English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew
Vocabulary
CCSS L.3.5.CEngland: Y3/4 Vocabulary (shades of meaning)England: Y5 GPS (adverbs and modal verbs of possibility)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew.
- 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: Shades of meaning
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Shades of meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? gigantic, huge, big (gigantic / huge / big) → bigPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
- Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? annoyed, angry, furious (annoyed / angry / furious) → annoyedPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
- Which word is the STRONGEST? glad, happy, overjoyed (glad / happy / overjoyed) → overjoyedPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
Hook · 3 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew. 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: In which sentence is Ana LEAST sure?
- Step 1: "wondered whether" means it is only a question in their mind.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Ana wondered whether the cookies were in the cupboard.
- Answer: Ana wondered whether the cookies were in the cupboard.
- 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.
- In which sentence is Ravi MOST sure? (Ravi knew that it would snow overnight. / Ravi suspected that it would snow overnight. / Ravi wondered whether it would snow overnight. / Ravi believed that it would snow overnight.) → Ravi knew that it would snow overnight.Prompt: Look only at the verb after the name.
- Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. The sun will ___ rise tomorrow morning. (perhaps / possibly / certainly / maybe not) → certainlyPrompt: Is the fact always true, likely, or only possible?
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.
- Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. I'm not sure where my pencil is. It ___ be in my bag. (could / always / definitely will / must certainly) → couldPrompt: Is the fact always true, likely, or only possible?
- In which sentence is Sam LEAST sure? (Sam wondered whether the key was under the mat. / Sam believed that the key was under the mat. / Sam knew that the key was under the mat. / Sam suspected that the key was under the mat.) → Sam wondered whether the key was under the mat.Prompt: Look only at the verb after the name.
Watch out for
- Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
- Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Shades of meaning.
- Use concrete materials: word 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
- 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