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

-ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent)

Spelling

CCSS L.5.2.EEngland: Y5/6 Spelling (-ant, -ance, -ancy, -ent, -ence, -ency)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: -ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent).

  • 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: Adding -ation: inform → information, admire → admiration

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Word cards, Look-say-cover-write-check sheets, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Adding -ation: inform → information, admire → admiration). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Add -ation to the verb "relax" to make a noun. Type it. → relaxationPrompt: Does the verb end in e?
  2. Which spelling is correct? (admiration / admireation / admiratin) → admirationPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
  3. Turn the verb in brackets into an -ation noun to fill the gap. Type the noun. Packing the night before is good ___ for a journey. (prepare) → preparationPrompt: Find the verb in brackets.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a word spelled two ways and ask which looks right, then why.
  • Share the objective: -ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent). 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: Which ending completes the word? eleg___ (graceful and stylish)
  • Step 1: Use -ant/-ance/-ancy if a related word has a clear /a/ or /ay/ sound there (observation → observant). Use -ent/-ence/-ency after soft c, soft g or qu (innocent, frequent). Otherwise, learn the word.
  • Step 2: elegant
  • Step 3: So the answer is: ant
  • Answer: ant
  • 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. Which ending completes the word? eleg___ (graceful and stylish) (ant / ent) → antPrompt: Is there a related word you know (observation, hesitation)? Listen to the vowel.
  2. Turn the adjective "tolerant" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it. → tolerancePrompt: Keep the same vowel: -ant goes to -ance/-ancy; -ent goes to -ence/-ency.

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. Turn the adjective "silent" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it. → silencePrompt: Keep the same vowel: -ant goes to -ance/-ancy; -ent goes to -ence/-ency.
  2. Which ending completes the word? magnific___ (amazing, splendid) (ant / ent) → entPrompt: Is there a related word you know (observation, hesitation)? Listen to the vowel.

Watch out for

  • Spelling every word exactly as it sounds.
  • Learning a list for a test but not using the words in writing.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Adding -ation: inform → information, admire → admiration.
  • 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

eurekami

-ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Turn the adjective "vacant" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Which ending completes the word? eleg___ (graceful and stylish)

    • A. ant
    • B. ent

  3. Question 3

    Turn the adjective "obedient" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Which ending completes the word? dec___ (good enough, polite)

    • A. ant
    • B. ent

  5. Question 5

    Turn the adjective "confident" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Which ending completes the word? magnific___ (amazing, splendid)

    • A. ant
    • B. ent

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Answer key: -ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent)

  1. 1. vacancy

  2. 2. A. ant

  3. 3. obedience

  4. 4. B. ent

  5. 5. confidence

  6. 6. B. ent