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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? • Ben and I went to the park. • Ben and i went to the park. • ben and I went to the park. • ben and i went to the park. (Ben and I went to the park. / Ben and i went to the park. / ben and I went to the park. / ben and i went to the park.) → Ben and I went to the park.Prompt: The word I is always a capital letter.
  2. Which mark goes at the end? We go to school (. / ? / !) → .Prompt: Is it telling, asking or showing a big feeling?
  3. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? • Ben and I went to the park. • Ben and i went to the park. • ben and i went to the park. • ben and I went to the park. (Ben and I went to the park. / Ben and i went to the park. / ben and i went to the park. / ben and I went to the park.) → Ben and I went to the park.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? • Our class went to the farm. • our class went to the farm. • our class went to the farm • Our class went to the farm (Our class went to the farm. / our class went to the farm. / our class went to the farm / Our class went to the farm) → Our class went to the farm.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
  2. This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? the dog barked at max. (1 / 2 / 3 / 4) → 2Prompt: 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. This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? in june we flew to canada. (1 / 2 / 3 / 4) → 3Prompt: Count the first word.
  2. 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 (I lost my red glove. / i lost my red glove. / I lost my red glove / i lost my red glove) → I lost my red glove.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.

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? • my sister has a new bike. • My sister has a new bike. • my sister has a new bike • My sister has a new bike

    • A. my sister has a new bike.
    • B. My sister has a new bike.
    • C. my sister has a new bike
    • D. My sister has a new bike

  2. Question 2

    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

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is written correctly? • a fox ran across the road. • A fox ran across the road. • A fox ran across the road • a fox ran across the road

    • A. a fox ran across the road.
    • B. A fox ran across the road.
    • C. A fox ran across the road
    • D. a fox ran across the road

  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? • Our class went to the farm. • our class went to the farm • our class went to the farm. • Our class went to the farm

    • A. Our class went to the farm.
    • B. our class went to the farm
    • C. our class went to the farm.
    • D. Our class went to the farm

  6. Question 6

    This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? in june we flew to canada.

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

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence is written correctly? • a fox ran across the road. • a fox ran across the road • A fox ran across the road • A fox ran across the road.

    • A. a fox ran across the road.
    • B. a fox ran across the road
    • C. A fox ran across the road
    • D. A fox ran across the road.

  8. Question 8

    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.

    • A. It is cold and windy.
    • B. it is cold and windy
    • C. It is cold and windy
    • D. it is cold and windy.

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Answer key: Capital letters and full stops (periods)

  1. 1. B. My sister has a new bike.

  2. 2. B. 2

  3. 3. B. A fox ran across the road.

  4. 4. C. 5

  5. 5. A. Our class went to the farm.

  6. 6. C. 3

  7. 7. D. A fox ran across the road.

  8. 8. A. It is cold and windy.