This document provides instruction on the differences between proper and common nouns. It defines proper nouns as referring to unique people, places or objects and always starting with a capital letter. Common nouns refer to general objects where there can be more than one, and may start with a lower case letter. The document includes activities where students must identify proper and common nouns in sentences and write paragraphs using both types of nouns. It concludes with a true/false quiz to assess understanding of proper vs. common nouns.

1. Proper and Common
Nouns
To capitalise or not to capitalise . . .

2. Lesson Objective
To know how to
use proper and
common nouns
effectively in your
writing.
PLTS - Self
managers - work
towards your goals

3. Proper Nouns
Proper nouns refer to a
unique person, place, or
object.
E.g.
De La Salle Academy
Miss Smith
Apple Mac

4. Common Nouns
Common names refer to
general objects, or something
where there is more than one
of that kind.
E.g.
school
tables
pens

5. Activity 1: Matchup
Look at the two lists below. On the left side is the proper noun and on
the right side is its matching common noun. Sort them into
matching pairs in your book. What do you notice about the
Proper Nouns?
Liverpool teacher
Liverpool vs. Everton classroom
De La Salle Academy book, movie
Ender’s Game city
Mr Ealey sporting event
1.03 school

6. Activity 2: Sentences
Use the following proper and common nouns and build
interesting sentences with them. You can use only 1-2 nouns
per sentence.
reading book travel map
Spain swimming chicken and chips
summer Nando’s Eiffel Tower
Want a challenge? Make all your sentences part of
one paragraph.

7. Activity 3:
Something Special
Now we want to find out a bit more
about you. You are going to write a
paragraph about a proper noun.
Think of a proper noun that is
important to you (a family member,
celebrity you admire or place you have
travelled to). Tell us:
Who/what it is
Why it is important to you
Extension Challenge? Do the same thing, but with a common
noun; not as easy as it seems.

8. Plenary: Pop Quiz
Answer True/False to the following questions:
1. Proper nouns do not need a capital letter. T/F
2. Common nouns are names of general items. T/F
3. Proper nouns name a unique/particular thing. T/F
4. Common nouns are only used for plurals. T/F
5. Nouns are only used for naming things. T/F