• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?; Prepositions of time, place and cause). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. The guard opened the gate. What word class is "guard" in this sentence? (noun / verb / adjective / adverb) → nounPrompt: Look at the job the word does in THIS sentence.
2. Choose the preposition that fits. The children ran ___ the playground. (since / at / across / during) → acrossPrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?
3. Read the question. In which sentence is "watch" a verb? (He wears a gold watch. / My watch is broken. / The watch has a red strap. / Let's watch the match.) → Let's watch the match.Prompt: Find the word in each sentence and ask what job it does.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: We went home after the match ended. What word class is "after" here?
• Step 1: Words like before, after and since can be prepositions, conjunctions or adverbs, depending on what follows them.
• Step 2: So the answer is: conjunction
• Answer: conjunction
• 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. The children played outside. What word class is "outside" here? (preposition / conjunction / adverb) → adverbPrompt: Look at what comes straight after the word.
2. Read the question. In which sentence is "before" a conjunction? (I have been here before. / Wash your hands before lunch. / We met the week before. / Wash your hands before you eat.) → Wash your hands before you eat.Prompt: Look at what follows the word in each sentence.

• 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. Read the question. In which sentence is "before" an adverb? (Finish this before Friday. / Call me before you leave. / Stretch before the race. / Have you tried sushi before?) → Have you tried sushi before?Prompt: Look at what follows the word in each sentence.
2. We ate before the film. What word class is "before" here? (preposition / conjunction / adverb) → prepositionPrompt: Look at what comes straight after the word.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.