English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes
Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum
Punctuation
CCSS L.3.2.CEngland: Y3 GPS (inverted commas)England: Y4 GPS (punctuation of direct speech)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum.
- 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: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue
Leads to: Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers
Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "I love this song whispered Priya." • "I love this song", whispered Priya. • "I love this song," whispered Priya. • "I love this song." whispered Priya. ("I love this song whispered Priya." / "I love this song", whispered Priya. / "I love this song," whispered Priya. / "I love this song." whispered Priya.) → "I love this song," whispered Priya.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "Can I help," asked the shopkeeper? • "Can I help? asked the shopkeeper." • "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper. • "Can I help"? asked the shopkeeper. ("Can I help," asked the shopkeeper? / "Can I help? asked the shopkeeper." / "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper. / "Can I help"? asked the shopkeeper.) → "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "Hurry up, said Dad, or we'll miss the train." • "Hurry up" said Dad "or we'll miss the train." • "Hurry up," said Dad, "or we'll miss the train." • "Hurry up," said Dad, "Or we'll miss the train." ("Hurry up, said Dad, or we'll miss the train." / "Hurry up" said Dad "or we'll miss the train." / "Hurry up," said Dad, "or we'll miss the train." / "Hurry up," said Dad, "Or we'll miss the train.") → "Hurry up," said Dad, "or we'll miss the train."Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
Hook · 6 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum. 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: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- Step 1: Who is speaking comes first, so put a comma after 'said', then open the speech marks. The full stop goes inside.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."
- Answer: Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."
- 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.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot, said "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot said "We will land in ten minutes." / The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes".) → The pilot said, "We will land in ten minutes."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
- What is missing from this sentence? "Books are due back on Friday" said the librarian. (a comma after "said" / nothing: it is already correct / a comma after "Friday", inside the speech marks / a full stop after "Friday", outside the speech marks) → a comma after "Friday", inside the speech marksPrompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.
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.
- What is missing from this sentence? The coach said "Well played, everyone." (a comma after "everyone", inside the speech marks / a question mark after "everyone" / a comma after "said" / nothing: it is already correct) → a comma after "said"Prompt: Find where the spoken words meet the words about who is speaking.
- Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (Ravi said, "Let's go to the park". / Ravi, said "Let's go to the park." / Ravi said "Let's go to the park." / Ravi said, "Let's go to the park.") → Ravi said, "Let's go to the park."Prompt: A comma separates the spoken words from the words that say who is speaking.
Watch out for
- Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
- Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue.
- Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
- 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: Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers.
- 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