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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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. Brush your teeth ___ you go to bed. (unless / before / so / although) → beforePrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?
  2. Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? She smiled when she saw the cake. (when / cake / smiled / saw) → whenPrompt: A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that cannot stand on its own.
  3. Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. The road was icy, ___ we drove slowly. (unless / although / so / because) → soPrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 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.
  1. Which is the best way to join these sentences? I like apples. I don't like pears. • I like apples but, I don't like pears. • I like apples because I don't like pears. • I like apples, I don't like pears. • I like apples, but I don't like pears. (I like apples but, I don't like pears. / I like apples because I don't like pears. / I like apples, I don't like pears. / I like apples, but I don't like pears.) → I like apples, but I don't like pears.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? We stayed inside. It was raining. • We stayed inside but it was raining. • We stayed inside because it was raining. • Because we stayed inside it was raining. • We stayed inside, it was raining. (We stayed inside but it was raining. / We stayed inside because it was raining. / Because we stayed inside it was raining. / We stayed inside, it was raining.) → We stayed inside because it was raining.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?

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.
  1. Which is the best way to join these sentences? The shop was shut. 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. • 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. / The shop was shut but we went home.) → The shop was shut, so we went home.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, Ada has a rabbit. • Ada has a cat, a rabbit and. • Ada has a cat and Ada a rabbit has. • 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. / 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/ 8

  1. Question 1

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

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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

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

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

  4. Question 4

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

  5. Question 5

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? I like apples. I don't like pears. • I like apples, I don't like pears. • I like apples, but I don't like pears. • I like apples but, I don't like pears. • I like apples because I don't like pears.

    • A. I like apples, I don't like pears.
    • B. I like apples, but I don't like pears.
    • C. I like apples but, I don't like pears.
    • D. I like apples because I don't like pears.

  6. Question 6

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? I like apples. I don't like pears. • I like apples, but I don't like pears. • I like apples but, I don't like pears. • I like apples because I don't like pears. • I like apples, I don't like pears.

    • A. I like apples, but I don't like pears.
    • B. I like apples but, I don't like pears.
    • C. I like apples because I don't like pears.
    • D. I like apples, I don't like pears.

  7. Question 7

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

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

  8. Question 8

    Which is the best way to join these sentences? I like apples. I don't like pears. • I like apples because I don't like pears. • I like apples, but I don't like pears. • I like apples, I don't like pears. • I like apples but, I don't like pears.

    • A. I like apples because I don't like pears.
    • B. I like apples, but I don't like pears.
    • C. I like apples, I don't like pears.
    • D. I like apples but, I don't like pears.

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Answer key: Combining sentences

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

  2. 2. D. You can have juice or milk.

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

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

  5. 5. B. I like apples, but I don't like pears.

  6. 6. A. I like apples, but I don't like pears.

  7. 7. C. The shop was shut, so we went home.

  8. 8. B. I like apples, but I don't like pears.