6th Grade Defining And Non-Defining Clauses Lesson Plan Example

Topic: Defining and non-defining clauses

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to define clauses and identify defining and non-defining clauses in sentences.

Materials

• Bulletins board or whiteboard
• Handout with sentences for practice identifying defining and non-defining clauses
• Sentence strips or cards with sentences for practice identifying defining and non-defining clauses

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have heard of clauses before. What do they know about clauses? Write their answers on the board or whiteboard.
• Review what students already know about clauses, emphasizing that clauses are group of words that have a subject and a verb and can

become sentences.

Direct Instruction

• Distribute the handout on defining and non-defining clauses and explain the definitions and examples.
• Ask students to read a short passage containing some clauses and identify the defining and non-defining clauses.
• Model how to identify defining and non-defining clauses by using the handout as a guide.

Guided Practice

• Pass out the handouts with sentences containing clauses and have students work in pairs to identify the defining and non-defining clauses.
• Have students share their answers with the class and discuss any differences or questions.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose a book they have recently read, or a movie they have seen, and create a project that includes a list of all the clauses in the text.
• Students can create a visual representation of the clauses, such as a mind map or flowchart, or they can write a paragraph or -page summary that includes all the critical information from the text.
• Allow students time to work on their projects in class and provide resources and support as needed.

Closure

• Have students share their projects with the class, explaining what clauses are and how they can be used to improve understanding of text.
• Encourage students to think about how they could use clauses in their own writing.

Assessment:

• Observe students during independent practice and provide feedback on their use of clauses in their writing.
• Have students complete a written assessment on the definition and uses of clauses, including multiple choice, short answer, and written example questions.