• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Expanded noun phrases; Adjectives). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which group of words is the longest expanded noun phrase in the sentence? A huge dog with muddy paws ran into the kitchen. (muddy paws ran / A huge dog / A huge dog with muddy paws / ran into the kitchen) → A huge dog with muddy pawsPrompt: Find the main noun first.
2. Which word is an adjective (it describes a noun)? The old man walked his dog. (old / dog / walked / man) → oldPrompt: Find the noun first.
3. Choose the adjective that fits the gap. A ___ owl hooted in the dark. (softly / dark / wise / hooted) → wisePrompt: The gap comes before a noun. What word could describe it?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Order of adjectives (a lovely little old red box). Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which noun phrase has the adjectives in the natural order?
• Step 1: Adjectives usually go in this order: opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose, then the noun.
• Step 2: So the answer is: a tiny green frog
• Answer: a tiny green frog
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 noun phrase has the adjectives in the natural order? (a long silver chain / a silver long chain) → a long silver chainPrompt: Say both aloud. Which sounds natural to an English speaker?
2. What kind of adjective is "enormous"? (size / colour (color) / origin (where from) / material (what it is made of)) → sizePrompt: Ask: does it say what someone thinks, how big, how old, what colour, where from, or what it is made of?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which noun phrase has the adjectives in the natural order? (a tiny green frog / a green tiny frog) → a tiny green frogPrompt: Say both aloud. Which sounds natural to an English speaker?
2. What kind of adjective is "huge"? (size / age / colour (color) / material (what it is made of)) → sizePrompt: Ask: does it say what someone thinks, how big, how old, what colour, where from, or what it is made of?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.