Indiana Social Studies S.1.6

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Foundations of Sociology as a Social Science

The Standard

Distinguish fact from opinion in data source analysis.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students read a chart or survey table and separate claims the data can check from personal judgments. They point to the data behind a factual claim and flag claims the data cannot settle.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a survey of 20 students, they identify '12 reported riding the bus' as a fact supported by the table. They identify 'The bus is the best way to get to school' as an opinion and explain why the table cannot prove it.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat a judgment as fact because a chart appears beside it. They may call an unsupported, checkable claim an opinion or mistake riding the bus for preferring it.
How to Assess It: Give students a table showing that 12 of 20 surveyed students ride the bus. Ask them to label '12 students reported riding the bus,' 'The bus is the best option,' and 'Most students prefer the bus' as supported fact, opinion, or not established by the table.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a printed commute tally and three sample claims; have them use sticky notes to tag each claim as supported, opinion, or unproven.
Ask, 'Does riding the bus prove students prefer it?' Have students write two sentences using the commute tally.
Play a three-pile card sort with eight commute claims: supported fact, opinion, or checkable claim with missing evidence.
Pair a local bus ridership chart with a news headline; students mark count claims, judgments, and claims the chart cannot check.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S.1.6, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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