• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. • Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. • Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. • Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. (Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. / Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. / Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. / Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog.) → Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.
2. A: After we ate, the dog went for a walk. B: After we ate the dog went for a walk. Which sentence avoids a silly misreading? (A / B) → APrompt: Read both sentences aloud, pausing at each comma.
3. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Yes I, would love to come. • Yes I would, love to come. • Yes, I would love to come. • Yes I would love, to come. (Yes I, would love to come. / Yes I would, love to come. / Yes, I would love to come. / Yes I would love, to come.) → Yes, I would love to come.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.

• Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
• Share the objective: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which version is punctuated correctly? • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly.
• Step 1: Put a comma after an introductory word (However,), phrase (After the long journey,) or dependent clause (When the bell rang,).
• Step 2: So the answer is: Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
• Answer: Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 version is punctuated correctly? • Excited by, the news the fans began to cheer. • Excited by the news, the fans began to cheer. • Excited, by the news the fans began to cheer. • Excited by the news the fans, began to cheer. (Excited by, the news the fans began to cheer. / Excited by the news, the fans began to cheer. / Excited, by the news the fans began to cheer. / Excited by the news the fans, began to cheer.) → Excited by the news, the fans began to cheer.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Everyone rushed outside when the bell rang. → nonePrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which version is punctuated correctly? • In the middle of the night a fox, crept into the garden. • In the middle of the night, a fox crept into the garden. • In, the middle of the night a fox crept into the garden. • In the middle, of the night a fox crept into the garden. (In the middle of the night a fox, crept into the garden. / In the middle of the night, a fox crept into the garden. / In, the middle of the night a fox crept into the garden. / In the middle, of the night a fox crept into the garden.) → In the middle of the night, a fox crept into the garden.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Ana opened the letter after lunch. → nonePrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-6.