English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Choose a precise verb (went → trudged, said → whispered)
Vocabulary
CCSS L.4.3.AEngland: Y4 Writing (vocabulary choices)England: Y3/4 Writing (composition)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Choose a precise verb (went → trudged, said → whispered).
- 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: Ways to move: walk, tiptoe, stomp, dash; Shades of meaning
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Ways to move: walk, tiptoe, stomp, dash; Shades of meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Read the question and pick the best word. Which word means looking very quickly? (watch / gaze / stare / glance) → glancePrompt: All of the words are ways to do something. Picture each one.
- Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? gobble, eat, nibble (gobble / eat / nibble) → nibblePrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
- Read the question and pick the best word. Which word means eating a tiny bit at a time? (gobble / nibble / gulp / munch) → nibblePrompt: All of the words are ways to do something. Picture each one.
Hook · 3 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Choose a precise verb (went → trudged, said → whispered). 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 verb that fits the meaning best. The mouse ___ at a tiny crumb of cheese.
- Step 1: A precise verb shows the reader exactly how something happened.
- Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The mouse nibbled at a tiny crumb of cheese."
- Step 3: So the answer is: nibbled
- Answer: nibbled
- 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 verb that fits the meaning best. Rain ___ against the window all night. (drummed / tiptoed / smiled / whispered) → drummedPrompt: Look for clue words: exhausted, excited, silent, hungry, angry.
- Read the question. Which verb shows that Sam was unsure and quiet? Sam ___, "I think it's this way…" (mumbled / yelled / roared / boasted) → mumbledPrompt: What feeling does the question ask about?
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.
- Choose the verb that fits the meaning best. The exhausted hikers ___ up the last steep hill. (danced / skipped / trudged / zoomed) → trudgedPrompt: Look for clue words: exhausted, excited, silent, hungry, angry.
- Read the question. Which verb shows that the coach was very loud? The coach ___, "Run faster!" (mumbled / bellowed / whispered / murmured) → bellowedPrompt: What feeling does the question ask about?
Watch out for
- Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
- Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Ways to move: walk, tiptoe, stomp, dash.
- 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-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder