You will learn
- Say what revising means.
- Add a detail to a sentence.
- Change a word to make it better.
- Fix a mistake.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Revising means making writing better.
- Add detail.
- Change a word.
- Check capitals and end marks.
Words to know
make writing better
extra information
make better
fix mistakes
1. Discover: Make it better
Ayo writes: The dog ran. The teacher says, “Let us make it better. Where did it run?” Ayo writes: The big dog ran to the park. “Much better!” says the teacher. Ayo has revised his sentence.
Think: What did Ayo add?
2. Understand: Revising
Idea 1: Add detail
Add who, what, where, when or how: The dog ran. → The big dog ran to the park.
Idea 2: Change a word
Pick a better word: The dog walked. → The dog sprinted.
Idea 3: Fix mistakes
Check the capital letter, the end mark and the spelling.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Add detail
The dog ran. Add where.
- Where?
- Add it.
Answer: The dog ran to the park.
Example 2 (We do it together): Change a word
The boy walked fast. Use a better word.
- Think of a stronger verb.
- Swap it.
Answer: The boy ran.
Example 3 (You try): Fix
the girl sing.
Show the steps and answer
- Capital?
- Verb?
- End mark?
Answer: The girl sings.
Did you know?
Authors revise their writing many times before a book is printed.
Why this matters
Revising makes your writing clear and enjoyable to read.
4. Explore: Sentence makeover
Revise a sentence.
- Write a plain sentence.
- Add one detail.
- Change one word.
- Check capitals and marks.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can make a sentence better.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- I added ___.
- I changed ___ to ___.
- I fixed ___.
- Now it says ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Add where: The dog ran.
The dog ran to the park.
Question 2. Better word: The boy walked fast.
The boy ran.
Question 3. Fix: the girl sing.
The girl sings.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- To revise is to make writing ___.
- Add where: The cat sat.
- Add how: The bird sang.
- Add when: I play.
- Fix: the sun is hot
Level 2: Grow
- Better word for big: ___.
- Revise: The dog ran.
- Fix: ama and i play
Level 3: Stretch
- Revise your own sentence and write both.
- Why revise?
- Kofi says his first sentence is perfect. Should he check it?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Revise a sentence from your writing book.
Show a sample answer
The cat sat. → The black cat sat on the mat.
Another one. Revise three plain sentences.
Show a sample answer
Before: I ate. After: I ate rice and fish.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Add, change or fix something.
Fix: Add only helpful detail.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what revising means.
- I can add detail.
- I can change a word.
- I can fix a mistake.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Revising makes writing better.
- Add detail.
- Change a word.
- Fix mistakes.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Listening to stories. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What does revise mean? [1 mark]
- Add where: The dog ran. [1 mark]
- Fix: the girl sing. [1 mark]
- Change a word to make it better: The boy walked fast. [1 mark]
- Explain how to revise a sentence. [3 marks]
Total: 7 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- make writing better [1]
- adds a place [1]
- The girl sings. [1]
- e.g. ran [1]
- add detail [1]; change a word [1]; check capitals and end marks [1]
Score guide: 6 to 7 = secure. 5 to 5 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- To revise is to make writing ___.
- Add where: The cat sat.
- Add how: The bird sang.
- Add when: I play.
- Fix: the sun is hot
- Fix: ama and i play
- Better word for walked fast:
- True or false: we should check our writing.
- Revise a sentence.
- Write a plain sentence and a better one.
Homework
Revise three sentences from your writing book.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. To revise is to make writing ___. | better | 1 |
| 2. Add where: The cat sat. | The cat sat on the mat. | 1 |
| 3. Add how: The bird sang. | The bird sang loudly. | 1 |
| 4. Add when: I play. | I play in the morning. | 1 |
| 5. Fix: the sun is hot | The sun is hot. | 1 |
| 6. Fix: ama and i play | Ama and I play. | 1 |
| 7. Better word for walked fast: | ran | 1 |
| 8. True or false: we should check our writing. | true | 1 |
| 9. Revise a sentence. | a better sentence | 1 |
| 10. Write a plain sentence and a better one. | two sentences | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 better; 2 The cat sat on the mat.; 3 The bird sang loudly.; 4 I play in the morning.; 5 The sun is hot.. Level 2: 1 e.g. huge; 2 The big dog ran to the park.; 3 Ama and I play.. Level 3: 1 a plain and a better sentence; 2 to make writing better; 3 yes, always check.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what revising means | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Add a detail to a sentence | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Change a word to make it better | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Fix a mistake | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Not changing anything. Add, change or fix something.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Revise by adding just one detail.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns to make their sentences better. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Ask: can you add a detail?
- Praise improvements.
- Keep a writing book.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what revising means; add a detail to a sentence; change a word to make it better; fix a mistake.
Prerequisite knowledge. Writing short descriptions.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Write The dog ran and ask how to improve it.
Explanation (10 min). Teach add, change and fix.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise sentence makeover.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners share their revisions.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What can I add? What can I change? What can I fix?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Revise by adding one detail. Extension. Revise a paragraph.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Not changing anything. Add, change or fix something.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 7-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Revise by adding just one detail. Enrichment. Revise a paragraph. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 1 » Writing; Grade 1 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core W.1.5 (with guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed) and L.1.2; Education Endowment Foundation Improving Literacy in Key Stage 1 guidance (composition and revising); Cambridge Primary English Stage 1 (writing). These sources informed the lesson.