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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes

Formal or informal language?

Vocabulary

CCSS L.5.3.BCCSS L.4.3.CEngland: Y6 GPS (formal and informal vocabulary and structures)England: Y5/6 Writing (register)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Formal or informal language?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Are these words synonyms or antonyms? gloomy / cheerful (synonyms (similar meaning) / antonyms (opposite meaning)) → antonyms (opposite meaning)Prompt: Put each word in the same sentence. Does the meaning stay the same or flip?
  2. Which word or phrase is a SYNONYM of "enormous"? (light / tiny / narrow / gigantic) → giganticPrompt: Think of a sentence with the word in it.
  3. Are these words synonyms or antonyms? arrive / depart (synonyms (similar meaning) / antonyms (opposite meaning)) → antonyms (opposite meaning)Prompt: Put each word in the same sentence. Does the meaning stay the same or flip?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Formal or informal language?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this sentence formal or informal? Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched off.
  • Step 1: Formal language suits official writing; informal language suits friends and family.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: formal
  • Answer: formal
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this sentence formal or informal? Thanks loads for the present! (formal / informal) → informalPrompt: Would you say this to a friend, or write it in a letter to a head teacher?
  2. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "need"? (fancy / be after / gotta have / require) → requirePrompt: Formal words are often longer and come from Latin or French.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "start"? (jump in / get going / commence / kick off) → commencePrompt: Formal words are often longer and come from Latin or French.
  2. Which sentence is best for a letter to a head teacher or principal? (Please find attached our class report on recycling. / Here's our recycling stuff. / Check out our report! / Recycling report, enjoy!) → Please find attached our class report on recycling.Prompt: A letter to a head teacher needs a formal, polite tone.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Formal or informal language?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence formal or informal? The museum will be closed for repairs until further notice.

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

  2. Question 2

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "check"?

    • A. examine
    • B. have a look at
    • C. eyeball
    • D. give it a once-over

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is best for a letter to a head teacher or principal?

    • A. Thank you for visiting our school; we learned a great deal.
    • B. Thanks loads for coming, it was epic!
    • C. Cheers for popping in!
    • D. Ta for the visit.

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence formal or informal? That film was awesome!

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

  5. Question 5

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "start"?

    • A. get going
    • B. commence
    • C. kick off
    • D. jump in

  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence formal or informal? Gonna grab a snack, back in a sec.

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

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Answer key: Formal or informal language?

  1. 1. A. formal

  2. 2. A. examine

  3. 3. A. Thank you for visiting our school; we learned a great deal.

  4. 4. B. informal

  5. 5. B. commence

  6. 6. B. informal