English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
Comparatives and superlatives
Grammar
CCSS L.3.1.GEngland: Y2 GPS (-er, -est)England: Y3 GPS
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Comparatives and superlatives.
- 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: Adjectives
Leads to: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like
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 (Adjectives). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word is an adjective (it describes a noun)? We saw a shiny star. (star / saw / we / shiny) → shinyPrompt: Find the noun first.
- Choose the adjective that fits the gap. A ___ owl hooted in the dark. (hooted / dark / softly / wise) → wisePrompt: The gap comes before a noun. What word could describe it?
- Which word is an adjective (it describes a noun)? The fluffy kitten slept. (kitten / slept / the / fluffy) → fluffyPrompt: Find the noun first.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Comparatives and superlatives. 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 correct form of the adjective. The blue whale is the ___ animal in the world.
- Step 1: Comparatives (-er, more) compare two things; superlatives (-est, most) pick out one from a group.
- Step 2: Picking one out of a group with a short adjective: add -est.
- Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The blue whale is the largest animal in the world."
- Step 4: So the answer is: largest
- Answer: largest
- 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 correct form of the adjective. Sam is ___ than his brother. (most careful / carefuller / more careful / carefullest) → more carefulPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?
- Choose the correct form of the adjective. This bag is ___ than that one. (heavyer / heaviest / heavier / more heavy) → heavierPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?
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 correct form of the adjective. This puzzle is ___ than the last one. (difficultest / difficulter / more difficult / most difficult) → more difficultPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?
- Choose the correct form of the adjective. This bag is ___ than that one. (heavyer / heaviest / more heavy / heavier) → heavierPrompt: Are you comparing two things or more than two?
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: Adjectives.
- 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: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like.
- 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