Proper Noun Town

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• On the board, make a list of student' examples of nouns.
• If a student names a proper noun, separate it from the list of common nouns (but do not capitalize it).
• After creating a list of about 15-20 nouns, tell students that they will be watching a video which explains more about a special type of noun.
• Ask students to think during the video about why the nouns they named were separated into two groups.
• Play the Noun TownVideo.
• Ask students why they think you made two columns instead of one.
• Start to capitalize the proper noun list and ask for a volunteer to give a name to each column.
• Ask students to turn and talk to their partners again.
• This time, ask them: What is a proper noun?
• Invite volunteers to share their definitions.
• Develop a class definition for proper nouns. Make sure to emphasize that Proper nounsRefer to specific people, places, or things.

Guided practise

• Introduce the Proper Noun Town project.
• Model the process of drawing a school and giving it a name. Use all lowercase letters and ask students if it looks right.
• Explain that if you called the building "a school", it would be a Common noun. However, it has a specific name, so the words all need capital letters.
• Allow students time to brainstorm lists of proper people, places, and things which could be proper nouns you would find in a town. Make a list of students' suggestions on the board.

Independent working time

• Distribute the white construction paper and art supplies.
• Have students draw common town buildings and label them with proper nouns.
• Circulate the room and monitor students as they work.