Introduction of Articles

 

Lesson Plan of Introduction of Articles

Subject English

Grade V

Students` Learning Outcomes

• Recall and apply the rules for the use of ‘a’ and ‘an’.
• Choose between ‘a’ or ‘an’ before words that start with mute/silent consonant letters.
• Identify and use the definite article ‘the’.
• Differentiate between use of definite and indefinite articles.

Information for Teachers

• There are only three articles in English language: as; ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’.
• ‘A’ and ‘an’ are the indefinite articles.
• They refer to unspecific nouns.
• Indefinite articles (‘a’ and ‘an’) are always used with singular nouns.
• A is used when the noun you are referring to begins with a consonant ( b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y or z) for example: as; a book, a holiday, a suitcase, a country, etc.
• ‘A’ is also used before words that start with a vowel but the vowel sounds as a consonant. Examples: as; a university, a unit (the words start with a vowel but the vowel u sounds as the consonant y)
• ‘An’ is used when the noun you are referring to begins with a vowel (a, e, I, o, u). Example: as; an eagle, an island, an owl, an umbrella.
• ‘An’ is also used before words in which a consonant letter is silent and the word starts with a vowel sound. Examples: as; an hour, (The consonant letters are silent and the words starts with the vowel sound o)
• Definite article ‘the’ is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. ‘The’ is used before a specific object that both the speaker and the listener know. For example: as;

1. The car over there is fast.
2. The teacher is very good.

• The first time you speak of something use ‘a’ or ‘an’, the next time you repeat that object use the, for example: as;

1. I live in a house. This house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
2. I ate in a Chines restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

• While teaching the lesson, the teacher should also consult textbook at all steps wherein and whenever it is required.

Material / Resources

Writing board, chalk/marker, duster, textbook

Introduction

• Start the lesson by asking students some questions one by one: as;

1. What are the two articles?

• Are the articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ used before singular nouns or plural nouns?

1. Do the words   which start with consonant letters take ‘a’ or ‘an’?
2. What are consonant letters?
3. What are vowel letters?
4. Do words which start with vowel letters take ‘a’ or ‘an’?

• Write an example of indefinite article an (e.g. an aeroplane) on the writing board. Ask the students to give more examples. Write the examples on the writing board.
• Correct the students if they give a wrong example.
• Correct the students if they give a wrong example.
• Write an example of indefinite article ‘a’ e.g. ‘a butterfly, on the writing board
• Ask the students to give more examples. Write the examples on the writing board.
• Reinforce that the article ‘an’ is also used before the words that start with a consonant letter ‘But’ the consonant is silent, the next letter in such a vowel sound.
• Write and pronounce examples of the words that start with mute consonant letters, So that the students understand.
• Tell the students that the article ‘a’ is also used before the words that start with a vowel letter ‘BUT’ the vowel sounds as a consonant.
• Write the examples of such words on the writing board and pronounce them.

Development

Activity 1

• Write 7 sentences on the writing board (see the sample at the end of the lesson plan).
• Tell the students that they have to add ‘a’ or ‘an’ before the words depending on the sound of the first letter of each word.
• Remind the students that a word may start with a consonant letter but it can be silent. A word may start with a vowel letter but sounds like a consonant. Take examples of word given in the textbook.
• Ask the students to pronounce each word slowly to them to know the sound of the first letter.
• Repeat instruction, if necessary. Provide help to the students while they are doing their work.

Activity 2

• Write, on the writing board, a sentence taken from the textbook which has definite article ‘the’.
• Tell the class that in addition to ‘a’ and ‘an’, there is another article ‘the’ in English. ‘The’ is called definite article. Underline ‘the’ in the sentence written on the writing board.
• Teach the use of definite article (see information for Teachers). Write examples on the writing board while you are explaining.

Sum up/Conclusion

• Quickly review the lesson by asking the students questions like: as;

1. What are ‘a’ and ‘an’ called?
2. What is ‘the’ called?
3. Which article is used when a word starts with a vowel?

• Which article is used when a word starts with a vowel but the vowel sounds like a consonant? Etc.

Assessment

• Asses students` ability to recall and apply the rules for the use of articles (‘a’ and ‘an’) through their correct responses during introduction.
• Assess students` ability to choose between’ a’ or ‘an’ through the answers written in the activity 1.
• Assess students` ability to choose between ‘a’ or ‘an’ before words that start with silent consonant letters through the activity 1.
• Involve the students in solving the problems given in the exercise at the end of unit/chapter of the textbook.

Follow up

• Ask the students to find 5 sentences using the article ‘the’ from their textbooks and write in their notebooks.