Mastering Pronoun Types

Grade: 4

Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 6 students

---

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Alignment

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.A

• Explain the function of pronouns as substitutes for nouns and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.B

• Form and use the types of pronouns: personal, possessive, reflexive, demonstrative, interrogative, and indefinite correctly in sentences.

---

Learning Objectives (I can statements)

• I can identify and use personal pronouns in sentences.
• I can recognize and correctly use possessive and reflexive pronouns.
• I can distinguish between demonstrative and interrogative pronouns.
• I can use indefinite pronouns correctly in my writing and speaking.

---

Success Criteria

• Students will correctly match pronouns to their functions.
• Students will create sentences using each type of pronoun.
• Students will demonstrate understanding by identifying pronouns in short paragraphs.

---

Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Flashcards with pronouns sorted by type
• Sentence strips for writing activity
• Dyslexia-friendly printed materials with clear fonts (e.g. OpenDyslexic, increased spacing)
• Colored highlighters for pronoun identification

---

Lesson Plan Breakdown

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Begin with an engaging question: “Can someone tell me what a pronoun is?”
• Briefly explain pronouns as words that take the place of nouns.
• Introduce the six types with simple explanations and examples on the board:
  • Personal: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
  • Possessive: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
  • Reflexive: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
  • Demonstrative: this, that, these, those
  • Interrogative: who, what, which, whom, whose
  • Indefinite: anyone, everyone, someone, no one, anything

Activity 1: Pronoun Match-Up (15 minutes)

• Hand out pronoun flashcards unique to each type.
• Students work in pairs to sort cards into correct pronoun categories on the desk.
• Walk around to support and ask questions to deepen understanding.
• Dyslexia-friendly adaptation: flashcards include images/icons representing the pronoun functions for visual cues.
• Advanced learners: write a sentence for 3 new pronouns not previously discussed.

Activity 2: Sentence Creation (20 minutes)

• Each student draws or is given a sentence strip with a noun. Their task is to rewrite the sentence replacing the noun with an appropriate pronoun type. For example:
  • Original: The teacher gave the students homework.
  • Rewritten: She gave them homework. (personal and possessive)
• Then, students highlight or underline the pronouns they use.
• Teacher models an example and provides check-in prompts like, “Did I make sure the pronoun matches the noun I replaced?”
• Advanced learners write additional sentences using interrogative and indefinite pronouns.

Wrap-Up: Pronoun Detective (10 minutes)

• Read a short, dyslexia-friendly paragraph aloud containing various pronouns.
• Students use colored highlighters to identify and label different pronouns in text (on printed handouts).
• Discuss as a class where each pronoun type was found and why it fits that category.

Assessment & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Students verbally share one new thing they learned about pronouns (incorporating “I can…” statements).
• Exit ticket: Write down a sentence using one pronoun type of their choice.

---

Differentiation Strategies

• Visual supports: flashcards with icons, color-coded categories.
• Oral instructions: repeating directions, checking individual understanding.
• Hands-on learning: pairing students for collaboration; using sentence strips to scaffold writing.
• Dyslexia-friendly materials: clear fonts, larger text, spaced lines, and audio read-aloud options for printed texts.

---

Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Challenge students to write a short story incorporating all six pronoun types, correctly used.
• Create a quiz-game where they identify pronouns by type under time pressure.
• Explore the difference between subjective and objective personal pronouns with examples.

---

This lesson helps students build a strong foundation in pronoun use, engaging them with hands-on, multisensory activities aligned to Common Core standards, and providing options for diverse learning needs.