Oral Language matters. We want students speaking, share, and writing in complete sentences. When we give students opportunities to talk before writing, we are scaffolding their thinking and language. Launching Opinion Writing, the goal of this lesson is to have students choose an opinion and support it with a reason using the word because.
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Why BECAUSE?
Within our 1st and 2nd grade standards, students are expected to use grade-appropriate transitions and conjunctions. For our District, “because” is a just-right way to sharing thinking for our littles.
When students use “because” it naturally leads to more details, specifics, or reasoning being included. Additionally, because is a word that than easily translate to any subject or context.
- Number Talks: I knew to _________ (compose/decompose) because _________.
- Science: When I noticed _________, I thought of _________ because _________.
- Reading: At the beginning of the book, _________ felt _________ because _________.
- Writing: I chose to start my narrative with sound words because _________.
- Social Studies: People believed _________ because _________. Now we know _________.
Where to Start?
Introducing because is always fun. While some students are and have been using because, taking a day to introduce it, sing about it, apply it within oral language, and write using it matters. Additionally, that whole-group explicit instruction has occurred, so we can help students transfer it to their own work and expect to see it. Hence, BECAUSE DAY was born.
Before students enter the classroom, I quickly put up some streamers on the door (easy peasy), write because in different colors on index cards, and tape them to the bottom of the streamers. Each time students enter or leave the classroom, they use 1 finger to tap a because and use it in a sentence.
Also, our “BECAUSE” letters stay up allll year long in a well-trafficked, easily-visible part of our classroom, but during this BECAUSE DAY we reference them over and over and over.
Additionally, as students unpack, I will wander around the classroom adding “because” to students’ hands with scented markers (with explicit student permission, as well as, a heads-up text to families the day before allowing them to opt out). This never, ever happens (this is the one and only time), so it is always a treat.
Which Would You Rather Be?
Then, during read-aloud and writing, the bulk of our because work begins. Because is a powerful word in helping us share our thinking.
Which Would You Rather Be? Is a perfect, simple text to begin with. It includes no details or explanations. Rather, it offers students two pictures/people/things and asks what they would rather be. It is ideal for introducing the frame – I would rather ____________ because ____________. (Note – I choose to skip the page about boys and girls because it leads to a really gendered conversation, as well as, could isolate students who don’t identify with a single gender.)
The first few pages, I read the question posed by the book, give students “Think Time”, and choose 1-2 students to answer aloud. We celebrate when students use because correctly with a Ms. Jean or Kagan cheer. Sometimes students will need extra support in structuring their students so this is where I will step in. I help help them structure the language chunk-by-chunk and we’ll say a sentence together!
Once a few students have shared and we have established a routine, it’s time to keep reading and have students practice responding in partners. At this point, when it sounds like we may need a refresher on “because” (it’s normal for a new skill to drop when not scaffolded”, we pull out the “Because Song.”
Let’s Sing
This simple, Brown-Bag-Teacher created song has no frills or verse. It’s just a simple remix of “The Farmer and the Dell”. It’s perfect for help students spell because and makes a quick transition song (from the carpet to lines, or desks to lines/carpet).
B-E-C-A-U-S-E
B-E-C-A-U-S-E
B-E-C-A-U-S-E
Because tells why.
If you’re having a hard time signing it, here is my singing debut. Please remember, my kids tell me I am THE BEST SINGER EVER and I believe them. (Click here for a recording.)
Let’s Write
As we transition to writing our because statements, I ceremoniously gift each student with a yellow highlighter. Up until this point in the year, the yellow highlighters have remained out of reach. Today is the day.
Anytime we use the word because (and later transitions) in our writing, we can use this magical marker to highlight it. We want to showcase our awesome reasoning for others to notice and our golden highlight does that. 😉 Although silly, it’s a very visual reminder for students to include reasoning in their writing, as well as, incredibly motivating.
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We do some partner work with these opinion prompt cards and ultimately when the timer goes off, we take the prompt in our hand and write about it. (Snag your free prompts and writing paper here.)
FREE Would You Rather...? Writing Prompts
Wrapping-Up
Because Day is a simple, fun way to launch and work with Opinion Writing. Building great writers is the long game. It takes time, intentional instruction, and daily opportunities for practice. Introducing because as a reasoning word is something that can transfer across multiple contexts and genres, as well as, helps us work toward the 1st and 2nd grade writing standards.
For lessons and materials just like this, snag this Opinion Writing resource pack here. Learn more about writing in my 1st and 2nd grade classroom in these posts and resources:
- Opinion Writing (blog post, resources, bundle)
- Narrative Writing (blog post, resources, mentor texts, bundle)
- Inform/Explain Writing (blog post, resources, bundle)
- How-To Writing (blog post, resources, bundle)
FREE Work on Writing Papers
I love reading and trying your amazing ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Love the way you have explained every single point so clearly and with useful information. Practice writing from the start can help to become a pro writer and having writing skills is really important no matter in which grade you are. I had really bad writing skills which really made me struggle during my academic journey but thankfully there are the best assignment writing service that assist those students who are facing issues and need help to complete writing projects.
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I like the idea! Because-day is sure to develop logical thinking along with writing skills.
What do you think about this – https://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help/writing_brainstorm_ideas_language_arts_first_1st_grade.htm ? Brainstorming techniques to boost writing skills. It’s not really for Because-day, but practicing a variety of writing. I’m working on some writing classes right now and I’m thinking of applying these ideas.
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Methods for improving one’s writing talents through creative thinking. It’s not actually for Because Day; rather, it’s just for practicing different kinds of writing. I’m now working on some writing classes, and I’m considering how I may apply these ideas to what I’m doing. penalty kick online
Methods for improving one’s ability to write through brainstorming. It’s more for practicing different types of writing than for Because Day, though. I am now taking some writing classes, and I am considering implementing some of these ideas into my lessons.
Thanks for sharing such a valuable post. Please keep us updated for future posts.
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Absolutely agree! Fostering oral language skills is crucial in education. Encouraging students to engage in speaking, sharing, and crafting complete sentences lays a solid foundation for effective communication and writing.
Love the way you have explained every single point so clearly and with useful information. Practice writing from the start can help to become a pro writer and having writing skills is really important no matter in which grade you are. I had really bad writing skills which really made me struggle during my academic journey but thankfully there are the best assignment writing service that assist those students who are facing issues and need help to complete writing projects.
Love the way you have explained every single point so clearly and with useful information. Practice writing from the start can help to become a pro writer and having writing skills is really important no matter in which grade you are. I had really bad writing skills which really made me struggle during my academic journey but thankfully there are the writing services that assist those students who are facing issues and need help to complete writing projects.
Is there any way you can just send me “Free Would You Rather Writing Prompts” to [email protected]. Because for some reason my school is blocking when I try to fill it out to have you send it to me.
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I love this BECAUSE Day activity! It’s such a fun way to teach opinion writing while encouraging kids to explain their reasoning.
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I love how this “Because Day” opinion writing activity gives students a fun and structured way to express their thoughts — it’s such a creative twist on persuasive writing that still keeps it meaningful. After diving into classroom ideas like this, I sometimes enjoy a little reflective, creative time of my own.
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