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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Commas in lists

Punctuation

CCSS L.3.2CCSS L.5.2.AEngland: Y2 GPS (commas in lists)England: Y3 GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Commas in lists.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Capital letters and full stops (periods)

Leads to: Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses; Proofreading for punctuation; Comma before and, but, or, so in compound sentences

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Capital letters and full stops (periods)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence is written correctly? • our class went to the farm. • Our class went to the farm • our class went to the farm • Our class went to the farm. (our class went to the farm. / Our class went to the farm / our class went to the farm / Our class went to the farm.) → Our class went to the farm.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
  2. This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? every monday mrs lee teaches us art. (2 / 3 / 4 / 5) → 4Prompt: Count the first word.
  3. Which sentence is written correctly? • the bus was late today. • the bus was late today • The bus was late today • The bus was late today. (the bus was late today. / the bus was late today / The bus was late today / The bus was late today.) → The bus was late today.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Commas in lists. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which sentence uses commas correctly? • We saw lions tigers and bears. • We saw lions, tigers, and, bears. • We saw, lions, tigers and bears. • We saw lions, tigers and bears.
  • Step 1: Put a comma between items in a list. Before the last item use 'and' (US writers often add a comma before 'and' too: the serial or Oxford comma).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: We saw lions, tigers and bears.
  • Answer: We saw lions, tigers and bears.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which sentence uses commas correctly? • I packed a hat, a towel, and, some sun cream. • I packed a hat, a towel and some sun cream. • I packed a hat a towel and some sun cream. • I packed, a hat, a towel and some sun cream. (I packed a hat, a towel, and, some sun cream. / I packed a hat, a towel and some sun cream. / I packed a hat a towel and some sun cream. / I packed, a hat, a towel and some sun cream.) → I packed a hat, a towel and some sun cream.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.
  2. How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need eggs flour sugar and butter. (0 / 1 / 2 / 4) → 2Prompt: Count the items in the list.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need Paris Rome Madrid and Berlin. (0 / 2 / 3 / 4) → 2Prompt: Count the items in the list.
  2. Which sentence uses commas correctly? • Grandpa, grows carrots, beans, peas, and, onions. • Grandpa grows carrots beans peas and onions. • Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions. • Grandpa grows, carrots, beans, peas and onions. (Grandpa, grows carrots, beans, peas, and, onions. / Grandpa grows carrots beans peas and onions. / Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions. / Grandpa grows, carrots, beans, peas and onions.) → Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Capital letters and full stops (periods).
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses; Proofreading for punctuation; Comma before and, but, or, so in compound sentences.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Commas in lists

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence uses commas correctly? • I packed a hat a towel and some sun cream. • I packed a hat, a towel and some sun cream. • I packed a hat, a towel, and, some sun cream. • I packed, a hat, a towel and some sun cream.

    • A. I packed a hat a towel and some sun cream.
    • B. I packed a hat, a towel and some sun cream.
    • C. I packed a hat, a towel, and, some sun cream.
    • D. I packed, a hat, a towel and some sun cream.

  2. Question 2

    How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need eggs flour sugar and butter.

    • A. 0
    • B. 1
    • C. 2
    • D. 4

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses commas correctly? • Bring a pencil, a ruler and an eraser. • Bring a pencil a ruler and an eraser. • Bring, a pencil, a ruler and an eraser. • Bring a pencil, a ruler, and, an eraser.

    • A. Bring a pencil, a ruler and an eraser.
    • B. Bring a pencil a ruler and an eraser.
    • C. Bring, a pencil, a ruler and an eraser.
    • D. Bring a pencil, a ruler, and, an eraser.

  4. Question 4

    How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need a torch a map and a compass.

    • A. 0
    • B. 1
    • C. 2
    • D. 3

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence uses commas correctly? • Grandpa grows, carrots, beans, peas and onions. • Grandpa, grows carrots, beans, peas, and, onions. • Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions. • Grandpa grows carrots beans peas and onions.

    • A. Grandpa grows, carrots, beans, peas and onions.
    • B. Grandpa, grows carrots, beans, peas, and, onions.
    • C. Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions.
    • D. Grandpa grows carrots beans peas and onions.

  6. Question 6

    How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need cats dogs and rabbits.

    • A. 0
    • B. 1
    • C. 2
    • D. 3

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Answer key: Commas in lists

  1. 1. B. I packed a hat, a towel and some sun cream.

  2. 2. C. 2

  3. 3. A. Bring a pencil, a ruler and an eraser.

  4. 4. B. 1

  5. 5. C. Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions.

  6. 6. B. 1