English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes
Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number
Grammar
CCSS L.6.1.CEngland: KS3 English (grammar: Standard English)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 accuracy)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number.
- 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: Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom)
Leads to: its or their? Pronouns for organisations and groups (SAT/ACT)
Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the correct pronoun. To ___ did you send the letter? (who / whose / whom) → whomPrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
- Choose the correct pronoun. ___ is coming to the meeting? (Whose / Who / Whom) → WhoPrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
- Choose the correct pronoun. The teacher gave the prize to Ella and ___. (myself / me / I) → mePrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
Hook · 3 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number. 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: Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. The museum asks visitors to leave ___ bags in the lockers.
- Step 1: A pronoun should match its antecedent in person and number; don't switch from 'they' to 'you' or from singular to plural mid-sentence.
- Step 2: 'Visitors' is third person plural: 'their'.
- Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The museum asks visitors to leave their bags in the lockers."
- Step 4: So the answer is: their
- Answer: their
- 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.
- Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. I love swimming because it helps ___ relax. (us / you / them / me) → mePrompt: Find the noun or pronoun the gap refers back to.
- Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up. • If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up. (If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up. / If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up. / If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up. / If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up.) → If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.Prompt: Underline every pronoun in each sentence.
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 pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. Ben and Ruby finished ___ project a day early. (his / her / their / its) → theirPrompt: Find the noun or pronoun the gap refers back to.
- Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • When tourists visit the castle, you should book a tour. • When tourists visit the castle, they should book a tour. • When a tourist visits the castle, you should book a tour. • When tourists visit the castle, we should book a tour. (When tourists visit the castle, you should book a tour. / When tourists visit the castle, they should book a tour. / When a tourist visits the castle, you should book a tour. / When tourists visit the castle, we should book a tour.) → When tourists visit the castle, they should book a tour.Prompt: Underline every pronoun in each sentence.
Watch out for
- Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
- Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom).
- Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
- 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: its or their? Pronouns for organisations and groups (SAT/ACT).
- 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