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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Combining sentences

Writing & Editing

CCSS L.3.1.ICCSS L.3.3.AEngland: Y3 Writing (conjunctions)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Combining sentences.

  • 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: Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating

Leads to: Topic sentences and paragraphs; Fragments and run-on sentences; Using subordination to show how ideas relate

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. ___ he was tired, Jamal finished the race. (Although / So / Because / Unless) → AlthoughPrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?
  2. Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? We waited until the rain stopped. (until / rain / waited / stopped) → untilPrompt: A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that cannot stand on its own.
  3. Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. Brush your teeth ___ you go to bed. (before / so / although / unless) → beforePrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
  • Share the objective: Combining sentences. 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 is the best way to join these sentences? The shop was shut. We went home. • The shop was shut but we went home. • The shop was shut because we went home. • The shop was shut, we went home. • The shop was shut, so we went home.
  • Step 1: Choose the conjunction that shows the link, and use a comma before and, but, or, so when joining two full sentences (it can be left out when they are short).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: The shop was shut, so we went home.
  • Answer: The shop was shut, so we went home.
  • 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 is the best way to join these sentences? The film was long. It was exciting. • The film was long so exciting. • The film was long, it was exciting. • The film long was but exciting. • The film was long but exciting. (The film was long so exciting. / The film was long, it was exciting. / The film long was but exciting. / The film was long but exciting.) → The film was long but exciting.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?
  2. Which is the best way to join these sentences? The film was long. It was exciting. • The film was long so exciting. • The film was long, it was exciting. • The film was long but exciting. • The film long was but exciting. (The film was long so exciting. / The film was long, it was exciting. / The film was long but exciting. / The film long was but exciting.) → The film was long but exciting.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?

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 is the best way to join these sentences? Leo practised every day. He won the competition. • Leo practised every day, he won the competition. • Leo practised every day although he won the competition. • Leo practised every day, so he won the competition. • Leo practised every day or he won the competition. (Leo practised every day, he won the competition. / Leo practised every day although he won the competition. / Leo practised every day, so he won the competition. / Leo practised every day or he won the competition.) → Leo practised every day, so he won the competition.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?
  2. Which is the best way to join these sentences? Ada has a cat. Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat, a rabbit and. • Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has. • Ada has a cat, Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat and a rabbit. (Ada has a cat, a rabbit and. / Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has. / Ada has a cat, Ada has a rabbit. / Ada has a cat and a rabbit.) → Ada has a cat and a rabbit.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?

Watch out for

  • Writing everything at once without planning.
  • Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating.
  • Use concrete materials: a model text.
  • 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: Topic sentences and paragraphs; Fragments and run-on sentences; Using subordination to show how ideas relate.
  • 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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Combining sentences

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? The dog was tired. It lay down. • The dog, was tired so it lay down. • The dog was tired so, it lay down. • The dog was tired, it lay down. • The dog was tired, so it lay down.

    • A. The dog, was tired so it lay down.
    • B. The dog was tired so, it lay down.
    • C. The dog was tired, it lay down.
    • D. The dog was tired, so it lay down.

  2. Question 2

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? Ada has a cat. Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat and a rabbit. • Ada has a cat, Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat, a rabbit and. • Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has.

    • A. Ada has a cat and a rabbit.
    • B. Ada has a cat, Ada has a rabbit.
    • C. Ada has a cat, a rabbit and.
    • D. Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has.

  3. Question 3

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? The shop was shut. We went home. • The shop was shut, we went home. • The shop was shut, so we went home. • The shop was shut but we went home. • The shop was shut because we went home.

    • A. The shop was shut, we went home.
    • B. The shop was shut, so we went home.
    • C. The shop was shut but we went home.
    • D. The shop was shut because we went home.

  4. Question 4

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? Ada has a cat. Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat, a rabbit and. • Ada has a cat, Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat and a rabbit. • Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has.

    • A. Ada has a cat, a rabbit and.
    • B. Ada has a cat, Ada has a rabbit.
    • C. Ada has a cat and a rabbit.
    • D. Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has.

  5. Question 5

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? You can have juice. You can have milk. • You can have juice because milk. • You can have juice but milk. • You can have juice or milk. • You can have juice, you can have milk.

    • A. You can have juice because milk.
    • B. You can have juice but milk.
    • C. You can have juice or milk.
    • D. You can have juice, you can have milk.

  6. Question 6

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? The film was long. It was exciting. • The film was long so exciting. • The film was long, it was exciting. • The film was long but exciting. • The film long was but exciting.

    • A. The film was long so exciting.
    • B. The film was long, it was exciting.
    • C. The film was long but exciting.
    • D. The film long was but exciting.

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Answer key: Combining sentences

  1. 1. D. The dog was tired, so it lay down.

  2. 2. A. Ada has a cat and a rabbit.

  3. 3. B. The shop was shut, so we went home.

  4. 4. C. Ada has a cat and a rabbit.

  5. 5. C. You can have juice or milk.

  6. 6. C. The film was long but exciting.