English lesson plans

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on which way print runs, taught by tracking under the words rather than by explaining it.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on hearing separate sounds in spoken words, taught with no letters in the room at all.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on matching letters to sounds and blending them into a word, which is the moment reading starts.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on reading an emergent-reader text right through, with the point being that it made sense.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on answering who, what and where about a story, and on going back to the book to check.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on retelling a story with its key parts, using pictures to hold the order.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on naming the characters, the setting and the main events of a story, and telling them apart.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on noticing an unknown word in a story and asking about it, which is a habit rather than a skill.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on telling one kind of book from another by what is on the page, not by the cover.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on who writes the words and who makes the pictures, and what each of them decides.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on matching an illustration to the moment of the story it shows.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on comparing what happens to two characters in two stories, with same and different kept apart.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on joining in with a shared story and following it, which is a group skill as well as a reading one.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on answering questions about an information text and going back to the page to check.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on naming the main topic of an information text and telling it apart from one detail in it.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on describing the link between two things in an information text, using because.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on noticing a subject word in a fact book and asking what it means.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on naming the front cover, the back cover and the title page, and knowing what each is for.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on the author's job and the illustrator's job in a book of facts, where the pictures are often photographs.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on saying what an illustration in an information book shows and what part of the text it belongs to.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on finding the reason an author gives for a point, and telling a reason from a fact.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on comparing two information texts on the same topic and finding what each adds.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on following a shared information text with a purpose, and saying what was learned.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on writing an opinion about a book — naming it, saying what you think, and giving a reason.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on writing to inform — naming a topic and supplying facts that belong to it.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on narrating events in the order they happened and saying how you felt about them.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on responding to a reader's question by adding to your writing rather than defending it.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on preparing a piece for somebody else to read, and using a device to share it.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on a shared research project — a question, a source, and something written down.

A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on answering a question from memory or from a given source, and saying which it was.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on the rules of a group conversation, taught by breaking them and letting the class notice.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on confirming what you heard and asking when something did not make sense.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on asking a proper question when you need something, rather than waiting or guessing.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on describing a familiar thing so that a listener can picture it, and adding more when asked.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on adding a drawing that carries information the words did not.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on speaking audibly and in whole sentences, so that an idea survives the journey to a listener.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on telling nouns from verbs, and on adding -s to make more than one.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on the two marks that bracket a sentence, taught by finding sentences that are missing them.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on using the sentence around a word to work out what it means.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on sorting words into categories and noticing that close words are not the same word.

A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on taking a word from a shared book and putting it into your own speech and writing.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the capital and the end mark that bracket a sentence, and on what each one tells a reader to do.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on segmenting and blending spoken words, with the middle vowel given the attention it needs.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the two ways English makes a long vowel, and on why the same letter says two different things.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on fluency — reading accurately and smoothly enough that the meaning survives the decoding.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on asking and answering questions about a story, with the answer traced back to the sentence.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on retelling a story with its key details and then naming the message behind them.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on describing characters, settings and events using details taken from the text.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on finding the words a writer chose to make you feel or picture something.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on identifying who is speaking at each point in a story, and telling the narrator from the characters.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on using illustrations together with the words to describe a story's characters and events.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on comparing the adventures of characters in two stories, keeping same and different apart.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on reading a whole story or poem at grade level and holding it together to the end.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on answering questions about an information text and finding the sentence that proves it.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on naming the main topic of an information text and retelling the details that support it.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on describing the connection between two events, ideas or pieces of information.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on asking questions to clarify a word's meaning, and using the text around it first.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the parts of an information book that let you find a fact without reading the whole thing.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on distinguishing information that came from the pictures from information that came from the words.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on using illustrations and details together to describe an information text's key ideas.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on identifying the reasons an author gives to support a point, and telling a reason from a repeat.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on comparing two information texts on the same topic and identifying what each adds.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on reading a whole information text at grade level and holding the facts together.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on writing an opinion piece that names the book, states an opinion, gives a reason and closes.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on writing an informative piece that names a topic, supplies facts about it and closes.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on writing a narrative with two events in order, some detail and a sense of ending.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on responding to a question from a reader by adding a detail to a piece already written.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on using a computer with a partner to produce and publish a short piece of writing.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on taking part in a shared research project where each pair contributes one part.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on answering a question from memory and from a provided source, and saying which was which.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the rules of a discussion and on responding to the person who spoke before you.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on asking and answering questions about the key details of a text read aloud.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on asking and answering questions to get more information or clear up confusion.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on describing people, places, things and events with relevant details, expressing ideas clearly.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on adding drawings or visuals to a description to clarify ideas, thoughts and feelings.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on producing complete sentences when the situation calls for it, and knowing when it does.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the parts of a sentence — nouns, verbs and adjectives — and on making them agree.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on capitalising names and dates, using commas in a list, and spelling with what you know.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on using sentence context, common affixes and root words to work out an unknown word.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on sorting words into categories, defining by attribute, and telling near-synonyms apart.

A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on using words learned from texts and conversations, including simple conjunctions.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on long vowel teams, common prefixes and suffixes, and the irregular words that ignore both.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on reading aloud accurately and with expression, and self-correcting when meaning breaks.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on answering the six question words about a story and showing where the answer came from.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on recounting a fable or folktale and stating the lesson it teaches.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on describing how characters respond to major events and challenges in a story.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on how words and phrases supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem or song.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on the overall structure of a story: what a beginning introduces and what an ending concludes.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on the differences between characters' points of view, and on reading each in a different voice.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on using illustrations and words together to understand characters, setting and plot.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on comparing two versions of the same story from different authors or cultures.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on reading a whole grade-level story or poem independently and holding it together.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on answering who, what, where, when, why and how questions about an information text.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on identifying the main topic of a multi-paragraph text and of each paragraph within it.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on describing the connection between historical events, scientific ideas or steps in a procedure.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on working out the meaning of words and phrases in a text about a particular subject.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on using captions, bold print, subheadings, indexes and electronic menus to find facts.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on identifying the main purpose of a text — what the author wants to answer, explain or describe.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on using images — diagrams, maps and photographs — to clarify what a text is saying.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on describing how the reasons an author gives support specific points in a text.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on comparing the most important points presented by two texts on the same topic.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on reading a whole grade-level information text independently and holding its parts together.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on writing an opinion piece with reasons joined by because, and and also.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on writing an informative report that introduces a topic, uses facts and definitions, and concludes.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on writing a narrative with a sequence of events, details, feelings and a proper ending.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on strengthening writing by revising for detail and then editing for correctness.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on using digital tools with peers to produce and publish writing, including collaborating.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on taking part in a shared research project and producing a report from several sources.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on recalling information from experience and gathering it from sources to answer a question.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on discussion rules and on linking a comment explicitly to what somebody else said.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on recounting the key details of information presented aloud or through other media.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on asking and answering questions about what a speaker says to clarify or get more detail.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on telling a story or recounting an experience with relevant, descriptive details and clear speech.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on creating an audio recording or visual display to clarify a story or a set of facts.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on producing complete sentences to provide detail or clarification when the situation calls for it.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on collective nouns, irregular plurals, irregular past tense verbs and adverbs.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on capitalising holidays and product names, apostrophes for contractions and possessives, and spelling patterns.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on comparing formal and informal ways of saying the same thing, and choosing between them.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on working out unknown words from context, prefixes, root words, compounds and a glossary.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on real-life connections between words and on distinguishing closely related verbs and adjectives.

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on using words acquired from reading and conversation, including adjectives and adverbs, to describe.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on decoding multisyllable words using syllable patterns, Latin suffixes and known roots.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on reading aloud with accuracy, phrasing and expression, using context to self-correct.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on asking and answering questions and referring explicitly to the text as the basis for an answer.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on recounting stories and determining the central message, lesson or moral, and how the details convey it.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on describing characters' traits, motivations and feelings, and how their actions drive events.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on distinguishing literal from non-literal language in a story, poem or play.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on the parts of stories, plays and poems and how each part builds on the ones before.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on distinguishing your own point of view from that of the narrator or the characters.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on explaining how a story's illustrations contribute to its mood, characters and setting.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on comparing themes, settings and plots in stories by the same author about similar characters.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on reading stories, dramas and poetry at the top of the grades 2-3 band independently.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on answering questions about an information text and referring explicitly to it.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on determining the main idea of a text and explaining how key details support it.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on describing relationships in a text using language that pertains to time, sequence and cause.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on working out general academic and subject-specific words and phrases in a text.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on using text features and search tools to locate information efficiently.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on distinguishing your own point of view from that of the author of a text.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on using illustrations and words together to show where, when, why and how events happen.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on describing the logical connection between sentences and paragraphs in a text.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on comparing the most important points and key details in two texts on the same topic.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on reading history, science and technical texts at the top of the grades 2-3 band.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on writing an opinion piece with an organised structure, reasons and linking words.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on writing an informative text grouped into sections, with headings, facts and definitions.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on writing a narrative with dialogue, descriptions of actions and feelings, and a sense of closure.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on producing writing whose development and organisation suit its task, purpose and audience.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on the three stages of producing a piece — planning, revising and editing — and what each is for.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on using technology to produce and publish writing and to interact with others.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on conducting a short research project that builds knowledge about a topic.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on taking brief notes from sources and sorting evidence into provided categories.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on writing routinely over extended time frames and in single sittings, and on what each demands.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on preparing for a discussion by reading beforehand and bringing what you found.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on determining the main ideas and supporting details of something read aloud or presented in media.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on asking and answering questions about information from a speaker, with elaboration and detail.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on reporting on a topic or text with facts and relevant details, at an understandable pace.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on creating audio recordings and adding visual displays that add detail or emphasis.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on speaking in complete sentences and recognising when formal English is called for.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on simple, compound and complex sentences, and the conjunctions that build them.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on capitalising titles, using commas in addresses and dialogue, and checking a spelling.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on choosing words and phrases for effect and on recognising the conventions of spoken and written English.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on working out unknown words from context, affixes, known roots and a dictionary.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on distinguishing literal from figurative meanings and on the shades between related words.

A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on using accurate words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on using letter-sound correspondences, syllabication and morphology to read unfamiliar multisyllable words.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on reading longer prose and poetry aloud with accuracy, appropriate rate and expression.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on drawing inferences from a text and quoting the details that support them.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on determining a theme from details in a text and summarising the text itself.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on describing a character, setting or event in depth, drawing on specific details.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on the meaning of words and phrases in a text, including figures of speech and allusions to mythology.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on the structural elements of poems and drama and the differences between them and prose.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on comparing first- and third-person narrations and the different points of view they allow.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on connecting a written story or drama to a visual or oral presentation of the same text.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on comparing themes and patterns of events in stories, myths and traditional literature from different cultures.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on reading stories, drama and poetry in the grades 4-5 band with growing independence.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on referring to details and examples and drawing inferences from an information text.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on determining the main idea of an information text, explaining its support, and summarising.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on explaining events, procedures, ideas or concepts, including what happened and why.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on determining the meaning of academic and domain-specific words in a grade-4 topic text.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on identifying the structure of a text: chronology, comparison, cause and effect, or problem and solution.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on comparing a firsthand and a secondhand account of the same event or topic.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on interpreting information presented visually or quantitatively and connecting it to the text.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on explaining how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on integrating information from two texts on one topic in order to write or speak about it.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on reading history, science and technical texts in the grades 4-5 band with growing independence.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on writing an opinion piece with grouped, supported reasons and a linked conclusion.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on writing an explanatory text with grouped information, examples, definitions and precise vocabulary.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on writing narratives with dialogue, description and pacing that develop experiences and events.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on producing clear, coherent writing whose development and organisation fit its task, purpose and audience.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on planning, revising and editing with guidance, focusing each revision on one named problem.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on using technology to produce and publish writing and to collaborate, including typing a full page.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on conducting short research projects that investigate different aspects of a topic.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on taking notes, paraphrasing, categorising information and listing sources.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on drawing evidence from literary and informational texts to support analysis and reflection.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on writing routinely over extended and shorter time frames for a range of tasks and audiences.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on collaborative discussion: coming prepared, following agreed roles, and carrying out assigned ones.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on paraphrasing portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on identifying the reasons and evidence a speaker gives to support particular points.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on reporting on a topic or telling a story with an organised structure and supporting facts.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on adding audio recordings and visual displays to a presentation to enhance main ideas.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on differentiating contexts that call for formal English and situations where informal is appropriate.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on relative pronouns, progressive tenses and correcting sentence fragments and run-ons.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on commas and quotation marks in quoted speech, commas before a coordinating conjunction, and spelling.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on choosing precise words, punctuating for effect, and matching style to the situation.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on using context, common Greek and Latin affixes and roots, and reference materials to work out words.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on figurative language, idioms, adages and proverbs, and on antonyms and synonyms.

A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on using general academic and domain-specific words accurately, including words signalling precise actions and states.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on using phonics, syllabication and morphology together to read any unfamiliar word in context.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on reading aloud so that the phrasing and expression carry the meaning to a listener.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on quoting a text accurately when explaining it and when drawing inferences from it.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on determining a theme from how characters respond to challenges, and summarising the text.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on comparing two characters, settings or events in a story, drawing on specific details.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on the meaning of words and phrases in a text, including similes, metaphors and what a word suggests.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on explaining how a series of chapters, scenes or stanzas fits together to make the whole.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone or beauty of a text.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on comparing stories in the same genre in their approaches to similar themes and topics.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on reading stories, drama and poetry at the top of the grades 4-5 band independently.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on quoting accurately from an information text when explaining it and drawing inferences.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on determining two or more main ideas of a text, explaining their support, and summarising.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on explaining the relationships between individuals, events, ideas or concepts in a text.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on determining the meaning of academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a subject text.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on comparing the overall structure of two texts on the same topic.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on analysing multiple accounts of the same event, noting important similarities and differences in point of view.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on drawing on information from several print or digital sources to answer a question efficiently.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on explaining how an author uses reasons and evidence, identifying which evidence supports which points.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on integrating information from several texts on one topic in order to write or speak knowledgeably.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on reading history, science and technical texts at the top of the grades 4-5 band independently.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on writing an opinion piece with logically ordered reasons supported by facts and details.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on writing an explanatory text using formatting, illustrations and multimedia where they aid comprehension.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on writing narratives with transitional words and phrases that manage the sequence and the pacing.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on producing clear, coherent writing whose development, organisation and style fit its task and audience.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on strengthening writing through planning, revising, editing, rewriting or trying a new approach.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on using technology to produce and publish writing, including typing two pages in a single sitting.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on conducting short research projects that use several sources and build knowledge through investigation.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on summarising and paraphrasing information from sources and providing a list of them.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on drawing evidence from literary and informational texts to support analysis and research.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on writing routinely over extended and shorter time frames for a range of tasks and audiences.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on collaborative discussion: preparing, following rules, posing questions and elaborating on others' remarks.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on summarising a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on summarising the points a speaker makes and explaining how each is supported.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on reporting on a topic or presenting an opinion with a logical sequence and supporting facts.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on including multimedia components and visual displays to enhance the development of main ideas.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on adapting speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English where appropriate.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on the perfect verb tenses, using them to convey sequence, and correcting inappropriate shifts.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on commas after an introductory element, around a parenthetical, and in a series.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on expanding, combining and reducing sentences for meaning, reader interest and style.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on using context, Greek and Latin affixes and reference works to determine word meanings.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on figurative language, idioms, adages and proverbs, and the relationships between words.

A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on using academic vocabulary, including words that signal contrast, addition and logical relationships.