English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum
Punctuation
CCSS L.3.2.CEngland: Y3 GPS (inverted commas)England: Y4 GPS (punctuation of direct speech)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum.
- 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: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue
Leads to: Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers
Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Grandad said, It's time for bed. • Grandad said, "It's time for bed." • Grandad said, "it's time for bed." • Grandad said "It's time for bed". (Grandad said, It's time for bed. / Grandad said, "It's time for bed." / Grandad said, "it's time for bed." / Grandad said "It's time for bed".) → Grandad said, "It's time for bed."Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "Watch out! shouted the guard." • Watch out! "shouted the guard." • "Watch out"! shouted the guard. • "Watch out!" shouted the guard. ("Watch out! shouted the guard." / Watch out! "shouted the guard." / "Watch out"! shouted the guard. / "Watch out!" shouted the guard.) → "Watch out!" shouted the guard.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "I love this song," whispered Priya. • "I love this song whispered Priya." • "I love this song", whispered Priya. • "I love this song." whispered Priya. ("I love this song," whispered Priya. / "I love this song whispered Priya." / "I love this song", whispered Priya. / "I love this song." whispered Priya.) → "I love this song," whispered Priya.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
Hook · 5 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum. 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: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- Step 1: Who is speaking comes first, so put a comma after 'said', then open the speech marks. The full stop goes inside.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."
- Answer: Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."
- 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.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (The pilot said, We will land in ten minutes. / The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot, said "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes".) → The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
- What is missing from this sentence? Gran said "I made soup for lunch." (nothing: it is already correct / a comma after "lunch", inside the speech marks / a comma after "said" / a question mark after "lunch") → a comma after "said"Prompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.
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.
- What is missing from this sentence? "Let's go to the park" said Ravi. (nothing: it is already correct / a full stop after "park", outside the speech marks / a comma after "said" / a comma after "park", inside the speech marks) → a comma after "park", inside the speech marksPrompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (The vet said, "Your cat is very healthy." / The vet said, Your cat is very healthy. / The vet, said "Your cat is very healthy." / The vet said, "Your cat is very healthy".) → The vet said, "Your cat is very healthy."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
Watch out for
- Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
- Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue.
- Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
- 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: Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers.
- 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