Grade 1 · Lesson 64 — OR — a choice

U1 · Level One — Parts of Speech · Conjunctions (2 of 6) · blocked practice · 10–15 min · 18 slides · no Poodle book pages yet — Square One runs on remedial sheets
Anchor to leave them with: A conjunction joins.
ObjectiveStudents will oR — a choice.
Smallest pieceOr offers a choice between two things.
Spot test“What two things is it holding together?”
Why that test works'What two things is it holding together?' works because a conjunction cannot join one thing. If the child cannot name both sides, the word is not conjoining anything.
Why — in your own words
MaterialsMini-whiteboard + pen per student · Board or screen for the deck · Board space kept clear for the VIP — it stays up all lesson · Worksheet — Lesson 64 · Deck: G1_L064_… .pptx · If it breaks: Remedial sheet 17
Vocabulary — pre-pointedT3: conjunction = a joining word — it holds two things together
T2: identify = find and name
SlidePartOn screen / bookTeacher says Teacher does — point, click, clapStudents
1LaunchGrammar — Day 64(nothing yet — this is on screen as they come in and settle)Have Grammar — Day 64 up before they enter. Say nothing about it; it is doing its work by being there.See it on the way in. Know grammar is next.
2LaunchOR — a choice“Assalamu alaykum.”Greet and settle.Return the greeting.
3LaunchToday — Launch highlighted“Our plan.”Point down the five steps.Look.
Launch(no slide — retrieval)“Yesterday: and joins. Quick — one together.”60 seconds, no longer. Same language as when it was taught, a NEW example.
Note: SPIRAL. If they cannot do this, that is today's real work — stop and reteach with the sheet named against the error.
Answer together.
LaunchWhy — say it
ten seconds, off screen, in your own words
“We learn language so we can teach people about Allah.”Why this matters. Say it, do not read it. Ten seconds.
Note: Your words. A different reason every lesson, on purpose.
Listen.
4LaunchOr offers a choice between two things.“Or offers a choice between two things.”Say it slowly. This is the one idea of the day.
Note: CONFOUND CONTROLLED: Meaning, not just membership.
Listen.
5LaunchWhat we will do
· Yesterday: and joins.
· Or offers a choice between two things.
· The question we ask: “What two things is it holding together?”
· Then we find them together.
“Or offers a choice between two things. The question we ask ourselves is: What two things is it holding together?”Click once per line. Land on the question — it is the tool they keep.Listen.
6LaunchI am when you are.
AnswerWhat two things is it holding together? → yes
“I am when you are.. What two things is it holding together?”Ask it, answer it aloud together, then click.Answer together.
7I doToday — I do highlighted“Watch me do one — then I will leave it on the board.”Point to I do.Watch.
8I doI-do example
Watch me do one
the exact task, modelled — sentence · question · ring it · name it
“Which do you prefer, geography or geophysics?” … “What two things is it holding together?” … “or — a conjunction.” “Your turn: same question, on your board.”One click per move: the sentence · the question · ring the word and name it · hand it over. Do it exactly the way you want them to do it — this is the task they are about to do on their boards, not a different, easier one.
Note: Model the DOING, not only the thinking. The ring is the same mark they will make; the wording is the same wording you want back.
Watch. Hands still.
I do(board — build the VIP, then leave it up)(you are narrating each stage as you draw it — see the stages)Build on the BOARD, not the slide.
· Write Which do you prefer, geography or geophysics?
· ① Write the question underneath: What two things is it holding together?
· ② Try it on or — “__ or __” — it works
· ③ Ring or and name it: a conjunction
Then leave it up for the whole lesson.
Note: Walk it one click per step — this is the slide the teacher talks through, not one to flash. Leave the BOARD copy up; the slide can move on once they start, because the same strip is printed at the top of their sheet. Come back to it if anyone stalls.
Watch it being built. It stays there to look at.
9We doToday — We do highlighted“Together. Boards out.”Boards out.Boards ready.
We do(no slide — a student models, then turn and talk)“Watch him/her do one. Same question, out loud.” … “Now turn to your partner. One of you does the next one out loud, the other one checks the question was asked.”Student models first — pick someone you are confident will do it well; this first model sets the standard the class copies. Then turn and talk: 60 seconds, one item, and they swap roles. Listen for who says the question aloud and who just says an answer.
Note: This is the Interactive Modeling step 4 move. It is not in every lesson — only where a procedure is new. Start over if the class does not watch the model silently.
One models; then partners take turns.
10We doThe octarchy unanimously decided to invade Macedonia.
Answerfind the conjunction
“The octarchy unanimously decided to invade Macedonia.” … “What two things is it holding together?”Wait. Boards up on signal. Scan before you reveal.Write the answer, boards up.
11We doWhich do you prefer, geography or geophysics?
Answerfind the conjunction
“Which do you prefer, geography or geophysics?” … “What two things is it holding together?”Wait. Boards up on signal. Scan before you reveal.Write the answer, boards up.
12We doPhrases no phrases Clauses indep.
Answerfind the conjunction
“Phrases no phrases Clauses indep.” … “What two things is it holding together?”Wait. Boards up on signal. Scan before you reveal.Write the answer, boards up.
13We doThat sounds complicated at first, but it is not.
Answerfind the conjunction
“That sounds complicated at first, but it is not.” … “What two things is it holding together?”Wait. Boards up on signal. Scan before you reveal.Write the answer, boards up.
14You doExit directions
Before you start
· Sheet and pencil
· Ask the question on every item
· Find the conjunction in each one
· Do all of them, then look up
· Wait for “go”.
procedure — given standing still, before anyone moves
Worksheet — Lesson 64
“Before you move. Sheet and pencil. Ask the question on every item. Find the conjunction in each one. Do all of them, then look up. When I say go — and not before.”Exit Directions. Give ALL of it standing still, before anyone touches anything. Then release. Do not add instructions once they are working — that is what the VIP on the board is for.
Note: Given BEFORE the release, in one go. Adding a step mid-task is what produces the hands going up.
Listen with hands still. Then start.
15You doVIP slide
How we did it together
the worked example — one click per step
1. Write Which do you prefer, geography or geophysics?
2. ① Write the question underneath: What two things is it holding together?
3. ② Try it on or — “__ or __” — it works
4. ③ Ring or and name it: a conjunction
Worksheet — Lesson 64
“On your own. The question is the same: What two things is it holding together?”Their sheet carries the same strip. Come back to this if anyone stalls.Work alone.
16ClosureToday — Closure highlighted“Boards up one more time.”Point to Closure.Boards ready.
17ClosureNever end a sentence with a preposition?
Answer— (check against the spot test, not the meaning)
“Last one. What two things is it holding together?”Boards up on signal. Scan. Click to reveal.
Note: Held-out item — the class has not met this one.
Answer. Hold up.
18ClosureA conjunction joins.“A conjunction joins.”Collect boards.Repeat: “A conjunction joins.”

If it breaks — stop and repair

Do not move on. Reteach with the sheet named against the error, and let the float absorb it.

Secure looks like: Given three sentences, the child finds each conjunction AND names both things it joins — including one that joins two whole thoughts.

Common errors

  • Names the conjunction but not what it joins
    Recognising a three-letter word is easy; tracking both sides is the skill.
    → “And what? And what else? Point to both.” Never accept the word alone. Remedial sheet 17
  • Treats every “and” as joining two nouns
    Lesson 68 only ever joined single words.
    → “He knocked AND she opened. What is on each side? Two whole thoughts.” Remedial sheet 17
  • Calls “because” or “so” conjunctions
    They are.
    → Say yes, and that we meet those in Grade 2. Never mark it wrong.

Three tiers

CoreAs written.
Bridge2–3 word items only. Teacher does the first one with the student.
FoundationOne word at a time; student echoes, then one clap. No sentences yet.

Non-verbal cue

Conjunction: two hooked fingers pulling together and holding
Question continuum: “How many claps?” (concrete) → “How do you know that was one word and not two?” (open)
As-Suffah Academy · Language Arts · Grade 1 · Lesson 64 Launch → I do → We do → You do → Closure