Ask a classroom of young students whether dogs or cats make better pets, and you’ll probably hear plenty of opinions! Getting those same ideas onto paper can take a little more support.
After 20 years in primary classrooms, I know how much it helps to break writing into manageable steps. These opinion writing activities give students a way to choose a side, explain their thinking, and start writing.
Start With a Topic Students Can Talk About
When teaching opinion writing, start with a familiar choice rather than a topic that requires lots of background knowledge. Pets, playground games, and favorite books give students something concrete to discuss.
Try asking, “Would you rather have a dog or a cat?” Make it clear that students don’t need to own a pet to participate, and that different answers are welcome.
My Dog vs. Cat Opinion Writing resource gives you a ready-to-use prompt, graphic organizers, and animal toppers to bring this lesson together!
Help Students Move Beyond “Because I Like It”
Students may know which option they prefer but struggle to explain why. Model a reason that connects directly to their choice.
For example, “I think dogs make great pets because they can go on walks with me” tells the reader more than “Dogs are the best.”
Invite partners to share their choices and finish the sentence, “I prefer ___ because ___.” This gives students a chance to rehearse before picking up a pencil.
Use Opinion Writing Graphic Organizers
A blank page can feel overwhelming, especially when students are still working on handwriting and spelling. An organizer gives them a place to collect their ideas first.
For opinion writing in kindergarten, let students draw their choice and dictate or attempt a reason. For first grade opinion writing, model turning the plan into an opening sentence, a supporting reason, and a closing.
Use the organizers in my Dog vs. Cat resource to support that planning step, then let students add the matching animal topper to their finished writing.
Keep Opinion Writing Practice Going
Once students understand the process, change the topic while keeping the familiar routine: choose, explain, plan, and write.
My Seasonal Writing Prompts for First and Second Grade include 240 prompts across four seasonal journals, with opinion, narrative, and persuasive writing. Self-checks and rubrics are also included.
Choose an opinion prompt for morning work or a writing center after modeling the routine. Students can reread their responses and check whether they explained their choice.
For an optional October extension, my Halloween Opinion Writing Prompts include candy comparisons, pumpkins versus skeletons, and monsters versus mummies, along with lesson plans and graphic organizers.
Ready to plan your next lesson? Start with the Dog vs. Cat Opinion Writing resource for a familiar topic students can discuss before they write.
Looking for more writing activities and tips to engage your students? Check out my post here for Halloween writing activities that your students will love!
Frequently Asked Questions
It includes an opinion writing prompt, graphic organizers, and cat and dog toppers for students’ finished work.
No. They include opinion, narrative, and persuasive prompts, with 60 prompts for each season and 240 altogether.
Yes. It includes lesson plans, brainstorming pages, graphic organizers, teacher examples, writing paper, and rubrics.
