• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Subordinating conjunctions: when, if, because, although, until; Simple or compound sentence?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Choose the conjunction that makes the best sense. ___ the film was long, nobody got bored. (Until / Because / Although / If) → AlthoughPrompt: How are the two ideas linked? Time, reason, condition or contrast?
2. Is this a simple sentence or a compound sentence? My dog loves the snow, but my cat hates it. (simple sentence / compound sentence) → compound sentencePrompt: Count the subject–verb pairs. Each pair that could stand alone is a clause.
3. Which word is the subordinating conjunction? You can play outside if you finish your lunch. (outside / if / play / finish) → ifPrompt: Find the word that joins two parts of the sentence.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Main clause or subordinate clause?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which part is the SUBORDINATE clause? We stayed indoors because it was cold.
• Step 1: A main clause makes sense on its own. A subordinate clause adds information and depends on the main clause.
• Step 2: So the answer is: because it was cold
• Answer: because it was cold
• 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 part is the SUBORDINATE clause? If you finish early, you can read a book. (If you finish early / you can read a book / a book) → If you finish earlyPrompt: A subordinate clause starts with a word like although, because, when, if, until, since, before, as or unless.
2. Which part is the MAIN clause? When the bell rang, the children lined up. (When the bell rang / the bell / the children lined up) → the children lined upPrompt: Cover each part. Which one could be a sentence by itself?

• 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. What is this group of words? "before the storm began" (main clause / subordinate clause / phrase (no verb)) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
2. Which part is the MAIN clause? We stayed indoors because it was cold. (because it was cold / We stayed indoors / indoors because) → We stayed indoorsPrompt: Cover each part. Which one could be a sentence by itself?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.