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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes

Formal or informal language?

Vocabulary

CCSS L.5.3.BCCSS L.4.3.CEngland: Y6 GPS (formal and informal vocabulary and structures)England: Y5/6 Writing (register)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Formal or informal language?.

  • 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: Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Are these words synonyms or antonyms? polite / rude (synonyms (similar meaning) / antonyms (opposite meaning)) → antonyms (opposite meaning)Prompt: Put each word in the same sentence. Does the meaning stay the same or flip?
  2. Which word or phrase is a SYNONYM of "enormous"? (gigantic / light / tiny / narrow) → giganticPrompt: Think of a sentence with the word in it.
  3. Are these words synonyms or antonyms? ancient / modern (synonyms (similar meaning) / antonyms (opposite meaning)) → antonyms (opposite meaning)Prompt: Put each word in the same sentence. Does the meaning stay the same or flip?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Formal or informal language?. 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: Is this sentence formal or informal? Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched off.
  • Step 1: Formal language suits official writing; informal language suits friends and family.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: formal
  • Answer: formal
  • 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. Is this sentence formal or informal? Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched off. (formal / informal) → formalPrompt: Would you say this to a friend, or write it in a letter to a head teacher?
  2. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "check"? (examine / eyeball / give it a once-over / have a look at) → examinePrompt: Formal words are often longer and come from Latin or French.

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. Is this sentence formal or informal? That film was awesome! (formal / informal) → informalPrompt: Would you say this to a friend, or write it in a letter to a head teacher?
  2. Which sentence is best for a letter to a head teacher or principal? (We would appreciate it if the field could stay open at lunchtime. / Keep the field open at lunch, yeah? / Can't you just leave the field open? / Field open at lunch pls.) → We would appreciate it if the field could stay open at lunchtime.Prompt: A letter to a head teacher needs a formal, polite tone.

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: Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs.
  • 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

eurekami

Formal or informal language?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is best for a letter to a head teacher or principal?

    • A. Thanks loads for coming, it was epic!
    • B. Ta for the visit.
    • C. Thank you for visiting our school; we learned a great deal.
    • D. Cheers for popping in!

  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence formal or informal? Text me when you get there.

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

  3. Question 3

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "ask for"?

    • A. go for
    • B. request
    • C. beg for
    • D. ask around

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence formal or informal? Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched off.

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence formal or informal? Thanks loads for the present!

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

  6. Question 6

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "go in"?

    • A. head in
    • B. enter
    • C. pop in
    • D. barge in

  7. Question 7

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "tell"?

    • A. inform
    • B. tip off
    • C. fill in
    • D. let know

  8. Question 8

    Is this sentence formal or informal? The museum will be closed for repairs until further notice.

    • A. formal
    • B. informal

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Answer key: Formal or informal language?

  1. 1. C. Thank you for visiting our school; we learned a great deal.

  2. 2. B. informal

  3. 3. B. request

  4. 4. A. formal

  5. 5. B. informal

  6. 6. B. enter

  7. 7. A. inform

  8. 8. A. formal