English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes
Who or what does the pronoun point back to?
Grammar
CCSS L.3.1.FEngland: Y3 GPS (pronouns)England: Y4 GPS (pronouns for cohesion)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Who or what does the pronoun point back to?.
- 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: Pronouns; Who or what? Did what? (subject and predicate)
Leads to: Pronoun or noun? Make it clear who is meant
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 (Pronouns; Who or what? Did what? (subject and predicate)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the pronoun that fits. The ducks swam to the edge. ___ wanted bread. (She / They / It / He) → TheyPrompt: Who or what is the gap talking about?
- Which part is the SUBJECT (who or what the sentence is about)? My best friend lives next door. (My best / next door / My best friend / friend lives) → My best friendPrompt: Ask: who or what did something?
- Which part is the PREDICATE (what the subject does)? My best friend lives next door. (lives next door. / friend lives / My best / My best friend) → lives next door.Prompt: Find the subject first: who or what?
Hook · 6 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Who or what does the pronoun point back to?. 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: When Grandpa and Leo finished the jigsaw, they cheered. Who does "they" refer to?
- Step 1: A pronoun stands in for a noun that came earlier. That noun is called its antecedent.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Grandpa and Leo
- Answer: Grandpa and Leo
- 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.
- Nadia gave the puppy a biscuit because it looked hungry. Who or what does "it" refer to? (the sentence / Nadia / the biscuit / the puppy) → the puppyPrompt: Find the pronoun, then look back earlier in the sentence.
- Choose the pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. Ben and Ali shared ___ snacks. (their / they're / its / there) → theirPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?
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 pronoun that matches the noun it refers to. The book has a dragon on ___ cover. (its / it's / them / their) → itsPrompt: Who or what owns the thing? Is it one or more than one?
- Max asked his sisters if they wanted to play tag. Who does "they" refer to? (Max / the other team / Max and his parents / his sisters) → his sistersPrompt: Find the pronoun, then look back earlier in the sentence.
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: Pronouns.
- 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: Pronoun or noun? Make it clear who is meant.
- 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