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Students learn that a fact is something that can be proven true for everyone.
If your friend says it is raining, but you look outside and see a bright yellow sun, how do you know who is right?
A fact is something that is true. But it isn't just true in your head—it is true for everyone! The special thing about a fact is that you can prove it. To prove something means to show it is real by looking at it, measuring it, or checking a trusted source like a book. For example, saying 'I have two hands' is a fact because anyone can count them and see the number . Facts are like the building blocks of the world; they give us the real story about how things are.
Quick Check
If you can prove that something is true by looking at it or measuring it, what do we call that statement?
Answer
A fact.
How do we know if something is a fact? We use the 'Prove It' Test. If you can show someone else that your statement is true using your senses or a tool, it passes the test! We use math and science to help us find facts. If you count apples in a basket, that is a fact. If you use a ruler to see that a book is inches long, that is also a fact. Facts don't change based on how we feel. Even if you are sad, the fact that stays exactly the same.
Let's find a fact about a dog. 1. Look at the dog. 2. Count its legs: . 3. Because we can count them and see them, the statement 'This dog has legs' is a fact.
Quick Check
Does a fact change if you are having a bad day?
Answer
No, facts stay the same no matter how you feel.
A fact is universal. This is a big word that means it is the same for every person on Earth. If a scientist in Africa measures a rock and says it weighs pounds, a scientist in America would get the same pounds if they used the same scale. Facts help us agree on what is happening in the world. Without facts, we wouldn't be able to build bridges, fly planes, or play games fairly because everyone would have their own different rules!
Think about the Sun. 1. Every morning, the Sun rises in the sky. 2. People all over the world see this happen. 3. Because it happens for everyone and can be seen, 'The Sun rises every morning' is a fact.
Is 'This ice cream is the best food ever' a fact? 1. Try to prove it. Can you measure 'best' with a ruler? 2. Ask a friend. What if they like pizza better? 3. Since we can't prove it for everyone, it is not a fact. A fact would be: 'This ice cream is cold.'
What is the best definition of a fact?
Which of these is a FACT?
If you prove a fact in your classroom, it will still be a fact at your house.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the 'Prove It' test. What are the two things you need to do to see if something is a fact?
Practice Activity
Go on a 'Fact Hunt' in your room. Find three things you can prove (like the color of your shirt or the number of shoes you have) and tell someone why they are facts!