Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

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.
  1. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • After the storm, the garden was a mess. • After, the storm the garden was a mess. • After the storm the garden, was a mess. • After the storm the garden was, a mess. (After the storm, the garden was a mess. / After, the storm the garden was a mess. / After the storm the garden, was a mess. / After the storm the garden was, a mess.) → After the storm, the garden was a mess.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.
  2. A: Ravi, the goalkeeper is injured. B: Ravi, the goalkeeper, is injured. In which sentence is Ravi the person who is injured? (A / B) → BPrompt: Read both sentences aloud, pausing at each comma.
  3. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • After the storm the garden was, a mess. • After the storm the garden, was a mess. • After, the storm the garden was a mess. • After the storm, the garden was a mess. (After the storm the garden was, a mess. / After the storm the garden, was a mess. / After, the storm the garden was a mess. / After the storm, the garden was a mess.) → After the storm, the garden was a mess.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.
  1. Which version is punctuated correctly? • When the bell, rang everyone rushed outside. • When the bell rang, everyone rushed outside. • When, the bell rang everyone rushed outside. • When the bell rang everyone, rushed outside. (When the bell, rang everyone rushed outside. / When the bell rang, everyone rushed outside. / When, the bell rang everyone rushed outside. / When the bell rang everyone, rushed outside.) → When the bell rang, everyone rushed outside.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
  2. 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?

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. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Excited by the news the fans, began to cheer. • Excited by the news, the fans began to cheer. • Excited by, the news the fans began to cheer. • Excited, by the news the fans began to cheer. (Excited by the news the fans, began to cheer. / Excited by the news, the fans began to cheer. / Excited by, the news the fans began to cheer. / Excited, by the news the fans began to cheer.) → Excited by the news, the fans began to cheer.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
  2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Ana opened the letter after lunch. → nonePrompt: 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

eurekami

Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    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.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Which version is punctuated correctly? • However the, bus was late. • However, the bus was late. • However the bus, was late. • However the bus was, late.

    • A. However the, bus was late.
    • B. However, the bus was late.
    • C. However the bus, was late.
    • D. However the bus was, late.

  3. Question 3

    Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Surprisingly the tiny team won the cup.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Which version is punctuated correctly? • Yes I, would love to come. • Yes I would love, to come. • Yes I would, love to come. • Yes, I would love to come.

    • A. Yes I, would love to come.
    • B. Yes I would love, to come.
    • C. Yes I would, love to come.
    • D. Yes, I would love to come.

  5. Question 5

    Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Leave the building at once if you hear the alarm.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    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.

    • A. If it rains, tomorrow the match will be cancelled.
    • B. If it rains tomorrow the match, will be cancelled.
    • C. If, it rains tomorrow the match will be cancelled.
    • D. If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

  1. 1. happy

  2. 2. B. However, the bus was late.

  3. 3. Surprisingly

  4. 4. D. Yes, I would love to come.

  5. 5. none

  6. 6. D. If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.