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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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. The cookies smell great. Can I eat one of ___? (us / they / it / them) → themPrompt: Who or what is the gap talking about?
  2. Which part is the SUBJECT (who or what the sentence is about)? The tallest girl in the team scored the goal. (scored the goal / the team scored / The tallest girl in the team / The tallest) → The tallest girl in the teamPrompt: Ask: who or what did something?
  3. Which part is the PREDICATE (what the subject does)? Three red balloons floated into the sky. (floated into the sky. / Three red balloons / balloons floated / red balloons) → floated into the sky.Prompt: Find the subject first: who or what?

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 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. Nadia gave the puppy a biscuit because it looked hungry. Who or what does "it" refer to? (Nadia / the puppy / the biscuit / the sentence) → the puppyPrompt: Find the pronoun, then look back earlier in the sentence.
  2. Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The ducks shook the water off ___ feathers. (it's / them / its / their) → theirPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?

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. Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. My brothers fixed ___ go-kart. (his / their / its / there) → theirPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?
  2. Ms Lane thanked Omar because he had tidied the shelves. Who does "he" refer to? (the shelves / Ms Lane / Omar's dad / Omar) → OmarPrompt: 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 players high-fived ___ coach.

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

  2. Question 2

    Max asked his sisters if they wanted to play tag. Who does "they" refer to?

    • A. his sisters
    • B. Max
    • C. the other team
    • D. Max and his parents

  3. Question 3

    Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The trees lost ___ leaves in the autumn.

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

  4. Question 4

    The bees flew back to their hive when they saw the dark clouds. Who or what does "they" refer to?

    • A. the flowers
    • B. the hive
    • C. the bees
    • D. the clouds

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

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

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

  7. Question 7

    When Grandpa and Leo finished the jigsaw, they cheered. Who does "they" refer to?

    • A. only Leo
    • B. Grandpa and Leo
    • C. only Grandpa
    • D. the jigsaw

  8. Question 8

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

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

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

  1. 1. B. their

  2. 2. A. his sisters

  3. 3. D. their

  4. 4. C. the bees

  5. 5. D. its

  6. 6. A. the map

  7. 7. B. Grandpa and Leo

  8. 8. A. the geese