A, An, and The: Learning About Articles!

English Language Arts Grades 1st Grade 10:09 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's learn about the special words 'a', 'an', and 'the'! This lesson will help you understand how to use these words correctly in your sentences.

Video Resource

The Articles for Kids | Homeschool Pop

Homeschool Pop

Duration: 10:09
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Articles: a, an, and the
  • Indefinite Articles: a and an
  • Definite Article: the
  • Vowels and Consonants

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the articles 'a', 'an', and 'the' in sentences.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between indefinite (a, an) and definite (the) articles.
  • Students will be able to correctly use 'a' and 'an' based on the following word's beginning sound.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by introducing the topic of articles. Ask students if they have heard of the words 'a', 'an', and 'the' before. Explain that these are special words called articles that we use all the time.
  • Video Viewing (9 mins)
    Play the YouTube video 'The Articles for Kids | Homeschool Pop'. Encourage students to pay attention to how 'a', 'an', and 'the' are used in different sentences.
  • Discussion: What are Articles? (5 mins)
    After the video, ask students what they learned about articles. Review that 'a' and 'an' are indefinite articles, used when we are talking about something general. 'The' is a definite article, used when we are talking about something specific.
  • Activity: 'A' or 'An'? (10 mins)
    Write a list of nouns on the board. Have students decide whether to use 'a' or 'an' before each noun (e.g., apple, dog, elephant, cat, orange). Review the rules of when to use 'an' before vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
  • Activity: Using 'The' (10 mins)
    Show pictures of familiar objects in the classroom (e.g., the door, the window, the table). Explain that we use 'the' when we are talking about something specific that everyone knows. Have students create sentences using 'the' with these objects.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Summarize the main points of the lesson. Remind students that 'a' and 'an' are used for general things, and 'the' is used for specific things. Answer any remaining questions.

Interactive Exercises

  • Article Sort
    Prepare cards with different nouns. Have students sort the cards into three groups: words that need 'a', words that need 'an', and words where 'the' might be used depending on the context.
  • Sentence Completion
    Provide sentences with blanks where the article should be. Have students fill in the blanks with the correct article (a, an, or the).

Discussion Questions

  • What is an article?
  • When do we use 'a'?
  • When do we use 'an'?
  • When do we use 'the'?
  • Can you give an example of when you would use 'a' in a sentence?
  • Can you give an example of when you would use 'an' in a sentence?
  • Can you give an example of when you would use 'the' in a sentence?

Skills Developed

  • Identifying articles
  • Using articles correctly in sentences
  • Differentiating between definite and indefinite articles

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of these is an article?

Correct Answer: A

Question 2:

We use 'an' before words that start with a...

Correct Answer: Vowel

Question 3:

Which article do we use for something specific?

Correct Answer: The

Question 4:

Which sentence is correct?

Correct Answer: I want an apple.

Question 5:

Which of these is an indefinite article?

Correct Answer: A

Question 6:

I saw _____ cat.

Correct Answer: a

Question 7:

Can you pass me _____ book?

Correct Answer: the

Question 8:

An apple is _____ fruit.

Correct Answer: a

Question 9:

Which of these is a vowel?

Correct Answer: E

Question 10:

I want _____ ice cream.

Correct Answer: an

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

'A' and 'an' are called _________ articles.

Correct Answer: indefinite

Question 2:

We use 'the' for something _________.

Correct Answer: specific

Question 3:

We use 'a' before words that start with a _________.

Correct Answer: consonant

Question 4:

A, E, I, O, and U are _________.

Correct Answer: vowels

Question 5:

I see _________ big dog.

Correct Answer: a

Question 6:

She ate _________ orange.

Correct Answer: an

Question 7:

Please close _________ door.

Correct Answer: the

Question 8:

My mom is _________ teacher.

Correct Answer: a

Question 9:

I have _________ idea!

Correct Answer: an

Question 10:

_________ sun is shining today.

Correct Answer: the

Educational Standards

1.5.R.2:Students will recognize parts of speech in sentences: nouns as concrete objects (i.e., people, places, and things), regular plural nouns, present-tense verbs as actions, color, size, and number adjectives, prepositions, the pronouns I, me, you, and we, the conjunctions and, or, and but, the adverbs too and very. 1.5.W.2:Students will use nouns, verbs, and adjectives to add clarity and variety to their writing. 1.4.W.1:Students will use grade-level vocabulary to communicate ideas through speaking and writing.

Teaching Materials

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