Lesson Plan
Date: 30/03/09
Subject: Literacy: NonFiction - Dictionaries
Time: 10:50 – 11:50
Total: 24
Class: 1P – Year 1
M:
12
F: 12
Lesson Objectives – in terms of knowledge, concepts and skills to be obtained
Learning Intention:
To use simple dictionaries to understand alphabetical organisation and learn some new words
Success Criteria:
Must: I can use a dictionary to help my understanding of how the alphabet is organised
Should: I can find words in a dictionary and write their definitions
Could: I can use a dictionary to find out new words and their definitions
Lesson Structure – Division of time and outline of introduction, body and plenary
Introduction:
Q: What is a dictionary?
Q: Why do we use dictionaries – think of how we use them in the classroom?
Explain that today we are going to be practicing our skills of using a dictionary.
Q: How are dictionaries organised? How would we know how to find a word?
Sit in a circle and see if we can go around the circle and say the alphabet
Look at LI and S2S
Activity 1:
Play the game on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/alphabet/index.shtml
Can children pick out the words in alphabetical order?
Activity 2:
Show children the activity sheets and explain that they will be working in their literacy
groups. We will be working in pairs, sharing one dictionary between two people. Explain that
they will need to look up the word, thinking about the organisation of the alphabet to find it in
the book. Then they need to write the definition or the phrase that appears underneath the
word in their dictionary. Q: What is a definition? At the bottom is a space where they can find
a word that they have never come across before and write it with the definition underneath.
Activity 3:
When children have completed their dictionary definitions sheet, they can do the cut and stick
activity where they have to put the book titles in order.
Plenary:
Share some dictionary definitions that the children have found and some of the new words
that the children found.
Look back at LI and S2S and celebrate successes
Links to NC & National Framework Strategies, cross-curricular themes etc
NC: English
En1: Speaking and listening:
1c) organise what they say
2a) sustain concentration
2c) make relevant comments
2d) listen to others’ reactions
2e) ask questions to clarify their understanding
3a) take turns when speaking
3b) relate their contributions to what has gone on before
3d) extend their ideas in the light of the discussion
10b) sharing ideas and experiences
En2: Reading:
1a) hear, identify, segment and blend phenomes in words
1b) sound and name the letters of the alphabet
1f) read on sight high-frequency words and other familiar words
1i) understand how word order affects meaning
1j) decipher new words, and confirm or check meaning
2a) use the organisational features of non-fiction texts to find information
2b)understand that texts about the same topic may contain different information
2c) use reference materials for different purposes
7a) print-based information texts, including those with continuous text and relevant
illustrations
7b) dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference materials
Primary Framework:
Non-Fiction: Unit 3: Recounts, Dictionaries
Key Vocabulary - to be put on board
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Dictionary
Alphabetical order
Definitions
Organisation
Resources
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LI and S2S on IWB
BBC Bitesize alphabet game
Dictionary definitions
differentiated 3 ways
Cut and stick book titles sheet
Differentiation – provisions for different abilities, SEN, EAL and G&T
The children will be working in same ability groups in pairs. Adult support will be
given where necessary, but independence and peer-support will be encouraged.
Assessment – Type and approach
 Assessment will be carried out in the form of questioning and understanding
of dictionaries and their purpose
 Can all children contribute to the alphabet in a circle?
 Can children put words in alphabetical order?
 Can children look up specific words in a dictionary and find their definitions?
 Can children find new words using a dictionary?
Connections to prior learning
Context of lesson in expected sequence
The children have done some story
writing, and some non-fiction on
instructions and recounts.
Next lesson we will be looking at Fairy
Tales in the context of our Fairy Tale day
Details of ICT and Health & Safety-where appropriate
The LI and S2S will be on the IWB. We will play a game on the BBC Bitesize
website, as a class.
Involvement of other adults
During this lesson the CT will be doing some pupil conferencing about maths, with
children from other year groups. The LSA will be working with the lower ability
group and I will work between the rest of the children, supporting where necessary.