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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

Grammar

CCSS L.2.1.FEngland: Y2 GPS (co-ordination)England: Y3 GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Joining ideas with and, but, or and so.

  • 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: Joining words: and, but, or, because

Leads to: Give reasons with because, also and so; Subordinating conjunctions: when, if, because, although, until; Simple or compound sentence?

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 (Joining words: and, but, or, because). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. We wore coats ___ it was cold. (but / because / or) → becausePrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  2. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. I wanted to play outside ___ it was raining. (or / but / and) → butPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  3. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. The cake looked yummy ___ it tasted bad. (because / and / but) → butPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Joining ideas with and, but, or and so. 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: Choose the best joining word. My bike had a flat tyre, ___ Dad fixed it.
  • Step 1: Joining words (conjunctions) link two ideas and show how they connect.
  • Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "My bike had a flat tyre, so Dad fixed it."
  • Step 3: So the answer is: so
  • Answer: so
  • 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. Choose the best joining word. I wanted to play outside, ___ it was raining. (or / but / so / and) → butPrompt: and adds, but shows a surprise or a difference, or gives a choice, so shows a result.
  2. Which is the best way to join the two sentences? The sun came out. We went to the beach. (The sun came out, so we went to the beach. / The sun came out or we went to the beach. / The sun came out, but we went to the beach.) → The sun came out, so we went to the beach.Prompt: How are the two ideas connected? Adding? Different? Because of?

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. Choose the best joining word. I like apples ___ I like pears too. (or / and / but / so) → andPrompt: and adds, but shows a surprise or a difference, or gives a choice, so shows a result.
  2. Which is the best way to join the two sentences? The film was long. It was very funny. (The film was long or it was very funny. / The film was long, but it was very funny. / The film was long, so it was very funny.) → The film was long, but it was very funny.Prompt: How are the two ideas connected? Adding? Different? Because of?

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: Joining words: and, but, or, because.
  • 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: Give reasons with because, also and so; Subordinating conjunctions: when, if, because, although, until; Simple or compound sentence?.
  • 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

eurekami

Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? Ali likes football. He likes tennis.

    • A. Ali likes football or he likes tennis.
    • B. Ali likes football so he likes tennis.
    • C. Ali likes football and he likes tennis.

  2. Question 2

    Choose the best joining word. It was raining, ___ we played inside.

    • A. or
    • B. and
    • C. but
    • D. so

  3. Question 3

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? I wanted cake. There was none left.

    • A. I wanted cake, but there was none left.
    • B. I wanted cake or there was none left.
    • C. I wanted cake, so there was none left.

  4. Question 4

    Choose the best joining word. The puzzle was hard, ___ we finished it.

    • A. and
    • B. or
    • C. but
    • D. so

  5. Question 5

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? I forgot my coat. I felt cold.

    • A. I forgot my coat, but I felt cold.
    • B. I forgot my coat or I felt cold.
    • C. I forgot my coat, so I felt cold.

  6. Question 6

    Choose the best joining word. Ben is tall, ___ his brother is short.

    • A. or
    • B. and
    • C. so
    • D. but

  7. Question 7

    Choose the best joining word. We could watch a film ___ read a book.

    • A. or
    • B. so
    • C. and
    • D. but

  8. Question 8

    Choose the best joining word. My bike had a flat tyre, ___ Dad fixed it.

    • A. so
    • B. but
    • C. and
    • D. or

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Answer key: Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

  1. 1. C. Ali likes football and he likes tennis.

  2. 2. D. so

  3. 3. A. I wanted cake, but there was none left.

  4. 4. C. but

  5. 5. C. I forgot my coat, so I felt cold.

  6. 6. D. but

  7. 7. A. or

  8. 8. A. so