Facts, Opinions, and Feelings

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions of facts, opinions, and feelings, along with specific statements to analyze.

Fact

Something that is true and can be proven. Everyone can check it. (Example: Dogs have four legs.)

Opinion

What someone thinks, likes, or believes. Other people can disagree. Mean words are opinions, not facts.

Feeling

An emotion inside your body, like happy, sad, angry, or worried. Feelings are real, but they are not facts.

Bullying

Choosing to hurt someone on purpose or calling them names every day over and over.

Reporting

Asking an adult, such as a teacher or parent, for help to stay safe, which is not dobbing or tattling.

"You are weird."

Opinion. That is just one person's unkind thought. It is not a fact about who you are.

"A classmate called me a mean name at lunchtime."

Fact. That really happened. What they said is just their opinion, and being unkind is not okay.

"Nobody likes you."

Opinion (and a mean lie). Nobody knows what every single person thinks.

"I enjoy playing by myself sometimes."

Fact. You know what you like doing, and needing quiet time is completely fine.

"You have to like the same games as everyone else."

Opinion. Different people enjoy different things, and that is okay.

"Telling a teacher or parent about bullying is dobbing / tattling."

Opinion (and false). Asking an adult for help to stay safe is reporting, not tattling.

"If someone bullies me, it is my fault."

Opinion (and false). Bullying is never your fault. The person choosing to be mean is responsible.

"I feel worried about going to school today."

Feeling. Worry is a real emotion, and it is okay to feel it—even when you are safe.

"My heart is beating fast and my tummy feels tight."

Fact. Those are real body clues telling you that you might be feeling nervous or overwhelmed.

"Something bad is definitely going to happen at recess."

Feeling (anxious worry). Your brain is trying to keep you safe, but it cannot see the future.

"I got two answers wrong on my spelling test."

Fact. You can look at the page and count the answers.

"I am stupid because I made a mistake."

Feeling (frustration or sadness). Making mistakes is a normal part of learning, not a fact about your brain.

"Nobody will ever want to be my friend."

Feeling (loneliness). Feeling lonely right now is hard, but it is a feeling—not a fact about the future.

"I tried something hard today even though I felt nervous."

Fact. You showed up and gave it a go, which takes real courage.

"When I feel upset or angry, the feeling will eventually pass."

Fact. Big feelings rise like a wave and always come back down again.

"The handball court already has four players in the squares."

Fact. The game is simply full right now—it does not mean they are leaving you out on purpose.

"Someone knocked into me by accident while chasing the ball."

Fact. Accidents happen fast in playground games, and an accident is different from bullying.

"They didn't pick me first for the team because they dislike me."

Feeling (disappointment or worry). Feeling left out hurts, but you cannot read their minds to know why they picked someone else.

"You have to play running games at recess to have a good time."

Opinion. Different kids enjoy different activities, and choosing a quiet game or reading is completely fine.

"The classroom is very loud right now and my brain feels overloaded."

Fact. That is a real sensory clue telling you it is okay to use headphones or ask for a quiet break.

"My group is making the poster differently than I pictured it."

Fact. In group work, other kids have their own ideas, so the project will not always match what you planned.

"I am terrible at group work."

Opinion. Working with other people can be tricky, and finding it hard just means you are still practising.

"The teacher used a loud voice, so I must be in trouble."

Feeling (anxious worry). Teachers often use a big voice so the whole class can hear over the noise, even when nobody is in trouble.

"I didn't understand the instructions the first time."

Fact. Lots of people need instructions explained twice or written down, and asking for help is a smart choice.

"If I put my hand up to ask a question, kids will laugh at me."

Feeling (nervousness). Your brain is trying to protect you, but asking questions is a normal part of learning.