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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

How do characters respond when things happen?

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RL.2.3England: Y2 ReadingEngland: KS1 SATs Reading (inference)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How do characters respond when things happen?.

  • 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: Who is speaking? Reading dialogue; Characters and setting

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Who is speaking? Reading dialogue; Characters and setting). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. "My tooth is wobbly!" said Priya. "Let me see," said Gran. Who has a wobbly tooth? (Gran / Priya's brother / a dentist / Priya) → PriyaPrompt: Find the words inside the speech marks.
  2. Bear yawned and stretched. "Time to sleep until spring," he said, and curled up in his cave. Who is the main character? (Bear / a bird / Spring / the cave) → BearPrompt: What does the character say and do?
  3. "I did it! I rode my bike with no help!" shouted Ella. How does Ella feel? (scared / sad / bored / proud) → proudPrompt: Find the words inside the speech marks.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: How do characters respond when things happen?. 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: When the lights went out in the storm, Gran lit a candle and said, "Who wants to hear a story?" How does Gran respond to the power cut?
  • Step 1: A character's response is what they do, say or feel when something happens.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: She stays calm and tells a story.
  • Answer: She stays calm and tells a story.
  • 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. Tom's sister spilled paint on his picture. He frowned, then smiled and turned the splodge into a dragon. How does Tom respond to the paint spill? (He tears up the picture. / He stops painting forever. / He turns the mistake into something new. / He spills paint on her picture.) → He turns the mistake into something new.Prompt: Find the event first: what happened?
  2. The new boy sat alone at lunch. Rafi picked up his tray, walked over and asked, "Can I sit here?" What does this tell us about Rafi? (He is friendly and kind. / He is greedy. / He is shy. / He is bossy.) → He is friendly and kind.Prompt: Think about why the character acts that way.

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. When the tower of blocks fell down, Mia took a deep breath and started building it again, even bigger. What does this tell us about Mia? (She does not give up easily. / She hates blocks. / She is unkind. / She is lazy.) → She does not give up easily.Prompt: Think about why the character acts that way.
  2. When Ella lost the race, she shook the winner's hand and said, "Well done! You were so fast." How does Ella respond to losing? (She sulks. / She walks off. / She says it was unfair. / She congratulates the winner.) → She congratulates the winner.Prompt: Find the event first: what happened?

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Who is speaking? Reading dialogue.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • 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-2.

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

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How do characters respond when things happen?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    When Ella lost the race, she shook the winner's hand and said, "Well done! You were so fast." How does Ella respond to losing?

    • A. She sulks.
    • B. She says it was unfair.
    • C. She walks off.
    • D. She congratulates the winner.

  2. Question 2

    Every morning, Jamal checks that the class fish has food and its water is clean, even though it is not his job. What does this tell us about Jamal?

    • A. He is forgetful.
    • B. He is caring and responsible.
    • C. He is greedy.
    • D. He is lazy.

  3. Question 3

    When the tower of blocks fell down, Mia took a deep breath and started building it again, even bigger. How does Mia respond to the tower falling?

    • A. She gives up.
    • B. She tries again.
    • C. She blames her friend.
    • D. She cries and goes home.

  4. Question 4

    When the tower of blocks fell down, Mia took a deep breath and started building it again, even bigger. What does this tell us about Mia?

    • A. She hates blocks.
    • B. She does not give up easily.
    • C. She is unkind.
    • D. She is lazy.

  5. Question 5

    The puppy hid under the table during the fireworks. Ben lay down next to it and stroked it gently. How does Ben respond to the scared puppy?

    • A. He shouts at it.
    • B. He laughs at it.
    • C. He comforts it.
    • D. He goes to watch the fireworks.

  6. Question 6

    The new boy sat alone at lunch. Rafi picked up his tray, walked over and asked, "Can I sit here?" What does this tell us about Rafi?

    • A. He is bossy.
    • B. He is shy.
    • C. He is greedy.
    • D. He is friendly and kind.

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Answer key: How do characters respond when things happen?

  1. 1. D. She congratulates the winner.

  2. 2. B. He is caring and responsible.

  3. 3. B. She tries again.

  4. 4. B. She does not give up easily.

  5. 5. C. He comforts it.

  6. 6. D. He is friendly and kind.