Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 1

Giving and following instructions

I can give and follow instructions.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 1

Giving and following instructions

I can give and follow instructions.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Instructions are sentences that tell us how to do something.
  2. Successful speaking includes speaking loudly and clearly enough for everyone to hear.
  3. Successful listening includes looking at the person speaking and paying close attention.

Keywords

  • Instructions - tell us how to do something

  • Speaking - using your voice to talk to someone

  • Listening - paying attention to what someone is saying

Common misconception

Children may struggle to give short, simple instructions and may add in too many steps.

Model short, simple instructions before children are asked to complete Task B. Share some non-examples of long or complicated instructions. Remind children to always stop and wait after each instruction.


To help you plan your year 1 english lesson on: Giving and following instructions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For Task B in the second learning cycle, you may want to provide a checklist of reminders for speaking and listening. See the feedback slide for an example.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is it important to do when speaking out loud?
speak quietly
Correct answer: speak loudly
speak very quickly
Q2.
When you are listening to someone, you should look at...
the floor.
the ceiling.
Correct answer: the person speaking.
Q3.
Which of these are questions?
Correct answer: What is your favourite sport?
Pass me the ball.
Correct answer: Where do you live?
I live in Birmingham.
Q4.
Which of these are important to do when you are listening?
Move around lots when the person is speaking.
Correct answer: Stop talking.
Correct answer: Look at the person speaking.
Close your eyes.
Correct answer: Pay attention.
Q5.
Which of these is a full sentence?
chicken and rice
My favourite food
Correct answer: I like chicken and rice.
Correct answer: My favourite food is chicken and rice.
Q6.
Which of the following sentences answers this question: What did you do on the weekend?
It was sunny on the weekend.
Last year, I went to the beach.
Correct answer: I went to the park on the weekend.
I am visiting my cousins next weekend.

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is an instruction?
Correct answer: An instruction tells us how to do something.
An instruction asks the listener for an answer.
An instruction tells us what you think or believe.
Q2.
Identify the instructions.
It is cold outside today.
Correct answer: Put on your coat.
This is my coat.
Where is my coat?
Correct answer: Do up your coat.
Q3.
What should we do to help us follow an instruction successfully?
Talk at the same time as the person speaking.
Correct answer: Listen carefully to the person speaking.
Correct answer: Stop talking.
Start singing.
Jump up and down as quickly as possible.
Q4.
Finish this sentence: Successful speaking includes...
Correct answer: speaking clearly.
Correct answer: speaking loudly.
speaking quietly.
speaking quickly.
Q5.
Order these instructions for making a slice of bread and butter.
1 - Take out the bread.
2 - Spread the butter on the bread.
3 - Eat the bread and butter.
Q6.
Instructions should be...
given all in one go.
long and complicated.
Correct answer: broken down into steps.
Correct answer: short and simple.