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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes

Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating

Grammar

CCSS L.3.1.HCCSS L.3.1.IEngland: Y3 GPS (conjunctions)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating.

  • 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: Joining words: and, but, or, because

Leads to: Correlative conjunctions and interjections; Simple, compound and complex sentences; Combining sentences

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 (Joining words: and, but, or, because). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. Do you want to paint ___ draw? (and / because / or) → orPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  2. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. I like apples ___ bananas. (and / because / but) → andPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
  3. Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. Would you like milk ___ juice? (or / and / because) → orPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating. 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: Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. You can't watch TV ___ you have tidied your room.
  • Step 1: Conjunctions link clauses and show how the ideas connect: cause, time, condition or contrast.
  • Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "You can't watch TV until you have tidied your room."
  • Step 3: So the answer is: until
  • Answer: until
  • 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. Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. You can't watch TV ___ you have tidied your room. (until / and / because / so) → untilPrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?
  2. Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? He kept running even though his legs hurt. (legs / hurt / even though / kept) → even thoughPrompt: A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that cannot stand on its own.

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 word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? I will come to the party if I finish my homework. (finish / if / will / come) → ifPrompt: A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that cannot stand on its own.
  2. Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. Brush your teeth ___ you go to bed. (although / unless / before / so) → beforePrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?

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: Joining words: and, but, or, because.
  • 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: Correlative conjunctions and interjections; Simple, compound and complex sentences; Combining sentences.
  • 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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Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. The film was long, ___ it was exciting.

    • A. because
    • B. unless
    • C. but
    • D. so

  2. Question 2

    Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? Since it was sunny, we went to the beach.

    • A. went
    • B. Since
    • C. beach
    • D. sunny

  3. Question 3

    Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. You can't watch TV ___ you have tidied your room.

    • A. and
    • B. so
    • C. because
    • D. until

  4. Question 4

    Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? You can stay up late as long as you are quiet.

    • A. stay
    • B. quiet
    • C. late
    • D. as long as

  5. Question 5

    Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. We will miss the bus ___ we hurry.

    • A. so
    • B. unless
    • C. because
    • D. although

  6. Question 6

    Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. Zara read a book ___ she waited for the train.

    • A. unless
    • B. although
    • C. while
    • D. so

  7. Question 7

    Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? I will come to the party if I finish my homework.

    • A. will
    • B. finish
    • C. come
    • D. if

  8. Question 8

    Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. We waited at the bus stop ___ the bus finally came.

    • A. unless
    • B. or
    • C. because
    • D. until

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Answer key: Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating

  1. 1. C. but

  2. 2. B. Since

  3. 3. D. until

  4. 4. D. as long as

  5. 5. B. unless

  6. 6. C. while

  7. 7. D. if

  8. 8. D. until