Compound words are a staple standard skill of learning in 1st and 2nd grade. In 1st grade, students are learning and beginning to recognize and understand simple compound words, such as airplane and toothbrush. Then in 2nd grade, students progress to more complex compound words by learning that they are made up of two whole words and that the two words give clues to the meaning of the compound word.

One super fun lesson that we use in first grade to really develop their foundational knowledge of compound words …. we call Compound Connor. This is one of the kiddos favorite lessons. They love Compound Connor.

 

  Then it’s time for us to get to work. This is where my differentiated lesson comes into play. Differentiation is based on the premise that students learn in different ways. Because of this, I had to provide them with a number of different options for learning. Even before my lesson began, I did a pre-assessment to divide my students into the correct groups. Each group has a different level of compound words. From the lowest level with picture cards, the middle levels with words and pictures, to the upper level with only words and making sentences with those words. The kids were having such a great time. While they were working, I put on some construction noise to help us along with our lesson. It really got them involved with their work. Click on the picture below for construction noise.