• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Combining sentences with appositives and participle phrases; Combining sentences). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which is the best way to join these sentences? Leo practised every day. He won the competition. • Leo practised every day, so he won the competition. • Leo practised every day although 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, so he won the competition. / Leo practised every day although 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, so he won the competition.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?
2. My grandmother taught me to bake bread. She is a retired teacher. Which choice combines the sentences most effectively using an appositive? (My grandmother a retired teacher taught me to bake bread. / A retired teacher taught me to bake, my grandmother, bread. / My grandmother, a retired teacher, taught me to bake bread. / My grandmother taught me to bake bread, she is a retired teacher.) → My grandmother, a retired teacher, taught me to bake bread.Prompt: Turn one sentence into a phrase that describes a noun in the other.
3. What has the writer used to combine ideas in this sentence? Glowing in the dark, the jellyfish drifted past the boat. (an appositive / a participle phrase) → a participle phrasePrompt: Does the added phrase start with a noun group (a…, the…) or with a verb form (-ing, -ed, -en)?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Using subordination to show how ideas relate. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day. Most trees grow only a few centimetres a year. Which choice best emphasises the contrast?
• Step 1: Subordination makes one idea depend on another, showing exactly how they relate and which matters most.
• Step 2: 'Whereas' sets up a direct contrast.
• Step 3: So the answer is: Whereas most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day.
• Answer: Whereas most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day.
• 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. Some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day. Most trees grow only a few centimetres a year. Which choice best emphasises the contrast? (Most trees grow a few centimetres a year, and bamboo also grows. / Whereas most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day. / Most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, so some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day. / Because most trees grow slowly, bamboo grows fast.) → Whereas most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day.Prompt: Decide the relationship: contrast, cause, result, condition, or extra detail.
2. Choose the subordinating conjunction that makes the relationship logical. ___ the tickets were expensive, the concert sold out in minutes. (Although / Unless / Because / So that) → AlthoughPrompt: Is the relationship contrast, cause, purpose, condition, comparison or time?

• 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 8 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. Choose the subordinating conjunction that makes the relationship logical. Lena prefers science, ___ her twin loves history. (whereas / because / unless / so that) → whereasPrompt: Is the relationship contrast, cause, purpose, condition, comparison or time?
2. The museum is free. Few local people visit it. Which choice best shows the surprising relationship? (The museum is free, so few local people visit it. / The museum is free and few local people visit it so. / Because the museum is free, few local people visit it. / Even though the museum is free, few local people visit it.) → Even though the museum is free, few local people visit it.Prompt: Decide the relationship: contrast, cause, result, condition, or extra detail.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-9.