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5 Noun Lessons to Teach in 1st Grade – Part 1: Understanding Nouns

September by Frogs, Fairies, and Lesson Plans |

Teaching nouns in 1st Grade

If you are getting ready to teach nouns in 1st grade, you’ll be introducing the concept of what a noun is, then, introducing singular and plural nouns, common and proper nouns, and finally, possessive nouns.

In this first post, we’ll look at introducing nouns in 1st grade. I’ll share my teaching nouns ideas, activities, and anchor charts!


➽  For sorting types of nouns click here.

➽  For teaching singular/plural and common/proper nouns click here.

➽ For teaching possessive nouns click here.


Lesson 1 – I can tell what a noun is.

This is the first mini lesson I teach about nouns. It is very basic, and starts with this simple anchor chart.

Anchor Chart for Teaching nouns in 1st grade.

Here’s what I tell my students:

“Did you know that words have jobs just like people do? It’s true! This year you are going to become experts at telling what kind of job each word does! Today I’m going to tell you about words whose job is to be a noun. Nouns are the words that name people, animals, places, and things. 

Here’s an example of a noun on this card: desk (show card). The job of this word is to tell me the name of this piece of furniture (point to a desk). When a word tells you the name of something, that word is a noun.”

Start with a stack of index cards with nouns and other words written on them.

Noun flashcards to be sorted in Noun Anchor Chart during mini-lesson.

Take a card and talk out loud to show your students your thought process: 

“The word on this card says girls. The job of this word is to name these people in our room (point to the girls). So the word girls is a noun.”

Place the card on your anchor chart.

Proceed with a few more cards, modeling your thinking, then give students a chance to participate.

At the end of your lesson, your chart might look like this.

Anchor chart for Teaching Nouns in 1st Grade

Independent Practice

When my mini-lesson is over, I assign a sorting activity similar to the one we did together.

Here’s the one I made to use in my classroom. You can easily do the same thing using index cards with words, and a sheet of paper that says “Nouns” .

Literacy Center and Station Noun Sorting Activity for 1st Grade

Students decide if the cards belong on the Noun Mat, or if they stay off!

I always walk around and ask students “Why did you put this card on the Noun Mat? Why did you leave this card out?”

Literacy Center and Station Noun Sorting Activity for 1st Grade

This sorting activity also has a Noun Sheet in which students record the nouns that they found, then use the nouns in sentences.

Group activity for sorting nouns and using them in sentences
Try this activity in Language Arts Centers!

 

Here’s a cut and paste activity that’s also in the packet I made.

Nouns in 1st Grade cut and paste activity.
Students sort cards and only glue nouns on the chart.

Nouns in 1st Grade cut and paste activity.
After they sort the cards, there’s a short writing activity.

Try some of my Language Arts activities to see if they are a good fit in your classroom!

 
1st and 2nd Grade Parts Of Speech 
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You can preview my Noun packets to see everything that’s included.

Teaching Nouns in First Grade - Packet with worksheets and games.
See full preview here.
Teaching Nouns in Second Grade - Packet with worksheets and games.
See full preview here.

I hope you found these ideas valuable!

Filed Under: Language Arts, Nouns, Parts of Speech

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Hi, I’m Adriana, a meticulous, passionate, creative being, with a love for teaching and learning. I write lessons that are simple and efficient, and make resources that are rigorous and engaging. Please enjoy this collection of ideas that I’ve used successfully over the years.

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#igotthis
This is where I have lived since June of 2022. I’d forgotten how long it takes before the place where you live becomes your home. The thing I’ve missed the most since moving, is the intimate relationship I had with my garden. I knew the little special places where I had worked on, the new plants coming to live, and that somehow grounded me. It hurt to leave that behind. 

This Mother’s Day, I asked my daughters (who live on their own) if they would help me make a little garden around my mailbox. I wanted to make new memories that involved all of us again. I loved spending that time together and I know that this little garden will give me joy for years to come.

I’m learning to be patient and to enjoy not having it all figured out. Just like I always approached my classrooms. It never bothered me to start the year with blank walls. I found that having room to grow together with my students was incredibly more rewarding. 

Happy new beginnings if you’ve moved schools, grades, or even had to go to a different classroom. You’ll make it your home once again. ❤️
Timing is everything. We got the gorgeous backdrop Timing is everything. We got the gorgeous backdrop plus the plane crossing the sky at that exact moment. #poçosdecaldas
Feeling the journaling vibes like crazy today. It’s a cloudy, rainy 60F, and if you know me, you know I’m struggling. I don’t do well under cloudy skies.  It’s specially hard when the weather teases me with gorgeous spring days and then takes them away. 

Good thing I know these rainy days - literal and figurative ones - are necessary, passing moments. Disappointment makes me look inwards and helps me reflect on where I mismanaged my expectations. 

I’m just grateful that I have tools to help me get through tough times. One of those tools is to elevate the energetic levels around me by adding fire, sound, scent, and fresh air to my environment. 

If you have these kinds of days, try lighting a candle, playing music, turning on a fan or opening a window. Make yourself a cozy cup of whatever you like, and watch how supported you’ll feel.
The laptop will ALWAYS be scooted to make room for The laptop will ALWAYS be scooted to make room for the cat. I can feel Milo’s little legs erratically poking my thighs, revealing cat dreams in progress. His warmth and occasional purring are worth the discomfort of crooking my neck to work. He’s lovely, and I adore him. IYKYK ❤️
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Being confident: Knowing you are worth the mainten Being confident: Knowing you are worth the maintenance you require, and giving yourself the experiences that make you whole. No permission or company needed. 
#igotthis
This is where I have lived since June of 2022. I’d forgotten how long it takes before the place where you live becomes your home. The thing I’ve missed the most since moving, is the intimate relationship I had with my garden. I knew the little special places where I had worked on, the new plants coming to live, and that somehow grounded me. It hurt to leave that behind. 

This Mother’s Day, I asked my daughters (who live on their own) if they would help me make a little garden around my mailbox. I wanted to make new memories that involved all of us again. I loved spending that time together and I know that this little garden will give me joy for years to come.

I’m learning to be patient and to enjoy not having it all figured out. Just like I always approached my classrooms. It never bothered me to start the year with blank walls. I found that having room to grow together with my students was incredibly more rewarding. 

Happy new beginnings if you’ve moved schools, grades, or even had to go to a different classroom. You’ll make it your home once again. ❤️
Timing is everything. We got the gorgeous backdrop Timing is everything. We got the gorgeous backdrop plus the plane crossing the sky at that exact moment. #poçosdecaldas
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Good thing I know these rainy days - literal and figurative ones - are necessary, passing moments. Disappointment makes me look inwards and helps me reflect on where I mismanaged my expectations. 

I’m just grateful that I have tools to help me get through tough times. One of those tools is to elevate the energetic levels around me by adding fire, sound, scent, and fresh air to my environment. 

If you have these kinds of days, try lighting a candle, playing music, turning on a fan or opening a window. Make yourself a cozy cup of whatever you like, and watch how supported you’ll feel.

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