Nouns All Around: Common and Proper!

English Language Arts Grades 1st Grade 12:13 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's learn about nouns! This lesson will help you understand common and proper nouns. We'll learn what they are, how to tell them apart, and have fun with a noun quiz!

Video Resource

Common and Proper Nouns for Kids

Homeschool Pop

Duration: 12:13
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Nouns are words that name people, places, or things.
  • Common nouns name a type of person, place, or thing.
  • Proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing and always start with a capital letter.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define a noun as a person, place, or thing.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between common and proper nouns.
  • Students will be able to identify common and proper nouns in sentences and lists.
  • Students will be able to correctly capitalize proper nouns.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about nouns. Explain that a noun is a person, place, or thing. Show examples of people, places, and things and have students identify them as nouns.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Watch the Homeschool Pop video "Common and Proper Nouns for Kids" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQsZr8yrsno). Pause the video at key points (e.g., examples of common and proper nouns) to check for understanding and ask questions.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After watching the video, review the definitions of common and proper nouns. Use the examples from the video and provide additional examples. Write common and proper nouns on the board and have students identify each type.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Give students a worksheet with a list of nouns. Have them write 'C' next to common nouns and 'P' next to proper nouns. Alternatively, use index cards and have them write nouns, then sort the cards into 'Common' and 'Proper' piles.
  • Wrap Up and Quiz (10 mins)
    Review the key concepts again. Administer the multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess student understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Noun Hunt
    Have students look around the classroom and identify common nouns. Then, have them think of proper nouns related to those common nouns (e.g., common noun: 'school,' proper noun: '[School's Name]').
  • Sentence Scramble
    Write simple sentences on strips of paper, including both common and proper nouns. Cut the sentences apart and have students reassemble them, identifying the nouns and categorizing them.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a noun?
  • What is the difference between a common and a proper noun?
  • Why do proper nouns start with a capital letter?
  • Can you think of some common nouns?
  • Can you think of some proper nouns?

Skills Developed

  • Listening Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Vocabulary Development
  • Grammar Skills (Nouns and Capitalization)
  • Categorization

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which one is a noun?

Correct Answer: Dog

Question 2:

Which of these is a common noun?

Correct Answer: Dog

Question 3:

Which of these is a proper noun?

Correct Answer: New York

Question 4:

Proper nouns always start with a...

Correct Answer: capital letter

Question 5:

Which sentence has a proper noun?

Correct Answer: We went to Disney World.

Question 6:

Which of these is a place?

Correct Answer: Park

Question 7:

What kind of noun is 'teacher'?

Correct Answer: Common

Question 8:

What kind of noun is 'January'?

Correct Answer: Proper

Question 9:

Which word is NOT a noun?

Correct Answer: Run

Question 10:

Which is the proper way to write a proper noun?

Correct Answer: London

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A ________ is a person, place, or thing.

Correct Answer: noun

Question 2:

A common noun names a _______ of person, place, or thing.

Correct Answer: type

Question 3:

A proper noun names a ________ person, place, or thing.

Correct Answer: specific

Question 4:

Proper nouns always start with a ________ letter.

Correct Answer: capital

Question 5:

'City' is a ________ noun.

Correct Answer: common

Question 6:

'Denver' is a ________ noun.

Correct Answer: proper

Question 7:

My _______ is my Mom.

Correct Answer: mom

Question 8:

My ______ is Friday

Correct Answer: day

Question 9:

______ and dad are good

Correct Answer: mom

Question 10:

The ______ starts with j

Correct Answer: Jump

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.3:Students will capitalize the first letter of a sentence, proper names, and months and days of the week. 1.4.W.1:Students will use grade-level vocabulary to communicate ideas through speaking and writing.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
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