Grade 1 Lesson plan
Havershell School's Courtyard Sprinkler: A Grade 1 Opinion Lesson
During a dry stretch, first graders decide whether the school should shut off its courtyard sprinkler on rainy mornings and write an opinion with one reason.
Common Core ELA · Grade 1
W.1.1 Opinion writing
Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
Why water teaches this standard well
First graders state an opinion about a familiar water question, such as whether the class should turn off the faucet while washing hands, and back it with a reason. Everyday water choices at school and home supply topics young writers genuinely care about.
Materials tagged with this code are written to the full standard , and each carries a written note explaining the alignment. See how we review materials.
23 materials aligned to W.1.1
Lesson plans
Grade 1 Lesson plan
Painting the Winterberry Water Tower: A Grade 1 Design Lesson
A 45-minute grade 1 art lesson where students draw the tall shape of a town water tower and design a picture for the tank, then defend their choice.
Grade 1 Lesson plan
Sumac Street's Paint Sink Problem: A Grade 1 Settling Jar Design
A grade 1 engineering lesson where students name the art room paint sink problem, watch paint water settle in jars, and design a jar that keeps grit out of the drain.
Grade 1 Lesson plan
A Bottle Filler for Room 6 at Wickerly Street School
A 30-minute grade 1 health lesson where students sort school water spots into safe and not-for-drinking, then write an opinion about the best filling spot.
Grade 1 Lesson plan
Pennyroyal's Low Tank: Choosing Water Uses in a Dry Week
A 35-minute grade 1 economics lesson using twenty blue counters as a town's water tank, four job cards, and an opinion sentence about which use should wait.
Grade 1 Lesson plan
Sparrow Hill's Leafy Puddle: A Grade 1 Storm Drain Opinion Lesson
A 30-minute grade 1 lesson where students hear a read-aloud about a clogged storm drain and write a one-sentence opinion with a reason about clearing it.
Worksheets
Grade 1 Worksheet
Dabble Brook, Back to Front: A Grade 1 Overlap Drawing Sheet
A grade 1 art worksheet on depth: students build one brook picture back to front, letting a bush hide part of the water and a hand hide part of the bush.
Grade 1 Worksheet
Sidewalk Salt at Dunnock Pond: A Grade 1 Opinion Worksheet
Ten grade 1 items about winter salt washing from a school walk into a pond, asking students to sort facts from opinions and write an opinion with a reason.
Grade 1 Worksheet
Telling a Leak from a Spill at Ryeholt School
A grade 1 science worksheet on four wet spots at a fictional school, where students sort leaks from spills and plan one check for the next day.
Grade 1 Worksheet
Big Letters for Peppermint Court's Sink Signs
A grade 1 art worksheet on lettering and color contrast where students draw a fat-letter water sign for the classroom sink and give one reason for it.
Classroom activities
Grade 1 Classroom activity
Inkberry School's Dry Summer Water Art Gallery Walk
A 35-minute grade 1 activity where students draw one way their school could use less water in a dry summer, then leave notice cards at a gallery walk.
Grade 1 Classroom activity
Clover Field's Save It or Waste It: A Grade 1 Card-Sorting Activity
A 30-minute grade 1 activity where students read short sentence cards, sort them as water savers or wasters, and independently write an opinion sentence with a reason.
Reading passages
Grade 1 Reading passage
The Muddy Ditch Behind Corbridge School: A Grade 1 Read-Aloud
A read-aloud about what roots do: Room 1 learns why a dug-up hill sends mud downstream, spreads straw and grass seed on it, and compares two jars.
Grade 1 Reading passage
Too Much Bread at Kittiwake Park Pond: A Grade 1 Read-Aloud
An original grade 1 read-aloud about leftover duck bread turning a park pond green, with six comprehension questions and a closing opinion task about a sign.
Grade 1 Reading passage
Nora Cleans the Creek: A Grade 1 Water Pollution Read-Aloud Story
An original grade 1 narrative about a girl on Robin's Nest Court who leads a small creek cleanup, with comprehension questions and a closing opinion task.
Grade 1 Reading passage
Every Drop Counts at Chickadee Lane School: A Read-Aloud
A grade 1 read-aloud passage where a student notices a dripping fountain and helps get it fixed, followed by comprehension and opinion questions.
Writing prompts
Grade 1 Writing prompt
Sprinkler or Shade Tent? Cooling Down at Oxlip Hill Field Day
A grade 1 opinion prompt: students pick the sprinkler or the shade tent for a hot field day cool-down and explain why every child still needs a drink.
Grade 1 Writing prompt
A Second Rain Barrel at Quarrendon School: A Grade 1 Prompt
Room 4's five-day barrel record shows the water rising only on rainy days; students use it to argue for or against a second barrel by the cafeteria.
Grade 1 Writing prompt
Sparrowgrass Lane's Dry Spell: A Grade 1 Opinion Writing Prompt
A dry month leaves Room 5 with one half-full rain barrel and two garden beds, and first graders write an opinion with a reason about which bed to water first.
Grade 1 Writing prompt
Which Call First? A Grade 1 Opinion Prompt for the Bittersweet Crew
A grade 1 opinion writing prompt where students decide which of two water crew calls should be answered first and give one reason for the choice.
Grade 1 Writing prompt
Hackberry Mill's One Summer Job: A Grade 1 Opinion Prompt
A grade 1 opinion writing prompt in which a fictional town can afford one job, a leaking pipe repair or a bridge painting, with an organizer, exemplar, and rubric.
Grade 1 Writing prompt
Fish Pictures for Chestnut Court: A Grade 1 Storm Drain Opinion Prompt
A grade 1 opinion prompt where students decide whether their street should paint fish pictures next to storm drains that lead straight to Pebble Creek.
Grade 1 Writing prompt
A New Fountain for Maple Grove: A Grade 1 Opinion Writing Prompt
A grade 1 opinion prompt where students decide whether their school should build a second water fountain by the playground, stating one opinion and one reason.