English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes
Parts of a book: contents, glossary and index
Reading Comprehension
CCSS RI.1.5England: Y1 Reading (non-fiction)England: Y2 Reading (contents and glossary)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Parts of a book: contents, glossary and index.
- 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: Book covers: title, author and illustrator
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Book covers: title, author and illustrator). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Rocket to the Moon Written by Priya Shah Illustrated by Sam Ortiz Who is the illustrator (the person who drew the pictures)? (Sam Ortiz / Rocket to the Moon / Priya Shah) → Sam OrtizPrompt: The title is the name of the book. 'Written by' tells the author. 'Illustrated by' tells the illustrator.
- Choose the best answer. Who writes the words in a book? (the reader / the librarian / the author / the illustrator) → the authorPrompt: Think about a book you know. What is on the front?
- Dino Goes to School Written by Ella Fox Illustrated by Raj Patel Who is the author (the person who wrote the words)? (Ella Fox / Dino Goes to School / Raj Patel) → Ella FoxPrompt: The title is the name of the book. 'Written by' tells the author. 'Illustrated by' tells the illustrator.
Hook · 5 min
- Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
- Share the objective: Parts of a book: contents, glossary and index. 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: Contents Baby Animals ........ 3 Where Animals Live ........ 8 What Animals Eat ........ 13 Animals at Night ........ 18 Saving Wild Animals ........ 21 On which page does "What Animals Eat" start?
- Step 1: "What Animals Eat" ........ 13
- Step 2: So the answer is: 13
- Answer: 13
- 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.
- Contents Baby Animals ........ 4 Where Animals Live ........ 7 What Animals Eat ........ 13 Animals at Night ........ 16 Saving Wild Animals ........ 21 On which page does "Where Animals Live" start? → 7Prompt: Find the chapter name in the list.
- Choose the best answer. What does a heading tell you? (how much the book costs / what that part of the page is about / who wrote the book / the page number) → what that part of the page is aboutPrompt: Think about a non-fiction book. What is at the front and at the back?
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.
- Contents Recycling Paper ........ 4 Plastic Bottles ........ 9 Compost ........ 13 Saving Water ........ 18 Clean Beaches ........ 22 On which page does "Plastic Bottles" start? → 9Prompt: Find the chapter name in the list.
- Choose the best answer. Where would you find the name of the author? (in the index / on the front cover / in a caption / in the glossary) → on the front coverPrompt: Think about a non-fiction book. What is at the front and at the back?
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: Book covers: title, author and illustrator.
- 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-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder