Elementary Library

Resource & Discussion Guide

Facts vs Opinions vs Robots by Michael Rex (121 REX)

Robots try to figure out the difference between facts and opinions.

Discussion prompts: ●​ How can you tell the difference between a fact and an opinion?

●​ Has anyone ever tried to convince you of something using facts? Was it persuasive? ●​ Has anyone ever tried to convince you of something with just opinions? Was it persuasive? ●​ Can you think of a time when you believed something was fact that turned out to be an opinion? ●​ Why is it important to recognize when information is opinion or fact? I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kauffman Orloff (E ORL) Alex and his mother write notes back and forth in which Alex tries to persuade her to let him have a baby iguana for a pet. Discussion prompts: ●​ What kind of media is Alex using? ●​ What strategies is Alex using to persuade his mother to get him an iguana? ●​ What does it mean to persuade? ●​ Have you ever had to convince your parents of something? What did you do? Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton (E BAR) An enthusiastic bee-loving narrator tries to convince a bee-phobic friend that our fuzzy, flying neighbors are our friends--we should all give bees a chance! Discussion prompts: ●​ How is the narrator trying to persuade us to love bees? Is it working? ●​ What does it mean to persuade? ●​ Why does the narrator want us to give bees a chance? Is the narrator using facts or opinions to persuade us? Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings (E CUM) A dog looking for a home sends letters to prospective owners on Butternut Street, with surprising results Discussion prompts: ●​ What strategies does this dog use to persuade someone to be his new owner? What other strategies could he use? ●​ Why does this dog want an owner? ●​ Would you be his owner? Why or why not? ●​ Does the dog use facts or opinions to persuade?

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