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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? • 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.
  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? • "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.

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? ("Books are due back on Friday." said the librarian. / "Books are due back on Friday," said the librarian. / "Books are due back on Friday", said the librarian. / "Books are due back on Friday," said, the librarian.) → "Books are due back on Friday," said the librarian.Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
  2. What is missing from this sentence? Ava said "I found a fossil." (a question mark after "fossil" / a comma after "fossil", inside the speech marks / 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.

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 sentence is punctuated correctly? ("Books are due back on Friday", said the librarian. / "Books are due back on Friday," said, the librarian. / "Books are due back on Friday" said the librarian. / "Books are due back on Friday," said the librarian.) → "Books are due back on Friday," said the librarian.Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
  2. What is missing from this sentence? "Time for bed" said Mum. (a comma after "bed", inside the speech marks / a full stop after "bed", outside the speech marks / nothing: it is already correct / a comma after "said") → a comma after "bed", inside the speech marksPrompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about 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

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

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

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • A. "Your cat is very healthy," said, the vet.
    • B. "Your cat is very healthy" said the vet.
    • C. "Your cat is very healthy," said the vet.
    • D. "Your cat is very healthy." said the vet.

  3. Question 3

    What is missing from this sentence? Dad said "The bus is coming."

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

  4. Question 4

    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 question mark after "Friday"
    • D. a comma after "said"

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    What is missing from this sentence? "The bus is coming" said Dad.

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

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

  1. 1. B. a comma after "dance", inside the speech marks

  2. 2. C. "Your cat is very healthy," said the vet.

  3. 3. C. a comma after "said"

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

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

  6. 6. B. a comma after "coming", inside the speech marks