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.
- Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. We wore coats ___ it was cold. (because / or / but) → becausePrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
- Choose the joining word that makes the most sense. The cake looked yummy ___ it tasted bad. (but / and / because) → butPrompt: Read the sentence with each word.
- 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.
- Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. I will lend you my bike ___ you look after it. (but / if / until / although) → ifPrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?
- Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? You can stay up late as long as you are quiet. (stay / late / quiet / as long as) → as long asPrompt: 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.
- Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. ___ he was tired, Jamal finished the race. (Because / So / Unless / Although) → AlthoughPrompt: Read the two parts of the sentence. How are they linked?
- Which word or phrase is the subordinating conjunction? She smiled when she saw the cake. (saw / smiled / when / cake) → whenPrompt: A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that cannot stand on its own.
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