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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes

Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

Grammar

CCSS L.2.1.FEngland: Y2 GPS (co-ordination)England: Y3 GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Joining ideas with and, but, or and so.

  • 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: Joining words: and, but, or, because

Leads to: Give reasons with because, also and so; Subordinating conjunctions: when, if, because, although, until; Simple or compound sentence?

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Joining words: and, but, or, because). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. Would you like milk ___ juice? (or / and / because) → orPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  2. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. The cake looked yummy ___ it tasted bad. (but / because / and) → butPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  3. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. Sara can swim ___ she can dive. (but / or / and) → andPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Joining ideas with and, but, or and so. 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: Choose the best joining word. My bike had a flat tyre, ___ Dad fixed it.
  • Step 1: Joining words (conjunctions) link two ideas and show how they connect.
  • Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "My bike had a flat tyre, so Dad fixed it."
  • Step 3: So the answer is: so
  • Answer: so
  • 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. Choose the best joining word. We could watch a film ___ read a book. (and / so / or / but) → orPrompt: and adds, but shows a surprise or a difference, or gives a choice, so shows a result.
  2. Which is the best way to join the two sentences? I wanted cake. There was none left. (I wanted cake or there was none left. / I wanted cake, but there was none left. / I wanted cake, so there was none left.) → I wanted cake, but there was none left.Prompt: How are the two ideas connected? Adding? Different? Because of?

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. Choose the best joining word. Ben is tall, ___ his brother is short. (and / or / so / but) → butPrompt: and adds, but shows a surprise or a difference, or gives a choice, so shows a result.
  2. Which is the best way to join the two sentences? The sun came out. We went to the beach. (The sun came out, but we went to the beach. / The sun came out or we went to the beach. / The sun came out, so we went to the beach.) → The sun came out, so we went to the beach.Prompt: How are the two ideas connected? Adding? Different? Because of?

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Joining words: and, but, or, because.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • 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: Give reasons with because, also and so; Subordinating conjunctions: when, if, because, although, until; Simple or compound sentence?.
  • 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-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the best joining word. I like apples ___ I like pears too.

    • A. and
    • B. but
    • C. so
    • D. or

  2. Question 2

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? I forgot my coat. I felt cold.

    • A. I forgot my coat or I felt cold.
    • B. I forgot my coat, but I felt cold.
    • C. I forgot my coat, so I felt cold.

  3. Question 3

    Choose the best joining word. The shop was closed, ___ we went home.

    • A. so
    • B. or
    • C. and
    • D. but

  4. Question 4

    Choose the best joining word. Kim plays the drums ___ her sister plays the piano.

    • A. but
    • B. and
    • C. or
    • D. so

  5. Question 5

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? I wanted cake. There was none left.

    • A. I wanted cake, but there was none left.
    • B. I wanted cake, so there was none left.
    • C. I wanted cake or there was none left.

  6. Question 6

    Which is the best way to join the two sentences? The sun came out. We went to the beach.

    • A. The sun came out, so we went to the beach.
    • B. The sun came out or we went to the beach.
    • C. The sun came out, but we went to the beach.

  7. Question 7

    Choose the best joining word. It was raining, ___ we played inside.

    • A. but
    • B. or
    • C. so
    • D. and

  8. Question 8

    Choose the best joining word. Ben is tall, ___ his brother is short.

    • A. so
    • B. or
    • C. but
    • D. and

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Answer key: Joining ideas with and, but, or and so

  1. 1. A. and

  2. 2. C. I forgot my coat, so I felt cold.

  3. 3. A. so

  4. 4. B. and

  5. 5. A. I wanted cake, but there was none left.

  6. 6. A. The sun came out, so we went to the beach.

  7. 7. C. so

  8. 8. C. but