Grammar Lesson Plan

A. Topic:
Complex sentences with subordinating
clauses and subordinating conjunctions

Grade(s):

Time:

17 minutes

B. Essential Question(s):
What is a complex sentence?
What is a subordinate clause? (What is an independent/dependant clause)
What is a subordinating conjunction?

C. Text: Name and either write or attach.

Worksheets attached to submission.

D. Learning Goals & Outcomes: Students will

Students will learn the difference between a subordinate clause and a complete sentence
(dependant/independent clause).
Students wills learn what a subordinate conjunction is.

E. Types of Assessments: How will you check for understanding?

Summative: These occur after
instruction.
E.g., any length, genre or type of
writing, quiz, test, presentation,
project, performance assessment,
report
Review of an summative activity. No
formal testing of the information.

Formative: These occur during instruction. They

let you check for understandings and
misunderstandings; they give students critical
feedback when they are saying, making, and
doing, and they allow for changes in the
instructional plan.
E.g., oral response, whole class cues, observation of
pair work, observation of group work, records of work,
worksheets, notes, annotations, drafts, organizers,
outlines, journals, discussions

Subordinating Conjunction Worksheet

F. Progression of Lesson Tasks

(The lesson could be a 3-5 hour
learning segment):

G. Possible ELD Scaffolds and Strategies to

Support Students and Address the Language
Demands of each of the Lesson Tasks.
While these are not going into the actual plan,
consider extra steps that may be needed to support
students in the doing part of the plan.

Please see daily lesson plan

below.
Subordinating Conjunctions Chart that students
can use for reference during their worksheet
activity.
Examples/Modeling
Worksheet with sentence frames.
Worksheet review

H. Teaching Resources (Visuals, Materials, Handouts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGA7ssL-6g - School House Rock Video
Subordinating Conjunctions Chart (attached to this submission and entered below).
Subordinating Conjunctions Worksheet (attached to this submission).

III. THE LESSON PLAN

Agenda
School House Rock
Subordinating Clauses
Partnered Worksheets
Review & Assess
2

Learning Activities and Corresponding Activity Structures:

Into: 3 minutes. A hook.
School House Rock Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGA7ssL-6g with
special attention to the last minute and a half.
Through:

1. 5 minute explanation
Subordinating clause explanation A clause that is requires an independent clause
to be a complete thought. By itself, the clause does not have enough information to
be a complete sentence.
Subordinating conjunction - A word that connects a subordinating clause(dependent
clause) to an independent sentence.
Provide students with a list of subordinating clauses:

Relationship Between Ideas

Time

Reason
Purpose
Condition

Contrast

Choice
Place

Subordinating
Conjunctions
After
Before
Since
Until
When
While
As
Because
Since
In order that
So that
As long as
If
Unless
Although
Even though
Though
Whereas
While
Than
Whether
Where
Wherever
3

5 minutes

2. 10 minute student doing part

Students work in pairs to complete the below worksheet.
Subordinating Conjunctions Worksheet

Step One: Read the sentences below and identify the subordinating conjunction by highlighting the word in the
sentence.
Example:
1. Because her dog was hungry, Jessica opened a can of dog food.
2. Even though the student practiced her writing everyday, she still felt uneasy about it.
3. We need to make sure that we leave early enough because there is a test in our history class today.
4. My history class is in the Humanities Building whereas my English class is in the Liberal Arts Building.
5. Since there is no room in the library, we need to go to the Success Center to study.
6. Whenever I need help, I seek tutoring in the Success Center.
7. You can do the extra credit in the art history class as long as you have completed all of the regular work on time.
8. Sam will work with his study group until he passes English 100.
9. Before you drop the class, you should meet with your professor and find out how you can make up the missed work.
Step Two: Selecting the Best Subordinating Conjunction to Combine Clauses
Referring to the handout of subordinating conjunctions tables, select the best subordinating conjunctions to express the
relationships between the ideas in the dependent clauses and independent clauses in the complex sentences below. The
first one is done for you.
1. Although it was very hot outside, Jan wore a thick coat.
Here, you want a subordinating conjunction that communicates the contrast between what the temperature is and what
Jan is wearing. Typically, you would expect someone not to wear a thick coat when it is hot outside. Although is one of
the subordinating conjunctions in the table above that expresses a contrasting relationship between ideas.
2. _____________ the football team won its playoff game, it will now go to the state championship.
3. _____________ it is time to participate in their extracurricular activities, students procrastinate on doing their
homework.
4. It is not necessary to buy your books before the first day of class _________ your teacher requests that you do.
5. _________________ the class if over, you should go to the lab right away.
6. John always takes a jacket with him _______________ he never knows how the weather will be.
4

7. Jane has been taking gymnastics lessons ___________ she was six years old.
8. _____________________Susan was eligible for Biology 101, she was unable to get in the class.
9. There will be no after school activities today __________ the teachers all have a meeting.
10. You cannot take any classes for your major __________ you take all of you basic education first.
11. _____________ you complete your basic education, feel free to sign up for any class you want.
10 minutes
Beyond

3. 2 minute performance assessment

Review the worksheet as a class to find out the answers they selected as pairs.
2 minutes
Note: Attach relevant documents, such as worksheets, assessments, rubrics, scoring guides,
etc.