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

How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew

Vocabulary

CCSS L.3.5.CEngland: Y3/4 Vocabulary (shades of meaning)England: Y5 GPS (adverbs and modal verbs of possibility)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew.

  • 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: Shades of meaning

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Shades of meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? gulp, sip, drink (gulp / sip / drink) → sipPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
  2. Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? eat, nibble, gobble (eat / nibble / gobble) → nibblePrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
  3. Which word is the STRONGEST? furious, angry, annoyed (furious / angry / annoyed) → furiousPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew. 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: In which sentence is Ana LEAST sure?
  • Step 1: "wondered whether" means it is only a question in their mind.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Ana wondered whether the cookies were in the cupboard.
  • Answer: Ana wondered whether the cookies were in the cupboard.
  • 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. In which sentence is Priya MOST sure? (Priya believed that the answer was twelve. / Priya suspected that the answer was twelve. / Priya knew that the answer was twelve. / Priya wondered whether the answer was twelve.) → Priya knew that the answer was twelve.Prompt: Look only at the verb after the name.
  2. Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. Dogs ___ need water to stay alive. (perhaps / might / maybe / definitely) → definitelyPrompt: Is the fact always true, likely, or only possible?

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. In which sentence is Ana LEAST sure? (Ana believed that the hamster had escaped. / Ana wondered whether the hamster had escaped. / Ana knew that the hamster had escaped. / Ana suspected that the hamster had escaped.) → Ana wondered whether the hamster had escaped.Prompt: Look only at the verb after the name.
  2. Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. I've studied hard, so I will ___ do well in the quiz. (never / definitely not / probably / certainly not) → probablyPrompt: Is the fact always true, likely, or only possible?

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Shades of meaning.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • 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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How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. The sky is clear and blue, so it will ___ stay dry this afternoon.

    • A. probably
    • B. certainly not
    • C. definitely not
    • D. never

  2. Question 2

    In which sentence is Sam LEAST sure?

    • A. Sam wondered whether the bus would be late.
    • B. Sam suspected that the bus would be late.
    • C. Sam believed that the bus would be late.
    • D. Sam knew that the bus would be late.

  3. Question 3

    Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. I'm not sure where my pencil is. It ___ be in my bag.

    • A. must certainly
    • B. definitely will
    • C. always
    • D. could

  4. Question 4

    In which sentence is Kofi LEAST sure?

    • A. Kofi believed that it would snow overnight.
    • B. Kofi knew that it would snow overnight.
    • C. Kofi wondered whether it would snow overnight.
    • D. Kofi suspected that it would snow overnight.

  5. Question 5

    Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. The sun will ___ rise tomorrow morning.

    • A. maybe not
    • B. perhaps
    • C. possibly
    • D. certainly

  6. Question 6

    Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. I haven't checked the weather, so it ___ rain today, or it might not.

    • A. certainly
    • B. will definitely
    • C. surely
    • D. might

  7. Question 7

    Choose the word that shows the right amount of certainty. Two plus two ___ equals four.

    • A. definitely
    • B. might
    • C. possibly
    • D. probably

  8. Question 8

    In which sentence is Priya LEAST sure?

    • A. Priya knew that the robot needed new batteries.
    • B. Priya believed that the robot needed new batteries.
    • C. Priya wondered whether the robot needed new batteries.
    • D. Priya suspected that the robot needed new batteries.

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Answer key: How sure are they? wondered, suspected, believed, knew

  1. 1. A. probably

  2. 2. A. Sam wondered whether the bus would be late.

  3. 3. D. could

  4. 4. C. Kofi wondered whether it would snow overnight.

  5. 5. D. certainly

  6. 6. D. might

  7. 7. A. definitely

  8. 8. C. Priya wondered whether the robot needed new batteries.