English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Who or what does the pronoun point back to?
Grammar
CCSS L.3.1.FEngland: Y3 GPS (pronouns)England: Y4 GPS (pronouns for cohesion)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Who or what does the pronoun point back to?.
- 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: Pronouns; Who or what? Did what? (subject and predicate)
Leads to: Pronoun or noun? Make it clear who is meant
Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Pronouns; Who or what? Did what? (subject and predicate)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the pronoun that fits. Jack is my friend. I play with ___ every day. (he / them / him / her) → himPrompt: Who or what is the gap talking about?
- Which part is the SUBJECT (who or what the sentence is about)? The little puppy chased its tail. (The little puppy / its tail / The little / puppy chased) → The little puppyPrompt: Ask: who or what did something?
- Which part is the PREDICATE (what the subject does)? The robot in the corner flashed its lights. (in the corner / The robot / flashed its lights. / The robot in) → flashed its lights.Prompt: Find the subject first: who or what?
Hook · 5 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Who or what does the pronoun point back to?. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: When Grandpa and Leo finished the jigsaw, they cheered. Who does "they" refer to?
- Step 1: A pronoun stands in for a noun that came earlier. That noun is called its antecedent.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Grandpa and Leo
- Answer: Grandpa and Leo
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- The tablet will not turn on because its battery is flat. What does "its" refer to? (the battery / the screen / the tablet / the charger) → the tabletPrompt: Find the pronoun, then look back earlier in the sentence.
- Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The trees lost ___ leaves in the autumn. (it's / its / there / their) → theirPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The phone buzzed in ___ case. (them / their / it's / its) → itsPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?
- The tablet will not turn on because its battery is flat. What does "its" refer to? (the battery / the charger / the tablet / the screen) → the tabletPrompt: Find the pronoun, then look back earlier in the sentence.
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: Pronouns.
- 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
- Move on to: Pronoun or noun? Make it clear who is meant.
- 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