Capitalization — 1st Grade Lesson
Students will use capital letters at the start of sentences, for names, and for the word I.
1st Grade · Capitalization · ~15 min lesson
What is capitalization?
Capital letters are the big letters: A, B, C. We use them for special words. First grade learns three rules.
Rule 1: Start every sentence with a capital
The first word of a sentence always starts with a capital letter.
✗ the cat is big. ✓ The cat is big.
Rule 2: Capitalize people’s names
Names are proper nouns and always start with a capital letter.
- Maya, Sam, Ann
- Mrs. Lee, Buddy (your dog’s name!)
✗ maya plays. → ✓ Maya plays.
Rule 3: Always capitalize the word I
The word I is always written with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.
✗ Sam and i play ball. ✓ Sam and I play ball.
What about other words?
Don’t capitalize every important word — only the first word of a sentence, names, and I.
✓ We go to school. (school is not a name) ✓ I like my dog Max. (dog is not a name; Max is)
How to practice at home
- Fix-it edit: write sentences with missing capitals and have your child fix them.
- Name game: write a list of family and pet names — all capitalized!
- Spot the capitals: in a book, find three capital letters and say why each is there (sentence start, name, or I).
Practice with the exercises above, then download these free printable worksheets:
Practice Exercises
Try these on your own, then reveal the answer to check.
Fix this: 'the cat is big.'
💡 The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
Which word needs a capital letter: 'maya' or 'dog'?
💡 Names (proper nouns) start with a capital letter.
Fix this: 'i like apples.'
💡 The word I is always capitalized.
Does 'school' need a capital letter in the sentence 'We go to school.'?
💡 Only names and the first word of a sentence get capitals (unless it's a name).
Fix this: 'sam and i play ball.'
💡 Names + the word I.
Name two things that always start with a capital letter.
💡 Plus the word I.
Printable Worksheets
Put this lesson into practice with free, printable worksheets — each with an answer key.
Before You Start
- Recognizing uppercase and lowercase letters
- Writing simple words and sentences
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Capitalizing random words in the middle of a sentence
- Forgetting to capitalize names and the word I
What to Learn Next
Browse more Capitalization worksheets or explore all 1st Grade worksheets.
Related Worksheets
Capitalization Worksheet: Sentences, Names, and I
Capital letters start sentences and names, and the word I is always capital. Fix the capitals in each sentence.
Capitalization Worksheet Set 2
Set 2 uses longer sentences with more than one capital. Capitalize the start of each sentence, every name, and the word I.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the capitalization rules for 1st grade?
Three basics: capital the first word of every sentence, capital people's names (Maya), and always capitalize the word I.
Why is the word I always capitalized?
English tradition: the word for yourself is always written with a capital I, no matter where it appears in a sentence.
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.