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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.
  1. Which word is spelled correctly? Clue: the opposite of "here" (there / thare / thair / ther) → therePrompt: These are tricky words: they do not sound the way they are spelled.
  2. Choose the correct tricky word to finish the sentence. ___ do you go to bed? (When / Went / Wen / Then) → WhenPrompt: Tricky words do not follow the usual sound rules, so look closely at every letter.
  3. Choose the correct spelling to finish the sentence. The teacher ___ we could go outside. (sayd / said / sed) → saidPrompt: 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.
  1. Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. Let's play that game ___! (agen / agan / ugen / again) → againPrompt: Tricky words have a part that does not match the usual sounds.
  2. Type the tricky word that matches the clue. a building where children learn → schoolPrompt: 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.
  1. Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. My best ___ lives next door. (frend / freind / friend / frened) → friendPrompt: Tricky words have a part that does not match the usual sounds.
  2. Type the tricky word that matches the clue. 1, as a word → onePrompt: Say the word first, then think about its tricky part.

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

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Tricky words: third set (once, friend, school…)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. Can you ___ me the red pen?

    • A. give
    • B. giv
    • C. giev
    • D. gieve

  2. Question 2

    Type the tricky word that matches the clue. the opposite of push

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. I ___ hear the birds singing.

    • A. could
    • B. cood
    • C. coud
    • D. cud

  4. Question 4

    Type the tricky word that matches the clue. someone you like to play with

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Choose the correct spelling of the tricky word. I ___ my friend will come.

    • A. think
    • B. fink
    • C. thinc
    • D. thinck

  6. Question 6

    Type the tricky word that matches the clue. 1, as a word

    Answer

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Answer key: Tricky words: third set (once, friend, school…)

  1. 1. A. give

  2. 2. pull

  3. 3. A. could

  4. 4. friend

  5. 5. A. think

  6. 6. one