Fact or Opinion? by Sarah Johnson is an informative non-fiction text that weaves scientific thinking with everyday examples to explore how readers can tell the difference between facts and opinions. Through clear definitions, illustrated scenarios, and engaging case studies, the text explains that facts are supported by reliable evidence such as research, observation, and data, while opinions reflect personal beliefs or points of view. The narrative uses examples like a debate about whether flying animals are birds or bats to show how evidence, expertise, and source reliability help determine what is true.

The text also introduces practical strategies for critical thinking, including recognising opinion clues (such as “I think” or “in my view”) and fact clues (such as “the research suggests” or “experts say”). By encouraging readers to question sources, check evidence, and compare viewpoints, the text builds essential skills for understanding information in newspapers and online spaces. Clear, engaging, and highly relevant, the text supports students to become thoughtful and informed readers in a world full of information and opinions.

The text is ideal for integrated learning across literacy, science, and social sciences, supporting inquiry into critical literacy, evidence, communication, and decision-making in everyday life.

This pack contains a range of response activities complete with activity explainer videos for exploring thinking skills and developing emotional understandings and compassionate inquiry including:

• Blooms Higher Order Thinking activities
• Book Club guide for deepening text discussion
• A range of activities to explore emotional understanding, compassionate inquiry, empathy development, vocabulary and developing skills for self and co-regulation.

Curriculum Phase: Phase 2
Year Level: Year 3

English (NZC Levels 2–3): reading for meaning and enjoyment, identifying key ideas and explanations, understanding informational texts, recognising author purpose, interpreting visual information, building vocabulary related to evidence and reasoning

Science – Living World: observation and investigation, use of evidence, distinguishing between explanation and belief, basic scientific thinking

Social Sciences – Aotearoa New Zealand Histories: communication, decision-making, understanding different viewpoints, responsible citizenship, media awareness

Text type: Non-fiction, informational text, explanatory article, teaching text

Key words include: facts, opinions, evidence, reliable sources, research, observation, bias, communication, critical thinking, point of view, persuasion, experts, data, proof, trust, information, media literacy, newspapers, internet safety, science investigation, mammals, birds, bats, pekapeka, tuatara, kiwi, pūriri moth, wētā, Auckland Museum, questioning, reasoning, decision-making