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English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
  1. 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.
  2. Which mark goes at the end? Where is my hat (. / ? / !) → ?Prompt: Is it telling, asking or showing a big feeling?
  3. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? • today I met zara. • Today I met zara. • Today i met Zara. • Today I met Zara. (today I met zara. / Today I met zara. / Today i met Zara. / Today I met Zara.) → Today I met Zara.Prompt: The word I is always a capital letter.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 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. Which sentence is written correctly? • The frog sat on a log • the frog sat on a log. • the frog sat on a log • The frog sat on a log. (The frog sat on a log / the frog sat on a log. / the frog sat on a log / The frog sat on a log.) → The frog sat on a log.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
  2. 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.

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. Which sentence is written correctly? • It is cold and windy • it is cold and windy • It is cold and windy. • it is cold and windy. (It is cold and windy / it is cold and windy / It is cold and windy. / it is cold and windy.) → It is cold and windy.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
  2. This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? yesterday i saw aunt rosa at the market. (2 / 3 / 4 / 5) → 4Prompt: Count the first word.

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

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Capital letters and full stops (periods)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is written correctly? • We made a big sandcastle • We made a big sandcastle. • we made a big sandcastle. • we made a big sandcastle

    • A. We made a big sandcastle
    • B. We made a big sandcastle.
    • C. we made a big sandcastle.
    • D. we made a big sandcastle

  2. Question 2

    This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? on saturday we visited grandma in leeds.

    • A. 2
    • B. 3
    • C. 4
    • D. 5

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is written correctly? • I lost my red glove • I lost my red glove. • i lost my red glove. • i lost my red glove

    • A. I lost my red glove
    • B. I lost my red glove.
    • C. i lost my red glove.
    • D. i lost my red glove

  4. Question 4

    This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? in may, kofi and i went to spain.

    • A. 3
    • B. 4
    • C. 5
    • D. 6

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is written correctly? • The frog sat on a log. • the frog sat on a log • The frog sat on a log • the frog sat on a log.

    • A. The frog sat on a log.
    • B. the frog sat on a log
    • C. The frog sat on a log
    • D. the frog sat on a log.

  6. Question 6

    This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? we go swimming on friday.

    • A. 1
    • B. 2
    • C. 3
    • D. 4

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence is written correctly? • We made a big sandcastle • we made a big sandcastle • we made a big sandcastle. • We made a big sandcastle.

    • A. We made a big sandcastle
    • B. we made a big sandcastle
    • C. we made a big sandcastle.
    • D. We made a big sandcastle.

  8. Question 8

    Which sentence is written correctly? • the bus was late today • The bus was late today. • The bus was late today • the bus was late today.

    • A. the bus was late today
    • B. The bus was late today.
    • C. The bus was late today
    • D. the bus was late today.

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Answer key: Capital letters and full stops (periods)

  1. 1. B. We made a big sandcastle.

  2. 2. C. 4

  3. 3. B. I lost my red glove.

  4. 4. C. 5

  5. 5. A. The frog sat on a log.

  6. 6. B. 2

  7. 7. D. We made a big sandcastle.

  8. 8. B. The bus was late today.