Teach Subjective vs Objective Language with a Game!

Understanding the difference between fact and opinion is an essential literacy skill, but telling the difference is not always easy for our students. That’s why it’s vital to teach our students the key language clues that can help us separate the facts from the fiction!

This matching card game has been designed by our team to help your students explore the language of facts (objective language) and the language of feelings (subjective language). Each pair of cards includes one subjective sentence and one objective sentence about the same idea. Students must match the subjective statements with their objective counterparts by analysing the language clues, then record the matches on the recording sheet provided.

Here is an example of a set of matching cards from the resource:

Subjective statement: The barking dog is very annoying and loud.
Objective statement: The dog barked thirteen times in one hour.

This resource contains:

• Instruction page
• 36 matching cards
• Answer key

Read on to learn more about using this hands-on resource in your classroom.

More Subjective Language vs Objective Language Activities

This resource is designed with flexibility in mind, and it can be used in multiple ways to explore subjective and objective language with your students. Here are some ideas you might like to consider:

1. Relay Game – Place all the task cards at one end of the room. Have students take turns running to collect a card, deciding whether it’s subjective or objective, then placing it in the correct basket. Add an additional element by timing the students, then seeing if they can beat their time on the next try.
2. Partner Match-Up – Give each student one card and have them walk around the room finding their match (the corresponding subjective or objective pair). Once matched, pairs present their sentences to the class and explain why one shows a fact and the other shows a feeling.
3. Group Debate – Select a few different cards and assign them to small groups of students. Have the groups debate which sentence is the more reliable and why, using language clues to support their reasoning. Have each group report back to the class, then see if the class agrees with the group’s decision.

Download Your Subjective Language vs Objective Language Task Cards Today!

This resource can be downloaded as a quick-print PDF or editable Google Slides file. Use the menu on the Download button above to access your preferred version. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

We recommend that you print the matching cards on cardboard for added durability, then place them in a zip-lock bag or large envelope for safekeeping. This time-saving resource for teaching subjective language vs objective language is then ready whenever you are!

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Exploring Subjective vs Objective Language

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Subjective Language vs Objective Language Poster

Display this vibrant subjective language vs objective language poster in your classroom to illustrate the differences between personal opinions and factual statements.