Relative Clauses — Year 5 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: English Appendix 2 — Grammar: relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that (Year 5)
Overview
Pupils learn to identify and use relative clauses to add precise detail to nouns within a sentence. They explore how relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where) introduce relative clauses, and practise embedding them using commas where necessary.
Learning Objectives
- Define a relative clause and identify the noun it modifies.
- Use relative pronouns correctly to introduce relative clauses.
- Embed relative clauses within sentences using commas where appropriate.
- Distinguish between defining and non-defining relative clauses.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Display two sentences: 'The boy won the race.' 'The boy, who trained every morning, won the race.' Ask: what has been added? How does it change the sentence? Discuss.
Introduce relative pronouns and model how they connect to the noun they describe. Teach the comma rule: non-defining clauses (extra information) use commas; defining clauses (essential to meaning) do not. Show examples of relative clauses at the end of sentences and embedded mid-sentence.
Pupils join pairs of sentences using a relative clause. Then identify whether each clause is defining or non-defining and add commas where needed.
Pupils write a description of a character or place using at least three relative clauses, at least one of which is embedded mid-sentence.
Underline relative clauses in two pupil examples. Discuss: does the clause define the noun, or just add extra information? How does embedding change the rhythm of the sentence?
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils often use 'which' for people and 'who' for objects — reinforce: 'who/whose' for people, 'which' for things, 'that' for either in defining clauses.
- Forgetting to close the embedded clause with a second comma.
- Confusing a relative clause with a subordinate clause introduced by 'because' or 'when'.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Ability to identify main and subordinate clauses.
- Knowledge of pronouns.
- Familiarity with using commas to mark clauses.
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