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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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. The ___ of the tower is 50 metres. (high) (heighten / high / highly / height) → heightPrompt: What job does the gap do: a thing (noun), describing (adjective), action (verb) or how (adverb)?
  2. Is this sentence literal or figurative? The gold coin was heavy. (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. The maths test was a piece of cake. What does "a piece of cake" mean? (very messy / very easy / very long / very sweet) → very easyPrompt: The words do not mean exactly what they say.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 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. Water the plants every morning. What word class is "Water" in this sentence? (noun / verb / adjective / adverb) → verbPrompt: Look at the job the word does in THIS sentence.
  2. Read the question. In which sentence is "light" a verb? (This box is light. / We saw a light in the window. / Please light the fire. / The light is too bright.) → Please light the fire.Prompt: Find the word in each sentence and ask what job it does.

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. Leo ran fast. What word class is "fast" in this sentence? (noun / verb / adjective / adverb) → adverbPrompt: Look at the job the word does in THIS sentence.
  2. Read the question. In which sentence is "plant" a noun? (They will plant a tree. / Let's plant some beans. / The plant needs water. / We plant seeds in spring.) → The plant needs water.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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    We walk to school every day. What word class is "walk" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb
  2. Question 2

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

    • A. The soup is cold.
    • B. Cold air came in.
    • C. It's a cold day.
    • D. Ella has a cold.
  3. Question 3

    Leo ran fast. What word class is "fast" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb
  4. Question 4

    Read the question. In which sentence is "light" a verb?

    • A. Please light the fire.
    • B. This box is light.
    • C. The light is too bright.
    • D. We saw a light in the window.
  5. Question 5

    Her answer was correct. What word class is "answer" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb
  6. Question 6

    The dog will guard the house. What word class is "guard" in this sentence?

    • A. noun
    • B. verb
    • C. adjective
    • D. adverb
  7. Question 7

    Read the question. In which sentence is "watch" a verb?

    • A. My watch is broken.
    • B. He wears a gold watch.
    • C. Let's watch the match.
    • D. The watch has a red strap.
  8. Question 8

    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. verb

  2. 2. D. Ella has a cold.

  3. 3. D. adverb

  4. 4. A. Please light the fire.

  5. 5. A. noun

  6. 6. B. verb

  7. 7. C. Let's watch the match.

  8. 8. A. noun