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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? • "Let's go to the park, said Mia." • "Let's go to the park" said Mia. • "Let's go to the park," said Mia. • Let's go to the park," said Mia. ("Let's go to the park, said Mia." / "Let's go to the park" said Mia. / "Let's go to the park," said Mia. / Let's go to the park," said Mia.) → "Let's go to the park," said Mia.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Grandad said "It's time for bed". • Grandad said, "It's time for bed." • Grandad said, It's time for bed. • Grandad said, "it's time for bed." (Grandad said "It's time for bed". / Grandad said, "It's time for bed." / Grandad said, It's time for bed. / Grandad said, "it's time for bed.") → Grandad said, "It's time for bed."Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
  3. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Grandad said "It's time for bed". • Grandad said, "it's time for bed." • Grandad said, It's time for bed. • Grandad said, "It's time for bed." (Grandad said "It's time for bed". / Grandad said, "it's time for bed." / Grandad said, It's time for bed. / Grandad said, "It's time for bed.") → Grandad said, "It's time for bed."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? (Kofi said, "This puzzle is tricky". / Kofi said "This puzzle is tricky." / Kofi said, "This puzzle is tricky." / Kofi said, This puzzle is tricky.) → Kofi said, "This puzzle is tricky."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
  2. What is missing from this sentence? The coach said "Well played, everyone." (nothing: it is already correct / a comma after "said" / a question mark after "everyone" / a comma after "everyone", inside the speech marks) → a comma after "said"Prompt: 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 vet said "Your cat is very healthy." (a question mark after "healthy" / nothing: it is already correct / a comma after "said" / a comma after "healthy", inside the speech marks) → a comma after "said"Prompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (Mr Lee said "Please line up by the door." / Mr Lee said, "Please line up by the door." / Mr Lee, said "Please line up by the door." / Mr Lee said, Please line up by the door.) → Mr Lee said, "Please line up by the door."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

eurekami

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

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What is missing from this sentence? The librarian said "Books are due back on Friday."

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

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • A. Ava said, I found a fossil.
    • B. Ava said, "I found a fossil."
    • C. Ava, said "I found a fossil."
    • D. Ava said "I found a fossil."

  3. Question 3

    What is missing from this sentence? Kofi said "This puzzle is tricky."

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

  4. Question 4

    What is missing from this sentence? Ava said "I found a fossil."

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

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    What is missing from this sentence? The pilot said "We will land in ten minutes."

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

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

  1. 1. C. a comma after "said"

  2. 2. B. Ava said, "I found a fossil."

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

  4. 4. D. a comma after "said"

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

  6. 6. B. a comma after "said"