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Override for the tutor's lesson content generation calls. Auto uses the system default (Claude Sonnet 5 for lesson text, Opus 5 for diagrams).

Lesson generation model

System default

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Tutoring abilities

If you tell a friend, "I saw a dog," they might picture a tiny poodle, while you were thinking of a giant shaggy bulldog!

To paint the exact picture in someone's mind, we can turn a single word into a **noun group**.

What makes a plain naming word grow into a whole group?

A **noun** is a naming word for a person, place, animal, or thing, like *frog*, *park*, or *rocket*.

A **noun group** is a small team of words built around that main noun to give us clear details about it.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <title>Noun Group Team</title>
  <script src="{{VENDOR_CDN}}/classace-diagram.js"></script>
  <style>
    body {
      background: #f8f9fa;
      color: #1e2945;
      font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
      padding: 16px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      min-height: 100%;
    }

    .main-wrap {
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 540px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 16px;
    }

    /* Target Subject Visual */
    .subject-display {
      width: 100%;
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
      border-radius: 12px;
      padding: 18px 12px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      min-height: 120px;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
    }

    .emoji-scene {
      font-size: 44px;
      line-height: 1;
      margin-bottom: 12px;
      transition: transform 0.3s ease;
    }

    /* Word Team Assembly */
    .word-team {
      display: flex;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
      justify-content: center;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 6px;
      width: 100%;
    }

    .word-card {
      padding: 8px 12px;
      border-radius: 8px;
      font-weight: 700;
      font-size: 16px;
      text-align: center;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
      position: relative;
      border: 1.5px solid transparent;
    }

    .word-card .tag {
      display: block;
      font-size: 10px;
      font-weight: 600;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      margin-top: 2px;
      opacity: 0.8;
    }

    /* Slot States */
    .slot-pointer {
      background: #e0f2fe;
      color: #0369a1;
      border-color: #bae6fd;
    }

    .slot-describer {
      background: #fef3c7;
      color: #b45309;
      border-color: #fde68a;
    }

    .slot-noun {
      background: #22b7ff;
      color: #ffffff;
      border-color: #0284c7;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.3);
    }

    .slot-qualifier {
      background: #f3e8ff;
      color: #7e22ce;
      border-color: #e9d5ff;
    }

    .hidden-part {
      opacity: 0.2;
      background: #f1f5f9;
      color: #94a3b8;
      border-color: #e2e8f0;
      border-style: dashed;
    }

    .hidden-part .tag {
      color: #94a3b8;
    }

    /* Controls Bar */
    .controls {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 6px;
      width: 100%;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
    }

    .step-btn {
      padding: 6px 12px;
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      border-radius: 20px;
      border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
      background: #ffffff;
      color: #64748b;
      cursor: pointer;
      transition: all 0.2s ease;
    }

    .step-btn.active {
      background: #1e2945;
      color: #ffffff;
      border-color: #1e2945;
    }

    .play-btn {
      width: 32px;
      height: 32px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      border: 1px solid #cbd5e1;
      background: #ffffff;
      color: #1e2945;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-size: 12px;
      margin-left: 4px;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="main-wrap">
    
    
    <div class="subject-display">
      <div id="scene-icon" class="emoji-scene">🐶</div>
      
      
      <div class="word-team">
        <div id="w-pointer" class="word-card slot-pointer hidden-part">
          <span>The</span>
          <span class="tag">Pointer</span>
        </div>
        <div id="w-desc" class="word-card slot-describer hidden-part">
          <span>playful</span>
          <span class="tag">Describer</span>
        </div>
        <div id="w-noun" class="word-card slot-noun">
          <span>puppy</span>
          <span class="tag">Main Noun</span>
        </div>
        <div id="w-qual" class="word-card slot-qualifier hidden-part">
          <span>in the grass</span>
          <span class="tag">Detail</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="controls">
      <button class="step-btn active" data-step="0">1. Main Noun</button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="1">2. Pointer</button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="2">3. Describer</button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="3">4. Full Team</button>
      <button id="playBtn" class="play-btn" title="Toggle Auto-Play">⏸</button>
    </div>

  </div>

  <script>
    const stepsData = [
      {
        icon: '🐶',
        pointer: false,
        desc: false,
        qual: false
      },
      {
        icon: '👉 🐶',
        pointer: true,
        desc: false,
        qual: false
      },
      {
        icon: '🎾 🐶',
        pointer: true,
        desc: true,
        qual: false
      },
      {
        icon: '🌿 🐶 🎾',
        pointer: true,
        desc: true,
        qual: true
      }
    ];

    const pointerEl = $('w-pointer');
    const descEl = $('w-desc');
    const qualEl = $('w-qual');
    const iconEl = $('scene-icon');
    const stepBtns = $$('.step-btn');
    const playBtn = $('playBtn');

    function updateView(idx) {
      const data = stepsData[idx];
      
      iconEl.textContent = data.icon;

      pointerEl.className = 'word-card slot-pointer ' + (data.pointer ? '' : 'hidden-part');
      descEl.className = 'word-card slot-describer ' + (data.desc ? '' : 'hidden-part');
      qualEl.className = 'word-card slot-qualifier ' + (data.qual ? '' : 'hidden-part');

      stepBtns.forEach((btn, i) => {
        btn.classList.toggle('active', i === idx);
      });
    }

    const player = new StepPlayer(stepsData, {
      interval: 3200,
      onChange: (idx) => updateView(idx)
    });

    stepBtns.forEach((btn, idx) => {
      onTap(btn, () => {
        player.pause();
        playBtn.textContent = '▶';
        player.goTo(idx);
      });
    });

    onTap(playBtn, () => {
      player.toggle();
      playBtn.textContent = player.playing ? '⏸' : '▶';
    });

    player.start();
  </script>
</body>
</html>

How do we build this word team step by step?

We usually start our noun group with a small pointer word called an **article**, such as *a*, *an*, or *the*.

We use *a* or *an* when talking about any general item, and *the* when we mean one exact item.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
<style>
  * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
  body {
    font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
    color: #1e2945;
    background: transparent;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    min-height: 100%;
    padding: 16px;
    user-select: none;
  }

  .controls {
    display: flex;
    gap: 8px;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
  }

  .tab-btn {
    padding: 8px 18px;
    font-size: 16px;
    font-weight: 600;
    border-radius: 20px;
    border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
    background: #ffffff;
    color: #64748b;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
  }

  .tab-btn.active {
    border-color: #22b7ff;
    background: #22b7ff;
    color: #ffffff;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.25);
  }

  .arena {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 16px;
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 420px;
    padding: 24px 12px;
    background: #f8fafc;
    border-radius: 16px;
    border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
    margin-bottom: 16px;
  }

  .dragon-card {
    flex: 1;
    max-width: 110px;
    aspect-ratio: 1;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    background: #ffffff;
    border-radius: 12px;
    border: 2px solid transparent;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.04);
    font-size: 40px;
    position: relative;
    transition: opacity 0.3s ease, border-color 0.3s ease, box-shadow 0.3s ease;
  }

  .pointer-badge {
    position: absolute;
    top: -12px;
    font-size: 11px;
    font-weight: 700;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
    padding: 2px 8px;
    border-radius: 10px;
    background: #22b7ff;
    color: white;
    opacity: 0;
    transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
  }

  /* State: General ('a dragon') */
  .state-a .dragon-card {
    opacity: 1;
    border: 2px dashed #94a3b8;
  }
  .state-a .pointer-badge {
    opacity: 1;
    background: #64748b;
  }

  /* State: Specific ('the dragon') */
  .state-the .dragon-card {
    opacity: 0.35;
    border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
  }
  .state-the .dragon-card.target {
    opacity: 1;
    border: 2px solid #22b7ff;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.3);
  }
  .state-the .dragon-card.target .pointer-badge {
    opacity: 1;
    background: #22b7ff;
  }

  .label-tag {
    font-size: 15px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #475569;
    height: 24px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
  }

  .structure {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 8px;
    font-size: 14px;
    font-weight: 600;
  }

  .pill {
    padding: 6px 14px;
    border-radius: 8px;
    background: #ffffff;
    border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
    color: #1e2945;
  }

  .pill.highlight {
    background: #eff6ff;
    border-color: #22b7ff;
    color: #0284c7;
  }

  .plus {
    color: #94a3b8;
    font-weight: bold;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<div class="controls">
  <button class="tab-btn active" id="tabA">a dragon</button>
  <button class="tab-btn" id="tabThe">the dragon</button>
</div>

<div class="label-tag" id="statusLabel">Any dragon</div>

<div class="arena state-a" id="arena">
  <div class="dragon-card">
    <span class="pointer-badge">Any</span>
    🐉
  </div>
  <div class="dragon-card target">
    <span class="pointer-badge" id="midBadge">Any</span>
    🐉
  </div>
  <div class="dragon-card">
    <span class="pointer-badge">Any</span>
    🐉
  </div>
</div>

<div class="structure">
  <div class="pill highlight" id="detPill">a</div>
  <span class="plus">+</span>
  <div class="pill">dragon</div>
</div>

<script src="https://cdn.classace.io/assets/classace-diagram.js"></script>
<script>
  const tabA = $('#tabA');
  const tabThe = $('#tabThe');
  const arena = $('#arena');
  const statusLabel = $('#statusLabel');
  const detPill = $('#detPill');
  const midBadge = $('#midBadge');

  let mode = 'a';

  function setMode(newMode) {
    mode = newMode;
    if (mode === 'a') {
      tabA.classList.add('active');
      tabThe.classList.remove('active');
      arena.className = 'arena state-a';
      statusLabel.textContent = 'Any dragon';
      detPill.textContent = 'a';
      midBadge.textContent = 'Any';
    } else {
      tabThe.classList.add('active');
      tabA.classList.remove('active');
      arena.className = 'arena state-the';
      statusLabel.textContent = 'One exact dragon';
      detPill.textContent = 'the';
      midBadge.textContent = 'Exact';
    }
  }

  onTap(tabA, () => setMode('a'));
  onTap(tabThe, () => setMode('the'));
</script>
</body>
</html>

Pointing to the dragon is great, but what does the dragon actually look and feel like?

An **adjective** is a describing word that tells us details like size, color, shape, or how something behaves.

When we place adjectives in the middle — between our article and our noun — the picture comes alive.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <title>Noun Group Builder</title>
  <style>
    * {
      box-sizing: border-box;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
    }

    body {
      font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
      background-color: transparent;
      color: #1e2945;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: space-between;
      min-height: 100%;
      padding: 12px;
      gap: 12px;
      user-select: none;
    }

    /* Top Step Indicator / Controls */
    .controls {
      display: flex;
      gap: 8px;
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 440px;
      justify-content: center;
    }

    .step-btn {
      flex: 1;
      padding: 8px 6px;
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
      background: #ffffff;
      color: #64748b;
      border-radius: 8px;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 4px;
      transition: all 0.25s ease;
    }

    .step-btn.active {
      background: #22b7ff;
      border-color: #22b7ff;
      color: #ffffff;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.35);
    }

    /* Stage Canvas */
    .stage {
      position: relative;
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 440px;
      height: 150px;
      background: #ffffff;
      border-radius: 16px;
      border: 1px solid #edf2f7;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    .stage-glow {
      position: absolute;
      width: 120px;
      height: 120px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(254, 215, 170, 0.45) 0%, rgba(255,255,255,0) 70%);
      transition: all 0.4s ease;
      opacity: 0;
      transform: scale(0.6);
    }

    .stage-glow.visible {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: scale(1.2);
    }

    .character {
      font-size: 64px;
      line-height: 1;
      z-index: 1;
      transition: transform 0.35s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1), filter 0.35s ease;
      filter: grayscale(100%) opacity(35%);
    }

    .character.stage-1 {
      filter: grayscale(0%) opacity(100%);
      transform: scale(1);
    }

    .character.stage-2 {
      filter: grayscale(0%) opacity(100%);
      transform: scale(1.18);
    }

    .character-badge {
      position: absolute;
      bottom: 12px;
      font-size: 11px;
      font-weight: 700;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      padding: 3px 10px;
      border-radius: 12px;
      background: #f1f5f9;
      color: #64748b;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
    }

    .character-badge.live {
      background: #fef3c7;
      color: #b45309;
    }

    /* Slot Phrase Builder */
    .slot-container {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: 1fr 1.3fr 1fr;
      gap: 8px;
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 440px;
    }

    .slot-card {
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 1.5px solid #e2e8f0;
      border-radius: 12px;
      padding: 10px 6px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      text-align: center;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
    }

    .slot-tag {
      font-size: 10px;
      font-weight: 800;
      letter-spacing: 0.6px;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      margin-bottom: 6px;
      color: #94a3b8;
      transition: color 0.3s ease;
    }

    .slot-word {
      font-size: 16px;
      font-weight: 700;
      min-height: 24px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: #cbd5e1;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
    }

    /* Slot States */
    .slot-card.article.active {
      border-color: #38bdf8;
      background: #f0f9ff;
    }
    .slot-card.article.active .slot-tag { color: #0284c7; }
    .slot-card.article.active .slot-word { color: #0369a1; }

    .slot-card.adjective.active {
      border-color: #f59e0b;
      background: #fffbeb;
      transform: translateY(-2px);
      box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.15);
    }
    .slot-card.adjective.active .slot-tag { color: #d97706; }
    .slot-card.adjective.active .slot-word { color: #b45309; }

    .slot-card.noun.active {
      border-color: #10b981;
      background: #ecfdf5;
    }
    .slot-card.noun.active .slot-tag { color: #059669; }
    .slot-card.noun.active .slot-word { color: #047857; }

    /* Bottom Bracket Indicator */
    .bracket-bar {
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 440px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 4px;
    }

    .bracket-line {
      width: 100%;
      height: 6px;
      border-left: 2px solid #cbd5e1;
      border-right: 2px solid #cbd5e1;
      border-bottom: 2px solid #cbd5e1;
      border-radius: 0 0 4px 4px;
      transition: border-color 0.3s ease;
    }

    .bracket-bar.active .bracket-line {
      border-color: #22b7ff;
    }

    .bracket-label {
      font-size: 11px;
      font-weight: 700;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      color: #94a3b8;
      transition: color 0.3s ease;
    }

    .bracket-bar.active .bracket-label {
      color: #0284c7;
    }

    /* Play/Pause pill */
    .footer-action {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 8px;
    }

    .auto-btn {
      background: #f8fafc;
      border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
      border-radius: 20px;
      padding: 4px 12px;
      font-size: 11px;
      font-weight: 600;
      color: #64748b;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 4px;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>

  
  <div class="controls">
    <button class="step-btn" data-step="0">1. Noun</button>
    <button class="step-btn" data-step="1">2. + Article</button>
    <button class="step-btn active" data-step="2">3. + Adjective</button>
  </div>

  
  <div class="stage">
    <div class="stage-glow visible" id="glow"></div>
    <div class="character stage-2" id="character">🐩</div>
    <div class="character-badge live" id="badge">Vivid Picture</div>
  </div>

  
  <div class="slot-container">
    <div class="slot-card article active" id="slot-art">
      <span class="slot-tag">Article</span>
      <span class="slot-word" id="word-art">the</span>
    </div>

    <div class="slot-card adjective active" id="slot-adj">
      <span class="slot-tag">Middle</span>
      <span class="slot-word" id="word-adj">fluffy</span>
    </div>

    <div class="slot-card noun active" id="slot-noun">
      <span class="slot-tag">Noun</span>
      <span class="slot-word" id="word-noun">dog</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  
  <div class="bracket-bar active" id="bracket">
    <div class="bracket-line"></div>
    <span class="bracket-label" id="bracket-text">Complete Noun Group</span>
  </div>

  
  <div class="footer-action">
    <button class="auto-btn" id="playBtn">⏸ Pause</button>
  </div>

  <script>
    const stepsData = [
      {
        emoji: '🐕',
        stageClass: '',
        badgeText: 'Plain Noun',
        badgeLive: false,
        glow: false,
        art: '—',
        adj: '—',
        noun: 'dog',
        artActive: false,
        adjActive: false,
        nounActive: true,
        bracketActive: false,
        bracketLabel: 'Single Noun'
      },
      {
        emoji: '🐕',
        stageClass: 'stage-1',
        badgeText: 'Identified',
        badgeLive: false,
        glow: false,
        art: 'the',
        adj: '—',
        noun: 'dog',
        artActive: true,
        adjActive: false,
        nounActive: true,
        bracketActive: true,
        bracketLabel: 'Basic Noun Group'
      },
      {
        emoji: '🐩',
        stageClass: 'stage-2',
        badgeText: 'Vivid Picture',
        badgeLive: true,
        glow: true,
        art: 'the',
        adj: 'fluffy',
        noun: 'dog',
        artActive: true,
        adjActive: true,
        nounActive: true,
        bracketActive: true,
        bracketLabel: 'Complete Noun Group'
      }
    ];

    let currentStep = 2;
    let isPlaying = true;
    let timer = null;

    const charEl = document.getElementById('character');
    const glowEl = document.getElementById('glow');
    const badgeEl = document.getElementById('badge');
    const slotArt = document.getElementById('slot-art');
    const slotAdj = document.getElementById('slot-adj');
    const slotNoun = document.getElementById('slot-noun');
    const wordArt = document.getElementById('word-art');
    const wordAdj = document.getElementById('word-adj');
    const wordNoun = document.getElementById('word-noun');
    const bracket = document.getElementById('bracket');
    const bracketText = document.getElementById('bracket-text');
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      wordAdj.textContent = d.adj;
      wordNoun.textContent = d.noun;

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      slotAdj.classList.toggle('active', d.adjActive);
      slotNoun.classList.toggle('active', d.nounActive);

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    });

    // Initialize
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    startAuto();
  </script>
</body>
</html>

What happens if we take a boring noun and upgrade it one piece at a time?

The main person, animal, or thing at the heart of your group is called the **head noun**.

The standard basic formula for a noun group is: $\text{Article (or Determiner)} + \text{Adjective(s)} + \text{Head Noun}$.

Is there a simple recipe we can follow every time?

The main naming word at the center of the team is called the **head noun**.

The standard formula is: $\text{Article (or Determiner)} + \text{Adjective(s)} + \text{Head Noun}$.

For example, putting together *the* (article) + *furry* (adjective) + *wombat* (head noun) creates the noun group **the furry wombat**.

For example, combining *the* (article) + *furry* (adjective) + *wombat* (head noun) creates **the furry wombat**.

Let's watch the noun *castle* grow into an exciting noun group.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <title>Noun Group Expansion</title>
  <style>
    * {
      box-sizing: border-box;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
      font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
      user-select: none;
    }

    body {
      background: transparent;
      color: #1e2945;
      padding: 12px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: space-between;
      min-height: 100%;
    }

    .main-stage {
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 540px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 16px;
      margin: auto 0;
    }

    .scene-view {
      width: 100%;
      height: 130px;
      background: #f8fafc;
      border-radius: 16px;
      border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      position: relative;
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    .scene-art {
      font-size: 64px;
      line-height: 1;
      transition: all 0.4s ease;
      filter: drop-shadow(0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.08));
    }

    .sentence-strip {
      width: 100%;
      min-height: 60px;
      display: flex;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 6px;
      padding: 8px 12px;
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 2px solid #e6e8eb;
      border-radius: 12px;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
    }

    .word-block {
      display: inline-flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      padding: 6px 10px;
      border-radius: 8px;
      font-weight: 700;
      font-size: 16px;
      transition: opacity 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease;
      opacity: 0.2;
      transform: scale(0.95);
    }

    .word-block.active {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: scale(1);
    }

    .word-tag {
      font-size: 10px;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      font-weight: 700;
      margin-top: 2px;
    }

    .determiner {
      background: #e0f2fe;
      color: #0369a1;
    }
    .determiner .word-tag { color: #0284c7; }

    .adjective {
      background: #f3e8ff;
      color: #7e22ce;
    }
    .adjective .word-tag { color: #9333ea; }

    .head-noun {
      background: #e0f7f6;
      color: #0d9488;
      border: 1.5px solid #0d9488;
    }
    .head-noun .word-tag { color: #0f766e; }

    .qualifier {
      background: #fef3c7;
      color: #b45309;
    }
    .qualifier .word-tag { color: #d97706; }

    .controls {
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 480px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 8px;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
      margin-top: 4px;
    }

    .step-btn {
      flex: 1;
      min-width: 90px;
      padding: 8px 10px;
      border-radius: 8px;
      border: 1px solid #d1d5db;
      background: #ffffff;
      color: #4b5563;
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 2px;
      transition: all 0.2s ease;
    }

    .step-btn.active {
      background: #22b7ff;
      color: #ffffff;
      border-color: #22b7ff;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.35);
    }

    .play-btn {
      width: 38px;
      height: 38px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      border: 1px solid #d1d5db;
      background: #ffffff;
      color: #1e2945;
      font-size: 14px;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      flex-shrink: 0;
      transition: all 0.2s ease;
    }

    .play-btn:active {
      background: #f3f4f6;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>

  <div class="main-stage">
    <div class="scene-view" id="sceneView">
      <span class="scene-art" id="sceneArt">🏰</span>
    </div>

    <div class="sentence-strip" id="strip">
      <div class="word-block determiner" id="wDeterminer">
        <span>The</span>
        <span class="word-tag">Pointer</span>
      </div>

      <div class="word-block adjective" id="wAdj">
        <span>ancient stone</span>
        <span class="word-tag">Describers</span>
      </div>

      <div class="word-block head-noun" id="wNoun">
        <span>castle</span>
        <span class="word-tag">Noun</span>
      </div>

      <div class="word-block qualifier" id="wQual">
        <span>on the hill</span>
        <span class="word-tag">Qualifier</span>
      </div>
    </div>

    <div class="controls">
      <button class="play-btn" id="playBtn" aria-label="Play/Pause">⏸</button>
      <button class="step-btn active" data-step="0">
        <span>1. Noun</span>
      </button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="1">
        <span>2. + Pointer</span>
      </button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="2">
        <span>3. + Details</span>
      </button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="3">
        <span>4. + Place</span>
      </button>
    </div>
  </div>

  <script src="{{VENDOR_CDN}}/classace-diagram.js" onerror="initFallback()"></script>
  <script>
    const emojis = ["🏰", "👉 🏰", "✨ 🏰 🪨", "🌄 🏰 ⛰️"];
    let currentStep = 0;
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    let timer = null;

    const wDeterminer = document.getElementById('wDeterminer');
    const wAdj = document.getElementById('wAdj');
    const wNoun = document.getElementById('wNoun');
    const wQual = document.getElementById('wQual');
    const sceneArt = document.getElementById('sceneArt');
    const playBtn = document.getElementById('playBtn');
    const stepBtns = document.querySelectorAll('.step-btn');

    function updateStep(idx) {
      currentStep = idx;

      // Update words
      wNoun.classList.add('active'); // Noun always active
      wDeterminer.classList.toggle('active', idx >= 1);
      wAdj.classList.toggle('active', idx >= 2);
      wQual.classList.toggle('active', idx >= 3);

      // Update scene
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        btn.classList.toggle('active', i === idx);
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    }

    function nextStep() {
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    }

    function togglePlay() {
      isPlaying = !isPlaying;
      playBtn.textContent = isPlaying ? '⏸' : '▶';
      if (isPlaying) {
        startTimer();
      } else {
        stopTimer();
      }
    }

    playBtn.addEventListener('click', togglePlay);

    stepBtns.forEach((btn) => {
      btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
        const step = parseInt(btn.dataset.step, 10);
        updateStep(step);
        if (isPlaying) {
          startTimer(); // reset timer on manual click
        }
      });
    });

    function initFallback() {
      updateStep(0);
      startTimer();
    }

    // Initialize
    updateStep(0);
    startTimer();
  </script>
</body>
</html>

Next time you write a sentence, pick a noun and see how many exciting details you can pack into its noun group!

What Are Noun Groups?. Understand that nouns can be extended into noun groups using articles and adjectives.

Noun Groups Teaching Slides for Year 2 (AC9E2LA07)

What are Expanded Noun Phrases? (KS1 / Year 2 English)

Identify the Adjective That Describes the Noun (Year 2 English Practice)

For Year 2 students learning under the Australian Curriculum (v9 AC9E2LA07), effective pedagogy relies on tactile and visual modeling (such as colour-coded word cards: blue for articles, yellow for adjectives, red for head nouns). Emphasise oral rehearsal before writing by having students build 'silly' and 'sensible' noun groups with physical cards. Explicitly teach the article transition rule ('a' vs 'an') in the context of adjective expansion to prevent common early-literacy phonological errors.

What Are Noun Groups?

From One Word to a Team

Step 1: Add an Article