Grade 8 ELA Activities

Family members often know about other family members’ opinions. Who believes that bagels are better than muffins? Who thinks that basketball is more fun than soccer? Who would rather take out the garbage than do the dishes? Opinions are part of how we communicate who we are. They influence the types of people we get along with and want to be around. Opinions color the world for us and can affect the way we understand certain facts.

Investigating other people's opinions and beliefs can help your child understand more fully how opinions are different from facts. It can also expose her to a variety of viewpoints. This activity, a scavenger hunt of sorts, will allow your child to learn about other people’s opinions by finding people who have certain opinions and then figuring out how they developed these opinions.

	Paper

	Pen or pencil

	Optional: notebook in which to record and keep notes from each conversation

Come up with a list of questions or statements about people you know to pique your child's curiosity for an interview. Your child's interviews should be specific and focused. Show her how one opinion can open new information in the course of a conversation. For example, encourage your child to find someone who believes that your neighborhood needs a new library. Brainstorm with her what follow-up questions she might ask. Ask her to find someone who believes that her family has a famous ancestor, or someone who believes that owning a cat is good for your health.

In large part, what you will emphasize are good interview tactics. It helps to sketch a list of questions before the interview, but to keep in mind that interview questions are often changed because conversations can be unpredictable. Listen carefully and ask follow-up questions. Useful interviews are those that keep the subject engaged and follow his or her train of thought. (Good interviews also end up providing the key information the interviewer seeks!)

Your child’s should be able to answer the following question: How did each person develop the opinion? How is each person’s opinion supported with facts? Encourage your child to ask, “Can you prove that information?” In order for a fact to be a fact, there must be proof for it.

When your child learns about other people’s opinions and beliefs, she builds an awareness of how opinions are formed and how much they can vary. As she investigates the opinions, viewpoints, and beliefs of others, she will probably stumble upon information that surprises her. For instance, she might discover new information about a family member’s past. She might find out about a neighbor’s most influential role model or unusual talent.

If you want to give her another challenge when she is uncovering new information, ask her to analyze the information as she gathers it. In expressing their opinions, are her sources evaluating information? Are they expressing likes and dislikes? Are they expressing feelings? Are they generalizing or exaggerating? As your child learns more about the opinions of others, she will learn more about how and why those opinions are formed.

 Grade 8 ELA Activities