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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite

Grammar

CCSS L.6.1CCSS L.7.1England: KS3 English (spelling and Standard English)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 SPaG)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite.

  • 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: their/there/they're, its/it's, your/you're, whose/who's

Leads to: Easily confused words: complement/compliment, imply/infer, elicit/illicit…

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (their/there/they're, its/it's, your/you're, whose/who's). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the correct word or words for the gap. Don't forget ___ lunch! (your / you're) → yourPrompt: Try expanding the contraction: does 'they are', 'it is', 'you are' or 'who is' make sense?
  2. Which sentence is correct? • Whose the author who's book won the prize? • Who's the author whose book won the prize? • Who's the author who's book won the prize? • Whose the author whose book won the prize? (Whose the author who's book won the prize? / Who's the author whose book won the prize? / Who's the author who's book won the prize? / Whose the author whose book won the prize?) → Who's the author whose book won the prize?Prompt: Check each tricky word one at a time.
  3. Choose the correct word or words for the gap. The children left ___ coats in the hall. (their / there / they're) → theirPrompt: Try expanding the contraction: does 'they are', 'it is', 'you are' or 'who is' make sense?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite. 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 word for the gap. If we ___ this match, we're out of the cup.
  • Step 1: These pairs sound or look alike but have different meanings and jobs.
  • Step 2: 'lose' (one o) = fail to win or misplace.
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "If we lose this match, we're out of the cup."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: lose
  • Answer: lose
  • 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. Choose the correct word for the gap. The test was ___ hard. (quiet / quite) → quitePrompt: Say the sentence aloud. Which meaning does the gap need?
  2. Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. Don't loose your ticket! → losePrompt: Find the word that is spelled like a real word but means something else.

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. Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. I'd rather read then watch TV. → thanPrompt: Find the word that is spelled like a real word but means something else.
  2. Choose the correct word for the gap. I always ___ my keys! (loose / lose) → losePrompt: Say the sentence aloud. Which meaning does the gap need?

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: their/there/they're, its/it's, your/you're, whose/who's.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • 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: Easily confused words: complement/compliment, imply/infer, elicit/illicit….
  • 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-6.

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

eurekami

Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. I'd rather read then watch TV.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Choose the correct word for the gap. Remember to ___ slowly.

    • A. breath
    • B. breathe
  3. Question 3

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. Don't loose your ticket!

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Choose the correct word for the gap. First we ate, and ___ we played cards.

    • A. then
    • B. than
  5. Question 5

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. We past the station at noon.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Choose the correct word for the gap. My sister is taller ___ me.

    • A. then
    • B. than

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Answer key: Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite

  1. 1. than

  2. 2. B. breathe

  3. 3. lose

  4. 4. A. then

  5. 5. passed

  6. 6. B. than