Introduction:

Begin the lesson by showing the students a video from BrainPop, “What is a Proper Noun?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jue_hq3gp4Q). After watching the video, ask students to explain in their own words what a proper noun is and how it differs from a common noun.

Lesson Outline:

Once students have a basic understanding of the concept, explain to them that proper nouns refer to specific people, places, and things, and all the words that make up a proper noun should be capitalized. Give the students a few examples, such as their own names and the name of the town they live in.

Then, introduce them to a few different exercises they can do to help them better understand proper nouns. Ask them to go through a worksheet together that helps them identify proper nouns and common nouns. You may want to use the worksheet from Education.com entitled “Proper Nouns” (https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/proper-nouns/).

Once they are finished with the worksheet, put them in pairs or small groups, and give each group a different age-appropriate book that contains proper nouns. Ask them to circle all of the proper nouns they find in the book and to write a few sentences that contain proper nouns.

Questioning:

As the students are completing their tasks, circulate the classroom and ask questions about the proper nouns they have identified and sentences they have written. Ask questions like, “What did you notice about the proper nouns in this text? What are some examples of proper nouns you found in your book? How is a proper noun different from a common noun?”

Assessment:

Once the students have completed the activities, walk around the classroom and make note of what students have correctly identified and which students need a bit more help. Use this assessment as a basis for further differentiation activities.

Differentiation:

When differentiating your lesson, engage the students further by having them come up with their own examples of proper nouns. Give pause for a few moments of think-pair-share, and then allow the students to share their ideas with the entire class. This gives the students a chance to prove what they know about proper nouns in a safe and comfortable environment.

In addition, for those students who may still need a bit more practice, give them an age-appropriate worksheet that helps reinforce the concept. You may want to use the worksheet from Education.com entitled “Name That Proper Noun!” (https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/name-that-proper-noun/).

Plenary:

Finally, finish by asking the students to summarize the key points they learned in the lesson. Ask the students to explain what a proper noun is and what it looks like. Then, give students the opportunity to ask any questions they have and review any concepts they may be unsure of.