Now We’ll Research to Find Out More About the Best

Pets. Listen for issues like work, cost, time, fun, safety, noise, and the pet’s needs.

Watch NBC News’ Today Show video clip on “The Perfect Pet”:

http://playback.nbcnews.com/videoredirect/h264/std/tdy_animals_140123.mp4

Let’s listen twice. Each time we’ll stop tocapture what we heard on our class chart:

Reasons FOR and Reasons Against.

Which Pet is BEST?Pet Reasons

FORReasons AGAINST

So Now I Think…

DOG

(Leave this blank for now.)CAT

BIRD

GUINEA PIG

FISH

HAMSTER

Let’s listen twice. Each time we’ll stop tocapture what we heard on our class chart:

Reasons FOR and Reasons Against.

Which Pet is BEST?Pet Reasons

FORReasons AGAINST

So Now I Think…

DOG Explain which pet would be best for YOUR family. Circle the reasons that you found most convincing.

For example, the cost of taking care of a new puppy might be a good reason to choose a guinea pig instead.

CAT

BIRD

GUINEA PIG

FISH

HAMSTER

Which Pet is Best?

Write what you are thinking in your writer’s notebook.

Be sure to use reasons to support your opinion. Look at our class chart to remember

what we learned from the NBC News video clip.

More Research!Work in a group with other students who chose the same pet that you chose.

Click below on the pet you like best. Read the headings and find 3-5 new reasons that yours is the BEST pet choice.

Take notes on the chart:

The best pet is ___________.Reason 1

Reason 2

Reason 3

Reason 4

Reason 5

Fish Dog Cat Hamster Bird Guinea Pig

Let’s Write an Opinion Piece!

Titleby Your Name

The best pet is ______. (Go back to your journal entries to write your introduction.)Here is why: (Give your reasons, using the class chart and notes from your research.)And so… (Tell readers what you want them to think, do, or believe)

Here is one way to organize.

Read your draft to a partner. What do you like about your partner’s work?

DISCUSS AS A CLASS:What have we learned about opin-ions?

How can we use what we’ve learned to write NEW opinion pieces?