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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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. Would you like milk ___ juice? (or / and / because) → orPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  2. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. The dog is big ___ friendly. (and / or / because) → andPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  3. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. Sara can swim ___ she can dive. (or / and / but) → andPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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. We could watch a film ___ read a book. (so / or / but / and) → orPrompt: 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 · 17 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 · 7 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. It was raining, ___ we played inside. (and / or / but / so) → soPrompt: 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? I wanted cake. There was none left. (I wanted cake, but there was none left. / I wanted cake, so there was none left. / I wanted cake or there was none left.) → I wanted cake, but there was none left.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

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Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the best joining word. The shop was closed, ___ we went home.

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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Choose the best joining word. I was tired, ___ I went to bed early.

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? The sun came out. We went to the beach.

    • A. The sun came out or we went to the beach.
    • B. The sun came out, so we went to the beach.
    • C. The sun came out, but we went to the beach.

  7. Question 7

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

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

  8. Question 8

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? The film was long. It was very funny.

    • A. The film was long, but it was very funny.
    • B. The film was long or it was very funny.
    • C. The film was long, so it was very funny.

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

  1. 1. C. so

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

  3. 3. B. so

  4. 4. B. Ali likes football and he likes tennis.

  5. 5. D. or

  6. 6. B. The sun came out, so we went to the beach.

  7. 7. A. so

  8. 8. A. The film was long, but it was very funny.