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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Find the prepositional phrase

Grammar

CCSS L.4.1.EEngland: Y3 GPS (prepositions)England: Y4 GPS (adverbials)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Find the prepositional phrase.

  • 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: Prepositions of time, place and cause

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Prepositions of time, place and cause). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the preposition that fits. Put the cup ___ the table. (on / by / in / at) → onPrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?
  2. Which word is the preposition? The boat drifted towards the island. (drifted / island / towards / boat) → towardsPrompt: A preposition comes before a noun or noun phrase.
  3. Choose the preposition that fits. We have swimming ___ Tuesday. (in / at / on / by) → onPrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Find the prepositional phrase. 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 group of words is a prepositional phrase? The book on the top shelf is mine.
  • Step 1: A prepositional phrase is a preposition + a noun phrase: under + the warm blanket.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: on the top shelf
  • Answer: on the top shelf
  • 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 group of words is a prepositional phrase? During the storm, the lights flickered. (flickered / the lights flickered / the lights / During the storm) → During the stormPrompt: Find the preposition: a word like under, after, with, over, behind, across, on, through.
  2. The kite got stuck in a tree. What does "in a tree" tell you? (where / when / which one (it describes a noun)) → wherePrompt: Ask: does it tell where, when, or which person or thing?

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. The fox crept into the garden. What does "into the garden" tell you? (where / when / which one (it describes a noun)) → wherePrompt: Ask: does it tell where, when, or which person or thing?
  2. Which group of words is a prepositional phrase? Leo hid the present behind the sofa. (hid the / the present / behind the sofa / Leo hid) → behind the sofaPrompt: Find the preposition: a word like under, after, with, over, behind, across, on, through.

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: Prepositions of time, place and cause.
  • 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

  • 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-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Find the prepositional phrase

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which group of words is a prepositional phrase? The puppy ran through the long grass.

    • A. through the long grass
    • B. the puppy
    • C. ran through
    • D. The puppy ran

  2. Question 2

    During the storm, the lights flickered. What does "During the storm" tell you?

    • A. where
    • B. when
    • C. which one (it describes a noun)

  3. Question 3

    Which group of words is a prepositional phrase? We waited outside the museum for an hour.

    • A. We waited
    • B. outside the museum
    • C. waited outside
    • D. an hour for

  4. Question 4

    The cat slept under the warm blanket. What does "under the warm blanket" tell you?

    • A. where
    • B. when
    • C. which one (it describes a noun)

  5. Question 5

    Which group of words is a prepositional phrase? The girl with the red scarf waved.

    • A. The girl
    • B. waved
    • C. girl with
    • D. with the red scarf

  6. Question 6

    The boy in the blue helmet won the race. What does "in the blue helmet" tell you?

    • A. where
    • B. when
    • C. which one (it describes a noun)

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Answer key: Find the prepositional phrase

  1. 1. A. through the long grass

  2. 2. B. when

  3. 3. B. outside the museum

  4. 4. A. where

  5. 5. D. with the red scarf

  6. 6. C. which one (it describes a noun)