Fact vs. Opinion with Penguin Problems

Fact and opinion can be tough, but these penguins sure do make it fun! The mentor text Penguin Problems helps students learn about penguins in a fun way too!


We all have plenty of problems in the world. It seems that even simple things can make things difficult for us. But what about penguins? They have problems too, and the book Penguin Problems by Jory John and Lane Smith will show students much about penguins while getting a little laugh too. I have joined with my friends from the The Reading Crew to share some of our favorite winter mentor texts with you.  {Affiliate links provided to fund future book purchases.} Read more to get your lesson, freebie, and enter the giveaway (look for my mystery word in blue in the post).

Book Summary

The penguin in the book wakes up and right away begins complaining about every.little.thing. Sounds familiar, right?! He complains about things that are typical of penguins, like waddling, all looking the same, not being able to fly, and predators. You get the picture. Then a walrus comes along, and remind the penguin that life is OK and to stop complaining. It helps us all to realize that life may be full of things to complain about, but there is so much to be thankful for in our lives.

The Lesson

After reading the book with my students, we had a discussion about penguins and their characteristics. Through the penguin's complaints, the reader learns a great deal about penguins and their characteristics. It also made for a great discussion on how we feel about things, making them our opinions. The book is full of facts that are told through a penguin's opinions. Perfect!
After our discussion and creation of facts and opinions through this simple chart (found in my Penguins Unit), we engaged in a fun and simple game.
Fact and opinion can be tough, but these penguins sure do make it fun! The mentor text Penguin Problems helps students learn about penguins in a fun way too!

The game, which is a part of my Penguins Unit, made it fun and engaging. As students read each card, they decide if it is a fact or an opinion, they move around the game board. Of course, you don't have to use the game board, but it does make it a little lot more fun.

Your freebie

The game is your freebie! Just click {here} or on the image below to grab it. 
Fact and opinion can be tough, but these penguins sure do make it fun! The mentor text Penguin Problems helps students learn about penguins in a fun way too!

This will always be free, but if you like it, consider purchasing my Penguins Unit, which includes a nonfiction easy reader, graphic organizers, game, quiz, and research project. 

And check out all of the other books and lessons from The Reading Crew by clicking on the pictures in the links below.



Pin this post for later, so you can come back and read it or share it with your friends!
Fact and opinion can be tough, but these penguins sure do make it fun! The mentor text Penguin Problems helps students learn about penguins in a fun way too!


11 comments

  1. This is so cute to go with my penguin unit. Thank you for the freebie.

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  2. I just saw this book at Barnes and Noble. It is so cute! And I love the cover. Thanks for sharing your ideas for a penguin unit!

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    1. You are welcome! I love how it weaves in facts with the feelings of the penguin.

      Andrea

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  3. I love this so much! It will go perfectly with my penguin unit next week! Thank you so much for sharing! :)

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  4. This book sounds like a lot of fun! I love the fact and opinion cards and game too!

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  5. Love, love, love this game! Will be great fun for a penguin work station.

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    1. Thank you! Students will enjoy it in a work station too!

      Andrea

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  6. Thank you for sharing this cute book, and resource. My littles struggle with fact and opinion, so this fun game will definitely help support them.

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