English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Year 3/4 spelling words, part 1 (accident to guide)
Spelling
CCSS L.3.2.ECCSS L.3.2.FEngland: Y3/4 Statutory spelling listEngland: KS2 SATs GPS (spelling)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Year 3/4 spelling words, part 1 (accident to guide).
- 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: Year 2 tricky words (because, people, could…)
Leads to: Year 3/4 spelling words, part 2 (heard to women)
Materials: Word cards, Look-say-cover-write-check sheets, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Year 2 tricky words (because, people, could…)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the correct spelling. My ___ are coming to the play. (perents / parants / parence / parents) → parentsPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky sound.
- Type the tricky word that matches the clue. 60 minutes → hourPrompt: Say the word, then think about the part that is not spelled the way it sounds.
- Choose the correct spelling. I stayed inside ___ it was raining. (beacause / because / becuase / becos) → becausePrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky sound.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a word spelled two ways and ask which looks right, then why.
- Share the objective: Year 3/4 spelling words, part 1 (accident to guide). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Clue: a chart that shows the days, weeks and months. Which spelling is correct?
- Step 1: The word that fits the clue is "calendar".
- Step 2: It ends in -ar.
- Step 3: So the answer is: calendar
- Answer: calendar
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Clue: someone who shows you the way. Which spelling is correct? (giude / guide / gide / guyde) → guidePrompt: Work out the word from the clue, then say it slowly, one syllable at a time.
- One word in this sentence is spelt wrongly. Which one? Her family runs a small bakery busness. (bakery / busness / runs / small) → busnessPrompt: Read the sentence slowly, one word at a time.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- The word between the stars is spelt wrongly. Type it correctly. I *acidentally* deleted my drawing. → accidentallyPrompt: Clue: by mistake, not on purpose.
- One word in this sentence is spelt wrongly. Which one? Stars appeer when the sky gets dark. (Stars / gets / when / appeer) → appeerPrompt: Read the sentence slowly, one word at a time.
Watch out for
- Spelling every word exactly as it sounds.
- Learning a list for a test but not using the words in writing.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Year 2 tricky words (because, people, could…).
- 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
- Move on to: Year 3/4 spelling words, part 2 (heard to women).
- 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-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder