• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Prepositions of time, place and cause). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Choose the preposition that fits. The cat jumped ___ the wall into the garden. (during / over / at / since) → overPrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?
2. Which word is the preposition? A spider crawled up the wall. (up / spider / crawled / wall) → upPrompt: A preposition comes before a noun or noun phrase.
3. Choose the preposition that fits. I have lived here ___ 2019. (for / during / since / at) → sincePrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Find the prepositional phrase. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which group of words is a prepositional phrase? The book on the top shelf is mine.
• Step 1: A prepositional phrase is a preposition + a noun phrase: under + the warm blanket.
• Step 2: So the answer is: on the top shelf
• Answer: on the top shelf
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 group of words is a prepositional phrase? We had a picnic after the football match. (had a / after the football match / We had a picnic / picnic after) → after the football matchPrompt: Find the preposition: a word like under, after, with, over, behind, across, on, through.
2. During the storm, the lights flickered. What does "During the storm" tell you? (where / when / which one (it describes a noun)) → whenPrompt: Ask: does it tell where, when, or which person or thing?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which group of words is a prepositional phrase? We waited outside the museum for an hour. (waited outside / an hour for / outside the museum / We waited) → outside the museumPrompt: Find the preposition: a word like under, after, with, over, behind, across, on, through.
2. The house at the end of the street has a red door. What does "at the end of the street" tell you? (where / when / which one (it describes a noun)) → which one (it describes a noun)Prompt: Ask: does it tell where, when, or which person or thing?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.