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

Comparatives and superlatives

Grammar

CCSS L.3.1.GEngland: Y2 GPS (-er, -est)England: Y3 GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Comparatives and superlatives.

  • 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: Adjectives

Leads to: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like

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

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Adjectives). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which word is an adjective (it describes a noun)? My grumpy brother stomped upstairs. (grumpy / stomped / brother / upstairs) → grumpyPrompt: Find the noun first.
  2. Choose the adjective that fits the gap. We drank ___ hot chocolate by the fire. (fire / drank / warm / slowly) → warmPrompt: The gap comes before a noun. What word could describe it?
  3. Which word is an adjective (it describes a noun)? The old man walked his dog. (old / man / walked / dog) → oldPrompt: Find the noun first.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Comparatives and superlatives. 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: Choose the correct form of the adjective. The blue whale is the ___ animal in the world.
  • Step 1: Comparatives (-er, more) compare two things; superlatives (-est, most) pick out one from a group.
  • Step 2: Picking one out of a group with a short adjective: add -est.
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The blue whale is the largest animal in the world."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: largest
  • Answer: largest
  • 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. Choose the correct form of the adjective. Of the three sisters, Nia is the ___. (most tall / tallest / more tall / taller) → tallestPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?
  2. Choose the correct form of the adjective. A mouse is ___ than a cat. (most small / more small / smallest / smaller) → smallerPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?

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. Choose the correct form of the adjective. The cheetah is the ___ animal on land. (most fast / fastest / more fast / faster) → fastestPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?
  2. Choose the correct form of the adjective. Sam is ___ than his brother. (carefuller / more careful / carefullest / most careful) → more carefulPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Adjectives.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • 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: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like.
  • 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

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Comparatives and superlatives

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the correct form of the adjective. Sam is ___ than his brother.

    • A. more careful
    • B. carefuller
    • C. carefullest
    • D. most careful

  2. Question 2

    Choose the correct form of the adjective. A mouse is ___ than a cat.

    • A. most small
    • B. smallest
    • C. smaller
    • D. more small

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct form of the adjective. That was the ___ storm in years.

    • A. most bad
    • B. worse
    • C. baddest
    • D. worst

  4. Question 4

    Choose the correct form of the adjective. That was the ___ film I have ever seen!

    • A. excitingest
    • B. excitinger
    • C. most exciting
    • D. more exciting

  5. Question 5

    Choose the correct form of the adjective. The blue whale is the ___ animal in the world.

    • A. more large
    • B. largest
    • C. most large
    • D. larger

  6. Question 6

    Choose the correct form of the adjective. My dog is ___ than your dog.

    • A. bigger
    • B. more big
    • C. biggest
    • D. biger

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Answer key: Comparatives and superlatives

  1. 1. A. more careful

  2. 2. C. smaller

  3. 3. D. worst

  4. 4. C. most exciting

  5. 5. B. largest

  6. 6. A. bigger