English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
The many sounds of ough (bought, rough, through, though)
Spelling
CCSS L.5.2.ECCSS RF.5.3England: Y5/6 Spelling (letter string ough)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: The many sounds of ough (bought, rough, through, though).
- 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: y in the middle that sounds like i: gym, myth, pyramid
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Word cards, Look-say-cover-write-check sheets, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (y in the middle that sounds like i: gym, myth, pyramid). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- In which word does y sound like the i in "sit"? (dry / yard / happy / system) → systemPrompt: Say each word aloud and listen to the y.
- Which spelling is correct? (tipical / tipicle / typical) → typicalPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
- Type the word. It has a y that sounds like i. the words of a song → lyricsPrompt: Work out the word from the clue first.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a word spelled two ways and ask which looks right, then why.
- Share the objective: The many sounds of ough (bought, rough, through, though). 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 word has the same ough sound as "enough"?
- Step 1: In "enough" and "tough", ough sounds like "uff", as in "stuff".
- Step 2: So the answer is: tough
- Answer: tough
- 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 word has the same ough sound as "tough"? (rough / dough / trough / bought) → roughPrompt: Say "tough" aloud. What does ough sound like in it?
- Type the ough word that matches the clue. very careful and complete → thoroughPrompt: Every answer contains the letters ough.
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.
- Type the ough word that matches the clue. very careful and complete → thoroughPrompt: Every answer contains the letters ough.
- Which word has the same ough sound as "although"? (enough / dough / brought / through) → doughPrompt: Say "although" aloud. What does ough sound like in it?
Watch out for
- Spelling every word exactly as it sounds.
- Learning a list for a test but not using the words in writing.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: y in the middle that sounds like i: gym, myth, pyramid.
- Use concrete materials: word 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
- 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