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English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

Start a sentence with a capital letter

Punctuation

CCSS L.K.2.AEngland: Reception WritingEngland: Y1 GPS (capital letters)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Start a sentence with a capital letter.

  • 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: Capital letters for I and names

Leads to: Days of the week and months of the year; Capitals for names, days, months and places

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

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Capital letters for I and names). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? • sam and I like to play. • sam and i like to play. • Sam and I like to play. • Sam and i like to play. (sam and I like to play. / sam and i like to play. / Sam and I like to play. / Sam and i like to play.) → Sam and I like to play.Prompt: The word I is always a capital letter.
  2. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? • i can see Mia. • I can see mia. • I can see Mia. • i can see mia. (i can see Mia. / I can see mia. / I can see Mia. / i can see mia.) → I can see Mia.Prompt: The word I is always a capital letter.
  3. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? • my dog is called Rex. • My dog is called rex. • my dog is called rex. • My dog is called Rex. (my dog is called Rex. / My dog is called rex. / my dog is called rex. / My dog is called Rex.) → My dog is called Rex.Prompt: The word I is always a capital letter.

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Start a sentence with a capital letter. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which sentence is written correctly?
  • Step 1: A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop (period).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: The cat hid in a box.
  • Answer: The cat hid in a box.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. Which sentence is written correctly? (the Bus is big. / the bus is big. / The bus is big / The bus is big.) → The bus is big.Prompt: Look at the very first letter of each sentence.
  2. Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. the cat hid in a box. → ThePrompt: Only the first letter changes.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which sentence is written correctly? (a Frog can hop. / A frog can hop / A frog can hop. / a frog can hop.) → A frog can hop.Prompt: Look at the very first letter of each sentence.
  2. Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. dad made a cake. → DadPrompt: Only the first letter changes.

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Capital letters for I and names.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation 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: Days of the week and months of the year; Capitals for names, days, months and places.
  • 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/kindergarten.

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

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Start a sentence with a capital letter

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. the sun is up.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is written correctly?

    • A. the cat hid in a box.
    • B. The cat hid in a box
    • C. The cat hid in a box.
    • D. the Cat hid in a box.

  3. Question 3

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. my kite is red.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. a frog can hop.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. we had fish for tea.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. the bus is big.

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. look at that big ship.

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Fix the first word of this sentence. Type it with a capital letter. mia has a pet rabbit.

    Answer

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Answer key: Start a sentence with a capital letter

  1. 1. The

  2. 2. C. The cat hid in a box.

  3. 3. My

  4. 4. A

  5. 5. We

  6. 6. The

  7. 7. Look

  8. 8. Mia