• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Capitals for names, days, months and places). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which word should start with a capital letter? The river thames is very long. (very / thames / river / long) → thamesPrompt: Capital letters are for the start of a sentence, I, and the names of people, places, days and months.
2. Which sentence is written correctly? (We went to Spain in may. / We went to Spain in May. / we went to spain in may. / We went to spain in May.) → We went to Spain in May.Prompt: Check the first word, the word I, and every name.
3. Which word should start with a capital letter? My dog is called rocket. (dog / called / rocket / is) → rocketPrompt: Capital letters are for the start of a sentence, I, and the names of people, places, days and months.

• Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
• Share the objective: Capitals for festivals, holidays and place names. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which word should have a capital letter? Our family eats a big meal at thanksgiving.
• Step 1: Names of particular festivals and places are proper nouns and need capital letters.
• Step 2: So the answer is: thanksgiving
• Answer: thanksgiving
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 word should have a capital letter? On new Year's Day we made a wish list. (wish / list / made / new) → newPrompt: Festivals, holidays, rivers, oceans, mountains, countries and parks are all names.
2. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? (At Diwali, our street is full of lights. / At diwali, our street is full of lights. / at Diwali, our street is full of lights. / At Diwali, our Street is full of lights.) → At Diwali, our street is full of lights.Prompt: Check the first word and every name.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which word should have a capital letter? Our family eats a big meal at thanksgiving. (thanksgiving / family / big / meal) → thanksgivingPrompt: Festivals, holidays, rivers, oceans, mountains, countries and parks are all names.
2. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? (At diwali, our street is full of lights. / at Diwali, our street is full of lights. / At Diwali, our street is full of lights. / At Diwali, our Street is full of lights.) → At Diwali, our street is full of lights.Prompt: Check the first word and every name.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-2.