English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes
Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses
Punctuation
CCSS L.6.2CCSS L.5.2.BEngland: KS3 English (punctuation)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 punctuation)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses.
- 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: Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses
Leads to: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?
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 (Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. • Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. • Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. • Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. (Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. / Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. / Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. / Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog.) → Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.
- A: Ready, Mum? Let's go! B: Ready Mum? Let's go! Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (A / B) → APrompt: Read both sentences aloud, pausing at each comma.
- Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. • Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. • Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. • Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. (Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. / Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. / Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. / Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog.) → Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.
Hook · 3 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses. 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 version is punctuated correctly? • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly.
- Step 1: Put a comma after an introductory word (However,), phrase (After the long journey,) or dependent clause (When the bell rang,).
- Step 2: So the answer is: Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
- Answer: Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
- 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.
- Which version is punctuated correctly? • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly. • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. (Because, the road was icy we drove slowly. / Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. / Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. / Because the road, was icy we drove slowly.) → Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
- Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Sadly the shop had closed. → SadlyPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?
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.
- Which version is punctuated correctly? • If it rains, tomorrow the match will be cancelled. • If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. • If it rains tomorrow the match, will be cancelled. • If, it rains tomorrow the match will be cancelled. (If it rains, tomorrow the match will be cancelled. / If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. / If it rains tomorrow the match, will be cancelled. / If, it rains tomorrow the match will be cancelled.) → If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
- Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Tired but happy the hikers reached the hut. → happyPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?
Watch out for
- Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
- Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses.
- 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: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?.
- 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-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder