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

Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum

Punctuation

CCSS L.3.2.CEngland: Y3 GPS (inverted commas)England: Y4 GPS (punctuation of direct speech)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum.

  • 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: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue

Leads to: Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers

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 (Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "I love this song whispered Priya." • "I love this song", whispered Priya. • "I love this song," whispered Priya. • "I love this song." whispered Priya. ("I love this song whispered Priya." / "I love this song", whispered Priya. / "I love this song," whispered Priya. / "I love this song." whispered Priya.) → "I love this song," whispered Priya.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "Can I help," asked the shopkeeper? • "Can I help? asked the shopkeeper." • "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper. • "Can I help"? asked the shopkeeper. ("Can I help," asked the shopkeeper? / "Can I help? asked the shopkeeper." / "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper. / "Can I help"? asked the shopkeeper.) → "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
  3. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "Hurry up, said Dad, or we'll miss the train." • "Hurry up" said Dad "or we'll miss the train." • "Hurry up," said Dad, "or we'll miss the train." • "Hurry up," said Dad, "Or we'll miss the train." ("Hurry up, said Dad, or we'll miss the train." / "Hurry up" said Dad "or we'll miss the train." / "Hurry up," said Dad, "or we'll miss the train." / "Hurry up," said Dad, "Or we'll miss the train.") → "Hurry up," said Dad, "or we'll miss the train."Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum. 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 is punctuated correctly?
  • Step 1: Who is speaking comes first, so put a comma after 'said', then open the speech marks. The full stop goes inside.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."
  • Answer: Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."
  • 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 is punctuated correctly? (The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot, said "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot said "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes".) → The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
  2. What is missing from this sentence? "Books are due back on Friday" said the librarian. (a comma after "said" / nothing: it is already correct / a comma after "Friday", inside the speech marks / a full stop after "Friday", outside the speech marks) → a comma after "Friday", inside the speech marksPrompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.

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. What is missing from this sentence? The coach said "Well played, everyone." (a comma after "everyone", inside the speech marks / a question mark after "everyone" / a comma after "said" / nothing: it is already correct) → a comma after "said"Prompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (Ravi said, "Let's go to the park". / Ravi, said "Let's go to the park." / Ravi said "Let's go to the park." / Ravi said, "Let's go to the park.") → Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue.
  • 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: Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers.
  • 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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Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • A. "Please line up by the door" said Mr Lee.
    • B. "Please line up by the door." said Mr Lee.
    • C. "Please line up by the door," said Mr Lee.
    • D. "Please line up by the door," said, Mr Lee.

  2. Question 2

    What is missing from this sentence? The coach said "Well played, everyone."

    • A. a question mark after "everyone"
    • B. nothing: it is already correct
    • C. a comma after "everyone", inside the speech marks
    • D. a comma after "said"

  3. Question 3

    What is missing from this sentence? Zoe said "My robot can dance."

    • A. a question mark after "dance"
    • B. a comma after "said"
    • C. nothing: it is already correct
    • D. a comma after "dance", inside the speech marks

  4. Question 4

    What is missing from this sentence? Gran said "I made soup for lunch."

    • A. a question mark after "lunch"
    • B. a comma after "lunch", inside the speech marks
    • C. a comma after "said"
    • D. nothing: it is already correct

  5. Question 5

    What is missing from this sentence? "Time for bed" said Mum.

    • A. a full stop after "bed", outside the speech marks
    • B. a comma after "said"
    • C. nothing: it is already correct
    • D. a comma after "bed", inside the speech marks

  6. Question 6

    What is missing from this sentence? The vet said "Your cat is very healthy."

    • A. a question mark after "healthy"
    • B. nothing: it is already correct
    • C. a comma after "healthy", inside the speech marks
    • D. a comma after "said"

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Answer key: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum

  1. 1. C. "Please line up by the door," said Mr Lee.

  2. 2. D. a comma after "said"

  3. 3. B. a comma after "said"

  4. 4. C. a comma after "said"

  5. 5. D. a comma after "bed", inside the speech marks

  6. 6. D. a comma after "said"