GENERAL BACKGROUND

• Identifying facts and opinions are important to be introduced to learners. Learners should be taught the skills of identifying simple statements which are facts and opinions.
• Statements of facts are generally statements of truths whch can easily be proven whether they are true or false. Examples of statements of facts are:

•  The moon rotate around the earth.
• Cows and goats eat grass or leaves.
• The total number of pupils in Matrix School is 300.

• Statements of opinions are view expressed by a person. Sometimes it is difficult to prove whether the statement of opinion is ture or false. We only either agree or disagree with the opinion. Examples of opinion statements are:

• All boys and girls like to play football.
• Girls learn better whilst listening to music.
• In my opinion, watching TV is the best way to learn.

STEPS TO TEACHING OF IDENTIFYING FACTS AND OPINIONS

STEP 1: Examine and understand the information

STEP 2: Identify whether the information is a fact or an opinion.

EXAMPLE OF TEACHING IDENTIFYING FACTS AND OPINIONS

i. Teacher provides a problem solving task questions to groups of learners. 

            Example: Distinguish which of the following is a statement of fact and a statement of opinion.

• The largest rice growing areas are in Kedah and Kelantan.
• All people should eat bananas because they are sweet and nutritious

ii. Using the steps as shown above, learners are required to example and understand the information. Teacher may ask group leaders and learners to read the problem solving task questions. Learners read and understand the question.

iii. Teacher asks learners to identify whether the information is a fact or an opinion. Learners in each group need to distinguish the meaning of a statement of fact and statement of opinion. Learners brainstorm and discuss the answers. Learners use graphic organizer such as table sheet to write their answers.

• Every group learners are required to present the answers during online learning or physical learning. Example: Statement (a) the largest rice growing areas are in Kedah and Kelantan it is a fact because we can easily find out the area for planting rice in Kedah and Kelantan compared to other states. Statement (b) is an opinion as it is the view of the person making the statement.
• Teacher asks every group members to present their outcomes orally. Other group learners are encouraged to ask question.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AS AN ENRICHMENT

PROBLEM SOLVING TASKS QUESTIONS:

1. Badminton is a game played on a court.
2. All farmers like raining weather.
3. Two thirds of the earth is covered with water.
4. Pupils can refer to various books in the library.

References: from Pusat Pembangunan Kurikulum (PBK) , KPM