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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes

Spot and fix run-on sentences and comma splices

Writing & Editing

CCSS L.4.1.FEngland: Y4 GPS (sentence boundaries)England: Y3/4 Writing (proofreading)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Spot and fix run-on sentences and comma splices.

  • 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: Complete sentence or fragment?; Simple or compound sentence?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Complete sentence or fragment?; Simple or compound sentence?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a complete sentence or a fragment? The owls hooted. (complete sentence / fragment) → complete sentencePrompt: Does it say WHO or WHAT, and what they DO or ARE?
  2. Is this a simple sentence or a compound sentence? My dog loves the snow. (simple sentence / compound sentence) → simple sentencePrompt: Count the subject–verb pairs. Each pair that could stand alone is a clause.
  3. Which is the best way to fix this fragment? When the lights went out. (When the lights went out suddenly. / When, the lights went out. / The lights when went out. / When the lights went out, we lit a candle.) → When the lights went out, we lit a candle.Prompt: Adding more describing words does not fix a fragment.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
  • Share the objective: Spot and fix run-on sentences and comma splices. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? The robot beeped, its lights flashed.
  • Step 1: A run-on joins two complete sentences with nothing, or with only a comma.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: run-on sentence
  • Answer: run-on sentence
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? The robot beeped, its lights flashed. (correct sentence / run-on sentence) → run-on sentencePrompt: Count the complete thoughts (subject + verb that could stand alone).
  2. This is a run-on. Which is the best way to fix it? I finished my book I started a new one. (I finished, my book I started a new one. / I finished my book, so I started a new one. / I finished my book, I started a new one. / I finished my book I started, a new one.) → I finished my book, so I started a new one.Prompt: Find where the first complete thought ends.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. This is a run-on. Which is the best way to fix it? Tom loves football he plays every Saturday. (Tom loves football, he plays every Saturday. / Tom loves. Football he plays every Saturday. / Tom loves football. He plays every Saturday. / Tom loves football he, plays every Saturday.) → Tom loves football. He plays every Saturday.Prompt: Find where the first complete thought ends.
  2. Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? I like pizza, but my brother likes pasta. (correct sentence / run-on sentence) → correct sentencePrompt: Count the complete thoughts (subject + verb that could stand alone).

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: Complete sentence or fragment?.
  • 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

  • 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-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Spot and fix run-on sentences and comma splices

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? The bell rang, and everyone ran outside.

    • A. correct sentence
    • B. run-on sentence

  2. Question 2

    This is a run-on. Which is the best way to fix it? The sky went dark, thunder rumbled.

    • A. The sky went dark thunder rumbled.
    • B. The sky went dark, and thunder rumbled.
    • C. The sky, went dark thunder rumbled.
    • D. The sky went, dark, thunder rumbled.

  3. Question 3

    This is a run-on. Which is the best way to fix it? The bus was late we missed the start of the film.

    • A. The bus was late, so we missed the start of the film.
    • B. The bus was late we, missed the start of the film.
    • C. The bus, was late we missed the start of the film.
    • D. The bus was late, we missed the start of the film.

  4. Question 4

    Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? The robot beeped, its lights flashed.

    • A. correct sentence
    • B. run-on sentence

  5. Question 5

    This is a run-on. Which is the best way to fix it? The puppy barked it wanted to play.

    • A. The puppy barked because it wanted to play.
    • B. The puppy barked it, wanted to play.
    • C. The puppy barked, it wanted to play.
    • D. The puppy, barked it wanted to play.

  6. Question 6

    Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? After the rain stopped, the sun came out.

    • A. correct sentence
    • B. run-on sentence

  7. Question 7

    Is this a correct sentence or a run-on? It was snowing, so we built a snowman.

    • A. correct sentence
    • B. run-on sentence

  8. Question 8

    This is a run-on. Which is the best way to fix it? I finished my book I started a new one.

    • A. I finished my book I started, a new one.
    • B. I finished my book, I started a new one.
    • C. I finished, my book I started a new one.
    • D. I finished my book, so I started a new one.

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Answer key: Spot and fix run-on sentences and comma splices

  1. 1. A. correct sentence

  2. 2. B. The sky went dark, and thunder rumbled.

  3. 3. A. The bus was late, so we missed the start of the film.

  4. 4. B. run-on sentence

  5. 5. A. The puppy barked because it wanted to play.

  6. 6. A. correct sentence

  7. 7. A. correct sentence

  8. 8. D. I finished my book, so I started a new one.