This week in social studies, the fourth graders explored the difference between facts and opinions which will help strengthen their critical and analytical thinking skills. The lesson began with a class discussion to define and identify examples of facts and opinions. Students then watched a short video entitled “Candy Facts.” Together, they analyzed the video to identify clear facts; they were surprised to find so many opinions embedded within this “factual” video! It taught them to be vigilant, even when reading a factual article! To reinforce their learning, the students participated in an interactive Scoot activity where they moved from table to table, reading statements and determining whether each one was a fact or an opinion. Next, the students will use these newfound skills in their social studies unit as they identify facts in articles on the four geographic regions of New Jersey.