• 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? My friend omar lives next door. (omar / friend / door / lives) → omarPrompt: 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? (Ravi And I Play Chess on Sundays. / ravi and I play chess on Sundays. / Ravi and i play chess on sundays. / Ravi and I play chess on Sundays.) → Ravi and I play chess on Sundays.Prompt: Check the first word, the word I, and every name.
3. 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.

• 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? We climbed mount Snowdon in Wales. (we / mount / climbed / in) → mountPrompt: Festivals, holidays, rivers, oceans, mountains, countries and parks are all names.
2. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly? (Every Hanukkah, Gran makes potato pancakes. / Every hanukkah, Gran makes potato pancakes. / Every Hanukkah, Gran makes Potato Pancakes. / Every Hanukkah, gran makes potato pancakes.) → Every Hanukkah, Gran makes potato pancakes.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 sentence uses capital letters correctly? (My aunt lives near the rocky mountains. / my aunt lives near the Rocky Mountains. / My Aunt lives near the Rocky mountains. / My aunt lives near the Rocky Mountains.) → My aunt lives near the Rocky Mountains.Prompt: Check the first word and every name.
2. Which word should have a capital letter? The pyramids are in egypt. (in / pyramids / egypt / are) → egyptPrompt: Festivals, holidays, rivers, oceans, mountains, countries and parks are all names.

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