English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes
Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses
Grammar
CCSS L.7.1.AEngland: Y6 GPS (clauses)England: KS3 Grammar
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses.
- 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: Simple, compound and complex sentences
Leads to: Misplaced and dangling modifiers; Gerunds, participles and infinitives
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 (Simple, compound and complex sentences). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What type of sentence is this? The fox crept through the frosty field. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → simplePrompt: Count the clauses (each has its own subject and verb).
- What type of sentence is this? The dog barked whenever the postman came. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → complexPrompt: Count the clauses (each has its own subject and verb).
- What type of sentence is this? The bell rang, and the pupils filed out. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → compoundPrompt: Count the clauses (each has its own subject and verb).
Hook · 5 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses. 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: Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? across the frozen lake
- Step 1: A phrase has no subject + verb. A main clause has a subject + verb and makes sense alone. A subordinate clause has a subject + verb but depends on a main clause.
- Step 2: So the answer is: phrase
- Answer: phrase
- 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.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? running down the hill (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → phrasePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? across the frozen lake (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → phrasePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
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.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? in the morning (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → phrasePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? if you finish early (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
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: Simple, compound and complex sentences.
- 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: Misplaced and dangling modifiers; Gerunds, participles and infinitives.
- 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-7.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder