English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes
Capital letters and full stops (periods)
Punctuation
CCSS L.1.2.ACCSS L.1.2.BEngland: Y1 GPS (capital letters, full stops)England: Y2 GPS
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Capital letters and full stops (periods).
- 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; Ending a sentence: . ? !
Leads to: Commas in dates, addresses and letters; Apostrophes in contractions; Commas in lists
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; Ending a sentence: . ? !). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? • i live in Rome. • I live in Rome. • I live in rome. • i live in rome. (i live in Rome. / I live in Rome. / I live in rome. / i live in rome.) → I live in Rome.Prompt: The word I is always a capital letter.
- Which mark goes at the end? Do you have a pet (. / ? / !) → ?Prompt: Is it telling, asking or showing a big feeling?
- 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.
Hook · 5 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Capital letters and full stops (periods). 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? • the moon is bright tonight • The moon is bright tonight. • the moon is bright tonight. • The moon is bright tonight
- Step 1: A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop (period).
- Step 2: So the answer is: The moon is bright tonight.
- Answer: The moon is bright tonight.
- 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.
- Which sentence is written correctly? • the moon is bright tonight • The moon is bright tonight • the moon is bright tonight. • The moon is bright tonight. (the moon is bright tonight / The moon is bright tonight / the moon is bright tonight. / The moon is bright tonight.) → The moon is bright tonight.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
- This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? in may, kofi and i went to spain. (3 / 4 / 5 / 6) → 5Prompt: Count the first word.
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.
- This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? my cat ate a fish. (0 / 1 / 2 / 3) → 1Prompt: Count the first word.
- Which sentence is written correctly? • my sister has a new bike. • My sister has a new bike. • My sister has a new bike • my sister has a new bike (my sister has a new bike. / My sister has a new bike. / My sister has a new bike / my sister has a new bike) → My sister has a new bike.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
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: Commas in dates, addresses and letters; Apostrophes in contractions; Commas in lists.
- 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