Introduction (5 minutes):

Begin the lesson by explaining to the students what a proper noun is. Explain that a proper noun is a unique word used to refer to a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are always capitalized, for example: Paris, Mr. Jones, or June. Offer a few examples and bring attention to the capitalization of the words.

Then, show the students a simple video related to proper nouns. This video could be found at “The Magic School Bus: What Are Proper Nouns?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-62yGn-mfM)

Lesson Outline (25 minutes):

After showing the video clip, ask the students to brainstorm a list of proper nouns. Provide examples of proper nouns that could potentially be a part of the list, like Harry Potter, Japan, or Tuesday. Once the list is generated, have the students write down all the proper nouns on a worksheet to reinforce their knowledge. This worksheet can be found at “Proper Noun Worksheet” (www.superteacherworksheets.com/grammar-proper-nouns.html).

Once the worksheet is complete, review with the class by asking questions about various proper nouns and how they should be written. Introduce proper nouns involving titles or occupations. For example, ask questions like: “Is France written with a capital F?” or “Does Ms. Smith use the same capital letter as Mr. Smith?”

Questioning (10 minutes):

Have the students work together in small groups to create a list of proper nouns. This will help the students recognize how proper nouns are written with a capital letter at the beginning of the word. Ask the groups some additional questions, such as:

“What is the capital letter at the beginning of your name?”

“What is the name of the day we are currently in?”

“What year is it today?”

Assessment (5 minutes):

Administer a quick assessment to evaluate the students’ understanding of proper nouns. This can be done through a simple written assessment, in which the students identify the list of proper nouns and capitalize the first letters of the words.

Differentiation (5 minutes):

For those who find this topic more challenging, break the students into small groups and have them compete against one another in identifying proper nouns. This will help the students better understand this concept, while also providing an inclusive environment.

Plenary (5 minutes):

At the end of the lesson, recap what the students have learned and review key terms and definitions. Then, have the students provide examples of proper nouns and provide a short explanation as to why they are written with a capital letter at the beginning.