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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes

Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

Punctuation

CCSS L.6.2CCSS L.5.2.BEngland: KS3 English (punctuation)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 punctuation)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses.

  • 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: Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses

Leads to: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Yes I would, love to come. • Yes I would love, to come. • Yes, I would love to come. • Yes I, would love to come. (Yes I would, love to come. / Yes I would love, to come. / Yes, I would love to come. / Yes I, would love to come.) → Yes, I would love to come.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.
  2. A: While the children were cooking, the pan caught fire. B: While the children were cooking the pan caught fire. Which sentence is clearer? (A / B) → APrompt: Read both sentences aloud, pausing at each comma.
  3. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. • Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. • Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. • Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. (Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. / Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. / Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. / Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog.) → Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.

Hook · 6 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses. 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: Which version is punctuated correctly? • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly.
  • Step 1: Put a comma after an introductory word (However,), phrase (After the long journey,) or dependent clause (When the bell rang,).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
  • Answer: Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
  • 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. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Running for the bus Leo, dropped his phone. • Running, for the bus Leo dropped his phone. • Running for the, bus Leo dropped his phone. • Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone. (Running for the bus Leo, dropped his phone. / Running, for the bus Leo dropped his phone. / Running for the, bus Leo dropped his phone. / Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone.) → Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
  2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. In the morning we packed the car. → morningPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?

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. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Finally the results were, announced. • Finally, the results were announced. • Finally the, results were announced. • Finally the results, were announced. (Finally the results were, announced. / Finally, the results were announced. / Finally the, results were announced. / Finally the results, were announced.) → Finally, the results were announced.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
  2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Everyone rushed outside when the bell rang. → nonePrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation 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

  • Move on to: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?.
  • 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-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which version is punctuated correctly? • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly. • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly.

    • A. Because, the road was icy we drove slowly.
    • B. Because the road was icy we, drove slowly.
    • C. Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
    • D. Because the road, was icy we drove slowly.

  2. Question 2

    Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. If you hear the alarm leave the building at once.

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Which version is punctuated correctly? • Running, for the bus Leo dropped his phone. • Running for the bus Leo, dropped his phone. • Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone. • Running for the, bus Leo dropped his phone.

    • A. Running, for the bus Leo dropped his phone.
    • B. Running for the bus Leo, dropped his phone.
    • C. Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone.
    • D. Running for the, bus Leo dropped his phone.

  4. Question 4

    Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Before the film started we bought popcorn.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Which version is punctuated correctly? • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly.

    • A. Because the road was icy we, drove slowly.
    • B. Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.
    • C. Because the road, was icy we drove slowly.
    • D. Because, the road was icy we drove slowly.

  6. Question 6

    Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Tired but happy the hikers reached the hut.

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Which version is punctuated correctly? • In, the middle of the night a fox crept into the garden. • In the middle of the night a fox, crept into the garden. • In the middle, of the night a fox crept into the garden. • In the middle of the night, a fox crept into the garden.

    • A. In, the middle of the night a fox crept into the garden.
    • B. In the middle of the night a fox, crept into the garden.
    • C. In the middle, of the night a fox crept into the garden.
    • D. In the middle of the night, a fox crept into the garden.

  8. Question 8

    Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Leave the building at once if you hear the alarm.

    Answer

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Answer key: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

  1. 1. C. Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.

  2. 2. alarm

  3. 3. C. Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone.

  4. 4. started

  5. 5. B. Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.

  6. 6. happy

  7. 7. D. In the middle of the night, a fox crept into the garden.

  8. 8. none