English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
Tricky words: third set (once, friend, school…)
Phonics & Sight Words
CCSS RF.1.3.GCCSS L.1.2.DEngland: Y1 Common exception wordsEngland: Y1 Spelling
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Tricky words: third set (once, friend, school…).
- 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: Tricky words (common exception words); Tricky words: second set (said, have, come, was…)
Leads to: Year 2 tricky words (because, people, could…)
Materials: Sound cards and picture cards, Magnetic letters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Tricky words (common exception words); Tricky words: second set (said, have, come, was…)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word is spelled correctly? Clue: to own something (I ___ a bike) (hav / hafe / have / haf) → havePrompt: These are tricky words: they do not sound the way they are spelled.
- Choose the correct tricky word to finish the sentence. We ___ at the beach. (where / wer / wore / were) → werePrompt: Tricky words do not follow the usual sound rules, so look closely at every letter.
- Choose the correct spelling to finish the sentence. ___ do you live? (Wher / Where / Wair) → WherePrompt: All three choices sound the same. Which one looks right?
Hook · 3 min
- Hide picture cards in a bag and ask children to say the first sound of each one they pull out.
- Share the objective: Tricky words: third set (once, friend, school…). 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: Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. We are going to the beach ___.
- Step 1: Learn the tricky part of each word by heart.
- Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "We are going to the beach today."
- Step 3: So the answer is: today
- Answer: today
- 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.
- Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. I ___ hear the birds singing. (coud / could / cood / cud) → couldPrompt: Tricky words have a part that does not match the usual sounds.
- Type the tricky word that matches the clue. the opposite of push → pullPrompt: Say the word first, then think about its tricky part.
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.
- Type the tricky word that matches the clue. belonging to us → ourPrompt: Say the word first, then think about its tricky part.
- Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. We had pizza ___ the show. (arfter / aftur / after / afta) → afterPrompt: Tricky words have a part that does not match the usual sounds.
Watch out for
- Adding an extra "uh" to sounds ("buh" instead of a clean b).
- Reading the letters one by one but not blending them into a word.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Tricky words (common exception words).
- Use concrete materials: sound cards and picture 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
- Move on to: Year 2 tricky words (because, people, could…).
- 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