English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
-ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent)
Spelling
CCSS L.5.2.EEngland: Y5/6 Spelling (-ant, -ance, -ancy, -ent, -ence, -ency)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: -ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent).
- 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: Adding -ation: inform → information, admire → admiration
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
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 (Adding -ation: inform → information, admire → admiration). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Add -ation to the verb "explore" to make a noun. Type it. → explorationPrompt: Does the verb end in e?
- Which spelling is correct? (explorasion / exploretion / exploration) → explorationPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
- Turn the verb in brackets into an -ation noun to fill the gap. Type the noun. We sent an ___ to every family in the class. (invite) → invitationPrompt: Find the verb in brackets.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a word spelled two ways and ask which looks right, then why.
- Share the objective: -ant or -ent? -ance or -ence? (observant, innocent). 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: Which ending completes the word? eleg___ (graceful and stylish)
- Step 1: Use -ant/-ance/-ancy if a related word has a clear /a/ or /ay/ sound there (observation → observant). Use -ent/-ence/-ency after soft c, soft g or qu (innocent, frequent). Otherwise, learn the word.
- Step 2: elegant
- Step 3: So the answer is: ant
- Answer: ant
- 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.
- Which ending completes the word? independ___ (doing things for yourself) (ant / ent) → entPrompt: Is there a related word you know (observation, hesitation)? Listen to the vowel.
- Turn the adjective "important" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it. → importancePrompt: Keep the same vowel: -ant goes to -ance/-ancy; -ent goes to -ence/-ency.
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.
- Turn the adjective "patient" into a noun ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency. Type it. → patiencePrompt: Keep the same vowel: -ant goes to -ance/-ancy; -ent goes to -ence/-ency.
- Which ending completes the word? frequ___ (happening often) (ant / ent) → entPrompt: Is there a related word you know (observation, hesitation)? Listen to the vowel.
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: Adding -ation: inform → information, admire → admiration.
- 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