Are you #teamcandycorn or #teamthrowitinthetrash?
To be honest, I am NOT a fan of candy corn! It tastes like slightly sweet wax and I imagine it’s what a candy corn scented candle would taste like. Lol but I know people usually love it or hate it, and it’s kind of the same with kids!
Which is EXACTLY WHY this candy corn fall opinion writing bundle is what every classroom needs for the month of October! There are lots of fall and Halloween opinion writing ideas out there, but teachers and students always LOVE a good debate, and this activity never seems to miss when it comes to enjoying a fun and tasty writing lesson!
Whether you are teaching opinion writing or just looking for a fun activity for students to practice other writing skills, this bundle has you covered.
About This Candy Corn Opinion Writing Activity:
This is a mini bundle that pairs well with a candy, fall, or Halloween themed read aloud, but could also be used as a stand-alone activity, or worked into an opinion writing unit. This is not an entire unit on it’s own.
The pages in this resource are most appropriate for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. (I am working on updating my writing resources with primary pages so stay tuned!)
I recommend pairing this with a read aloud and using it as a 4-5 day writing lesson where students brainstorm/debate, plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish their writing.
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how this candy corn opinion writing activity might look in a classroom with a 45-60 minute literacy block:
- Day 1: Share a candy corn read aloud, research, and/read about candy corn (reading materials not included in this bundle) and host a candy corn debate. Let students brainstorm reasons for and against candy corn being the ultimate Halloween candy. Allow students to choose a side and complete the included candy corn pro/con sheet.
- Day 2: Have students revisit their pro/con sheet and begin planning out their writing using one of the 4 planning sheets (you may choose to provide each student with a different one depending on their writing level). ***You may choose to insert another step here where students create a “sloppy copy” on notebook paper or a draft of the candy corn paper before revising and editing. This is completely up to you, your students’ needs, and how much time you want to allot for this lesson.
- Day 3: Conference with students on their planning sheets/sloppy copies or pair students up for peer conferences to revise and edit their writing.
- Day 4: Have students copy their final writing piece onto the publishing paper (there are 3 levels/styles included and each level has either a HAPPY or FROWNY candy corn face that they can choose to represent their opinion).
- Day 5: Have students publish and present their writing pieces to a peer, small group, or the class. This can be a fun time where students snack on a candy corn treat while sharing their hard work and applauding the hard work of others.
This is just one example of how it could be used. There are tons of possibilities! You could also just print the writing sheets to use for a quick, one day writing activity. It does not have to be a multi-day lesson.
I HIGHLY recommend serving candy corn (or other candy corn themed treats) throughout the writing lesson (especially during the debate portion) to increase engagement and give students even more chances to form and support their opinions on candy corn! 🙂 Let’s be honest, this also just makes it more fun!
This Bundle Includes:
- A pro/con brainstorming sheet
- 4 different planning sheets to meet a variety of needs (all follow OREREO format)
- 3 differentiated writing sheets (2 styles for each level: candy corn with a SMILE and candy corn with a FROWN — so students can choose their publishing paper according to their opinion on candy corn)
Students will love debating their reasons for or against candy corn! I have heard some STRONG and HEATED opinions on these little candy nuggets and I can’t wait to see and hear what your students think about candy corn too!
You can snag this bundle by clicking this link: The Great Candy Corn Debate!
Be on the lookout for more HOLIDAY themed writing bundles! Holidays and learning are my JAM! 🙂
For the month of October, you might also like:
- How to Catch a Monster (pairs great with this book!)
- How to Scare a Ghost (pairs great with this book!)
- What Should My Teacher Be for Halloween? (pairs great with any Halloween read aloud or as a stand-alone fun activity!)
What are your other favorite lessons for the month of October? Let me know below! If you use this with your students and share it on your social media page, please tag me on Instagram! I always love to see my resources in action!
XO,
Megan