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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.
  1. Choose the pronoun that fits. Mr Okoro teaches music. ___ plays the piano. (She / He / They / It) → HePrompt: Who or what is the gap talking about?
  2. Which part is the SUBJECT (who or what the sentence is about)? Our class went on a trip to the museum. (to the museum / went on a trip / on a trip / Our class) → Our classPrompt: Ask: who or what did something?
  3. Which part is the PREDICATE (what the subject does)? Grandma and Grandpa grow tomatoes. (Grandma and / Grandma and Grandpa / grow tomatoes. / and Grandpa) → grow tomatoes.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.
  1. When Grandpa and Leo finished the jigsaw, they cheered. Who does "they" refer to? (only Grandpa / only Leo / the jigsaw / Grandpa and Leo) → Grandpa and LeoPrompt: Find the pronoun, then look back earlier in the sentence.
  2. Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The trees lost ___ leaves in the autumn. (their / it's / its / there) → 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.
  1. Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The cat licked ___ paws. (them / it's / its / their) → itsPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?
  2. Nadia gave the puppy a biscuit because it looked hungry. Who or what does "it" refer to? (the sentence / the puppy / Nadia / the biscuit) → the puppyPrompt: 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

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Who or what does the pronoun point back to?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The girls put on ___ helmets.

    • A. it's
    • B. there
    • C. its
    • D. their

  2. Question 2

    Ms Lane thanked Omar because he had tidied the shelves. Who does "he" refer to?

    • A. Omar's dad
    • B. the shelves
    • C. Omar
    • D. Ms Lane

  3. Question 3

    Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The cat licked ___ paws.

    • A. them
    • B. it's
    • C. their
    • D. its

  4. Question 4

    Lily and I baked bread, and we shared it with our friends. Who does "we" refer to?

    • A. our friends
    • B. the bakers
    • C. Lily and I
    • D. only Lily

  5. Question 5

    Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The players high-fived ___ coach.

    • A. their
    • B. its
    • C. there
    • D. it's

  6. Question 6

    Dad found the map and folded it carefully. What does "it" refer to?

    • A. the map
    • B. the table
    • C. the car
    • D. Dad

  7. Question 7

    Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The ducks shook the water off ___ feathers.

    • A. their
    • B. it's
    • C. its
    • D. them

  8. Question 8

    When the geese saw the fox, they honked loudly. Who or what does "they" refer to?

    • A. the geese
    • B. the farmers
    • C. the hens
    • D. the fox

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Answer key: Who or what does the pronoun point back to?

  1. 1. D. their

  2. 2. C. Omar

  3. 3. D. its

  4. 4. C. Lily and I

  5. 5. A. their

  6. 6. A. the map

  7. 7. A. their

  8. 8. A. the geese