English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 60 minutes
Define a word: what group, and what makes it special?
Vocabulary
CCSS L.1.5.BEngland: Y1 VocabularyEngland: Y2 Vocabulary
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Define a word: what group, and what makes it special?.
- 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: Name the group: fruit, insects, tools…
Leads to: Work out a new word from the sentence around it
Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Name the group: fruit, insects, tools…). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- swan, penguin, crow: these are all… (vegetables / sports / birds / drinks) → birdsPrompt: What do all three have in common?
- Which word belongs in this group? cocoa, water, tea, ___ (dentist / penguin / cherry / juice) → juicePrompt: First name the group.
- hockey, rugby, netball: these are all… (sports / drinks / instruments / body parts) → sportsPrompt: What do all three have in common?
Hook · 6 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Define a word: what group, and what makes it special?. 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 group word that completes the definition. A hammer is a ___ for banging in nails.
- Step 1: A good definition says what group something belongs to and how it is different from others in that group.
- Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "A hammer is a tool for banging in nails."
- Step 3: So the answer is: tool
- Answer: tool
- 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.
- Choose the group word that completes the definition. A dentist is a ___ who looks after teeth. (person / animal / machine / place) → personPrompt: What kind of thing is it?
- Read the question. Which is the best definition of an umbrella? (a thing / something you carry / a cover you hold to keep off the rain / it opens) → a cover you hold to keep off the rainPrompt: A good definition says the group AND something special.
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.
- Read the question. Which is the best definition of a bed? (something soft / furniture you sleep on / furniture / it is in a house) → furniture you sleep onPrompt: A good definition says the group AND something special.
- Choose the group word that completes the definition. A library is a ___ where you can borrow books. (place / tool / person / vehicle) → placePrompt: What kind of thing is it?
Watch out for
- Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
- Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Name the group: fruit, insects, tools….
- 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
- Move on to: Work out a new word from the sentence around it.
- 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