English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
Find the words that show senses and feelings
Reading Comprehension
CCSS RL.1.4England: Y1 Reading (vocabulary)England: Y2 Reading
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Find the words that show senses and feelings.
- 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: Describing words for the five senses; Feeling words: how does each character feel?
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Describing words for the five senses; Feeling words: how does each character feel?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which describing word tells how it feels? (tangy / buzzing / purple / silky) → silkyPrompt: Think about which sense you would use: eyes, ears, nose, tongue or hands.
- Tomorrow is Ruby's birthday party! She cannot sit still. How does Ruby feel? (sad / bored / excited / angry) → excitedPrompt: Imagine it happened to you. How would you feel?
- Choose the describing word that fits best. The ___ door creaked as it opened. (squeaky / silky / salty / sour) → squeakyPrompt: Which sense does the sentence use: taste, sound, touch, smell or sight?
Hook · 3 min
- Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
- Share the objective: Find the words that show senses and feelings. 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: The baby giggled and squealed as the bubbles popped on her nose. Which word tells a sound the baby made?
- Step 1: Writers choose words that help us see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel.
- Step 2: So the answer is: squealed
- Answer: squealed
- 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.
- The thunder boomed. Rain drummed on the roof all night. Which word tells how the thunder sounded? (roof / rain / boomed / night) → boomedPrompt: Which sense or feeling is the question about?
- What feeling do these clues show? Her knees knocked together and her voice shook. (proud / happy / scared / bored) → scaredPrompt: Act out what the character is doing.
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.
- The pizza came out of the oven, bubbly and hot. It smelled cheesy and delicious. Which word tells how the pizza smelled? (cheesy / hot / oven / bubbly) → cheesyPrompt: Which sense or feeling is the question about?
- What feeling do these clues show? Her knees knocked together and her voice shook. (proud / bored / scared / happy) → scaredPrompt: Act out what the character is doing.
Watch out for
- Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
- Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Describing words for the five senses.
- Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
- 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-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder