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

Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?

Grammar

CCSS L.5.1CCSS L.5.4.AEngland: Y5/6 GPS (word classes)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?.

  • 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: Word families and word classes; Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say

Leads to: before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?

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 (Word families and word classes; Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the form of the word that fits the sentence. They worked ___ to finish on time. (care) (careful / care / carefully / careless) → carefullyPrompt: What job does the gap do: a thing (noun), describing (adjective), action (verb) or how (adverb)?
  2. Is this sentence literal or figurative? The bird flew over the fence. (literal: it means exactly what it says / figurative: it means something different) → literal: it means exactly what it saysPrompt: Picture exactly what the words say. Could it really happen?
  3. Read the sentence. It costs an arm and a leg to fix the car. What does "an arm and a leg" mean? (a lot of money / a small amount / a long time / a doctor's visit) → a lot of moneyPrompt: The words do not mean exactly what they say.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?. 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: Work hard and you will improve. What word class is "hard" in this sentence?
  • Step 1: A word's class depends on how it is used in the sentence.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: adverb
  • Answer: adverb
  • 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. My school bag is light. What word class is "light" in this sentence? (noun / verb / adjective / adverb) → adjectivePrompt: Look at the job the word does in THIS sentence.
  2. Read the question. In which sentence is "clean" an adjective? (The towels are clean. / Clean the table, please. / They will clean the windows. / We clean the car on Sundays.) → The towels are clean.Prompt: Find the word in each sentence and ask what job it does.

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. It was a cold morning. What word class is "cold" in this sentence? (noun / verb / adjective / adverb) → adjectivePrompt: Look at the job the word does in THIS sentence.
  2. Read the question. In which sentence is "hard" an adverb? (A hard hat keeps you safe. / That puzzle was hard. / It rained hard all night. / The ice is hard.) → It rained hard all night.Prompt: Find the word in each sentence and ask what job it does.

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: Word families and word classes.
  • 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: before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?.
  • 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

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Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Read the question. In which sentence is "clean" an adjective?

    • A. Clean the table, please.
    • B. The towels are clean.
    • C. We clean the car on Sundays.
    • D. They will clean the windows.
  2. Question 2

    We caught an early bus. What word class is "early" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb
  3. Question 3

    Read the question. In which sentence is "hard" an adverb?

    • A. It rained hard all night.
    • B. That puzzle was hard.
    • C. A hard hat keeps you safe.
    • D. The ice is hard.
  4. Question 4

    Work hard and you will improve. What word class is "hard" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb
  5. Question 5

    Read the question. In which sentence is "plant" a noun?

    • A. Let's plant some beans.
    • B. We plant seeds in spring.
    • C. The plant needs water.
    • D. They will plant a tree.
  6. Question 6

    Turn on the light, please. What word class is "light" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb

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Answer key: Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?

  1. 1. B. The towels are clean.

  2. 2. C. adjective

  3. 3. A. It rained hard all night.

  4. 4. D. adverb

  5. 5. C. The plant needs water.

  6. 6. A. noun