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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes

Relative clauses

Grammar

CCSS L.4.1.AEngland: Y5 GPS (relative clauses)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Relative clauses.

  • 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: Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where)

Leads to: Simple, compound and complex sentences; Commas: restrictive vs non-restrictive, coordinate adjectives; Independent clause, dependent clause or phrase?

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 (Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the relative pronoun. The keys ___ you lost are on the table. (where / whose / who / that) → thatPrompt: What does the pronoun refer back to: a person, a thing, a place, or something belonging to someone?
  2. Choose the relative pronoun. The cake ___ Dad made was delicious. (which / where / whose / who) → whichPrompt: What does the pronoun refer back to: a person, a thing, a place, or something belonging to someone?
  3. Choose the relative pronoun. The doctor ___ helped us was kind. (where / which / who / whose) → whoPrompt: What does the pronoun refer back to: a person, a thing, a place, or something belonging to someone?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Relative clauses. 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 part of the sentence is the relative clause? The book that I borrowed was really funny.
  • Step 1: A relative clause is a subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun and describes a noun.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: that I borrowed
  • Answer: that I borrowed
  • 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. Which part of the sentence is the relative clause? The book that I borrowed was really funny. (The book / that I borrowed / was really funny / I borrowed was) → that I borrowedPrompt: Look for who, which, that, where, when or whose.
  2. Which sentence correctly joins these two sentences with a relative clause? My uncle is a pilot. He lives in Spain. (My uncle, which lives in Spain, is a pilot. / My uncle, whose lives in Spain, is a pilot. / My uncle, who lives in Spain, is a pilot. / My uncle who, lives in Spain is a pilot.) → My uncle, who lives in Spain, is a pilot.Prompt: Which relative pronoun matches the noun (person, thing, place, belonging)?

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. Which sentence correctly joins these two sentences with a relative clause? The café sells great pancakes. We meet there on Sundays. (The café whose we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes. / The café, we meet on Sundays, sells great pancakes. / The café who we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes. / The café where we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes.) → The café where we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes.Prompt: Which relative pronoun matches the noun (person, thing, place, belonging)?
  2. Which part of the sentence is the relative clause? The teacher whose class won the prize was delighted. (was delighted / won the prize was / The teacher / whose class won the prize) → whose class won the prizePrompt: Look for who, which, that, where, when or whose.

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: Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where).
  • 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: Simple, compound and complex sentences; Commas: restrictive vs non-restrictive, coordinate adjectives; Independent clause, dependent clause or phrase?.
  • 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-5.

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

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Relative clauses

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence correctly joins these two sentences with a relative clause? Grandpa told us a story. He was a sailor.

    • A. Grandpa who, was a sailor told us a story.
    • B. Grandpa, whose was a sailor, told us a story.
    • C. Grandpa, who was a sailor, told us a story.
    • D. Grandpa, which was a sailor, told us a story.

  2. Question 2

    Which part of the sentence is the relative clause? The cake which Leila baked won first prize.

    • A. which Leila baked
    • B. Leila baked won
    • C. The cake
    • D. won first prize

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence correctly joins these two sentences with a relative clause? My uncle is a pilot. He lives in Spain.

    • A. My uncle, who lives in Spain, is a pilot.
    • B. My uncle, whose lives in Spain, is a pilot.
    • C. My uncle who, lives in Spain is a pilot.
    • D. My uncle, which lives in Spain, is a pilot.

  4. Question 4

    Which part of the sentence is the relative clause? My bike, which is bright red, has a broken bell.

    • A. My bike
    • B. has a broken bell
    • C. is bright red, has
    • D. which is bright red

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence correctly joins these two sentences with a relative clause? The museum was closed. We wanted to visit it.

    • A. The museum, which we wanted to visit, was closed.
    • B. The museum, where we wanted to visit, was closed.
    • C. The museum which, we wanted to visit was closed.
    • D. The museum, who we wanted to visit, was closed.

  6. Question 6

    Which part of the sentence is the relative clause? The book that I borrowed was really funny.

    • A. I borrowed was
    • B. was really funny
    • C. The book
    • D. that I borrowed

  7. Question 7

    Which part of the sentence is the relative clause? The man who lives next door has a parrot.

    • A. has a parrot
    • B. The man
    • C. who lives next door
    • D. next door has

  8. Question 8

    Which sentence correctly joins these two sentences with a relative clause? The café sells great pancakes. We meet there on Sundays.

    • A. The cafĂ© whose we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes.
    • B. The cafĂ© who we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes.
    • C. The cafĂ©, we meet on Sundays, sells great pancakes.
    • D. The cafĂ© where we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes.

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Answer key: Relative clauses

  1. 1. C. Grandpa, who was a sailor, told us a story.

  2. 2. A. which Leila baked

  3. 3. A. My uncle, who lives in Spain, is a pilot.

  4. 4. D. which is bright red

  5. 5. A. The museum, which we wanted to visit, was closed.

  6. 6. D. that I borrowed

  7. 7. C. who lives next door

  8. 8. D. The café where we meet on Sundays sells great pancakes.