Unit Plan 12 (Grade 1 ELA): Organizing & Concluding Opinions

Focus: Linking words (because, and, so); clear endings

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Writing • Language)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Opinion writers make their thinking easy to follow by organizing ideas and using linking words to connect them. This week, students will structure opinions as Opinion → Reason(s) → Closing, practice using because / and / so to link sentences, and craft clear endings that fit their point. With feedback, they will revise for organization and edit for capitals, spaces, and end marks.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Write an opinion that names the topic/book, states an opinion, gives one or more linked reasons using because/and/so, and provides a clear closing (W.1.1).
2. With guidance/peer support, revise to improve organization (add or move a reason; choose a stronger closing) (W.1.5).
3. Edit for conventions—capitals, spaces, and end punctuation—so sentences are clear (L.1.2).

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 1

• W.1.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book, state an opinion, supply a reason or reasons, and provide some sense of closure.
• W.1.5 With guidance and support, focus on a topic, respond to questions/suggestions, and add details to strengthen writing.
• L.1.2 Demonstrate command of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Success Criteria — student language

• I clearly said my opinion about a topic or book.
• I used because / and / so to link my reason(s) to my opinion.
• My writing ends with a closing that fits (e.g., That’s why… So I choose… Now you know…).
• I made one change after feedback to improve organization.
• I checked capitals, spaces, and end marks.