English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes
Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT)
Grammar
CCSS L.9-10.1England: SAT Standard English ConventionsEngland: ACT EnglishEngland: GCSE English Language (SPaG)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT).
- 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: Subject–verb agreement
Leads to: SAT/ACT Standard English Conventions (mixed); Agreement when the verb comes first (There are…, Here comes…)
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 (Subject–verb agreement). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. It ___ a lot in April. (rains / rain) → rainsPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. A bag of oranges ___ two dollars. (costs / cost) → costsPrompt: Find the main subject. Ignore words like 'of the…' or 'with the…' that come after it.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The flowers ___ lovely. (smell / smells) → smellPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT). 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: Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The data from both experiments ___ that the theory holds.
- Step 1: The verb agrees with the head noun of the subject, wherever it is in the sentence.
- Step 2: In formal and scientific writing 'data' is plural (datum is the singular).
- Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The data from both experiments suggest that the theory holds."
- Step 4: So the answer is: suggest
- Answer: suggest
- 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.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Everyone in the three classes ___ invited. (was / were) → wasPrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Each of the paintings in the gallery ___ insured. (are / is) → isPrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).
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 verb that agrees with the subject. The collection of old coins ___ worth thousands. (are / is) → isPrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The results of the long-running study ___ surprising. (was / were) → werePrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).
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: Subject–verb agreement.
- 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: SAT/ACT Standard English Conventions (mixed); Agreement when the verb comes first (There are…, Here comes…).
- 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-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder