Mastering Prepositions Grammar Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4

Week 4: Grammar – Identifying and Using Prepositions

Subject: Grammar
Class: Primary 4
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 9 years

Topic: Identifying and Using Prepositions
Sub-topic: Understanding and Applying Prepositions
Duration: 40 minutes


Behavioural Objectives:

  • Pupils will be able to identify and use prepositions in sentences.
  • Pupils will understand the function of prepositions in showing relationships between nouns and other words.
  • Pupils will create sentences using prepositions to describe locations, directions, and time.

Key Words:

  • Preposition
  • Location
  • Direction
  • Relationship
  • Example

Set Induction:

Begin by explaining what prepositions are and their role in sentences. Use simple examples to show how prepositions indicate relationships between nouns and other words (e.g., “on the table,” “under the bed”).

Entry Behaviour:

Pupils should have a basic understanding of nouns and verbs from previous lessons.

Learning Resources and Materials:

  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Charts showing examples of common prepositions
  • Worksheets with sentences for practice
  • Flashcards with prepositions

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Relate prepositions to previously learned sentence structures, highlighting how they add detail and context to sentences.

Embedded Core Skills:

  • Grammar identification
  • Sentence formation
  • Contextual understanding

Learning Materials:

  • Charts of common prepositions
  • Practice worksheets
  • Flashcards

Reference Books:

  • Lagos State Scheme of Work
  • Primary 4 English Language textbooks

Instructional Materials:

  • Preposition charts
  • Practice worksheets
  • Flashcards

Content:

  1. Introduction to Prepositions:
    • Definition: A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence.
    • Examples: “in,” “on,” “under,” “between,” “over.”
    • Sentences:
      • “The cat is on the table.” (Preposition: on)
      • “The book is under the bed.” (Preposition: under)
  2. Common Prepositions and Their Uses:
    • Location Prepositions:
      • “in,” “on,” “under,” “over”
      • Examples:
        • “The cup is in the cupboard.” (Location: in)
        • “The bird flew over the house.” (Location: over)
    • Direction Prepositions:
      • “to,” “from,” “toward,” “through”
      • Examples:
        • “She walked toward the park.” (Direction: toward)
        • “The mail came from the post office.” (Direction: from)
    • Time Prepositions:
      • “at,” “on,” “in,” “before,” “after”
      • Examples:
        • “We will meet at 3 PM.” (Time: at)
        • “The party is on Saturday.” (Time: on)
  3. Identifying and Using Prepositions in Sentences:
    • Practice recognizing prepositions and their functions in various sentences.
    • Examples:
      • “The cat slept under the table.” (Preposition: under)
      • “The children played in the park.” (Preposition: in)

Evaluation:

  • Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:
    1. The cat is ______ the chair. (preposition: under)
      • a) on
      • b) under
      • c) beside
      • d) over
    2. She walked ______ the store. (preposition: to)
      • a) in
      • b) at
      • c) from
      • d) to
    3. The book is ______ the table. (preposition: on)
      • a) in
      • b) under
      • c) on
      • d) beside
    4. We will meet ______ noon. (preposition: at)
      • a) at
      • b) before
      • c) on
      • d) in
    5. The bird flew ______ the house. (preposition: over)
      • a) through
      • b) beside
      • c) over
      • d) under
    6. The children played ______ the park. (preposition: in)
      • a) in
      • b) at
      • c) on
      • d) from
    7. She arrived ______ the party early. (preposition: before)
      • a) after
      • b) before
      • c) under
      • d) on
    8. The dog ran ______ the yard. (preposition: through)
      • a) to
      • b) at
      • c) through
      • d) on
    9. The letter is ______ the envelope. (preposition: in)
      • a) on
      • b) in
      • c) under
      • d) between
    10. The keys are ______ the drawer. (preposition: in)
      • a) under
      • b) in
      • c) beside
      • d) over

Class Activity Discussion:

  • What is the role of a preposition in a sentence?
    • A preposition shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. It often indicates time, place, direction, or method.
  • How can you identify a preposition in a sentence?
    • Prepositions are usually short words that come before a noun or pronoun. They often answer questions like “where?” “when?” or “how?” Examples include words like in, on, at, by, under, and over.
  • Can you provide an example of a preposition used in a sentence?
    • Example: “The cat is under the table.” Here, under is the preposition showing the relationship between the cat and the table.
  • Why are prepositions important in writing?
    • Prepositions are important because they help clarify relationships between different parts of a sentence, providing essential details about where, when, and how something happens. This helps make sentences more precise and understandable.
  • How do prepositions enhance the meaning of a sentence?
    • Prepositions enhance meaning by adding details about the location, time, or manner of an action. For example, in the sentence “She arrived at noon,” the preposition at specifies the exact time of arrival, making the sentence clearer and more informative.
  • Further Explanation :
    1. What is a preposition?
      • A preposition shows the relationship between a noun and other words in a sentence.
    2. What are some common prepositions of location?
      • “in,” “on,” “under,” “over.”
    3. How do prepositions show direction?
      • They describe the path or movement, like “to,” “from,” “toward.”
    4. Can prepositions indicate time?
      • Yes, prepositions like “at,” “on,” “in” can show when something happens.
    5. How can you identify a preposition in a sentence?
      • Look for words that link nouns to other words, showing relationships.
    6. Why are prepositions important in sentences?
      • They help describe where, when, and how things happen.
    7. Can a sentence have more than one preposition?
      • Yes, sentences can have multiple prepositions.
    8. How do prepositions add detail to sentences?
      • They provide information about the location, direction, or time of actions.
    9. Can prepositions be used to describe both places and actions?
      • Yes, prepositions describe locations and how actions occur.
    10. What should you do if you’re unsure about a preposition’s use?
      • Refer to examples and practice using prepositions in different sentences.

Worksheet for Class Participation

Objective: To practice using and identifying prepositions in sentences.

Part 1: Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct preposition from the options provided.

  1. The cat is sitting ___ the sofa.
    (a) in, (b) on, (c) under
  2. We will meet ___ the park at 3 PM.
    (a) at, (b) in, (c) on
  3. The book is ___ the table.
    (a) beside, (b) with, (c) near
  4. She walked ___ the street to get to the store.
    (a) across, (b) under, (c) between
  5. The children are playing ___ the playground.
    (a) at, (b) in, (c) on
  6. He put the keys ___ the drawer.
    (a) on, (b) in, (c) under
  7. The bird flew ___ the sky.
    (a) above, (b) below, (c) at
  8. The dog is hiding ___ the bed.
    (a) beside, (b) under, (c) with
  9. We ate lunch ___ noon.
    (a) at, (b) on, (c) in
  10. She placed the vase ___ the table carefully.
    (a) on, (b) at, (c) with

Part 2: Discussions

Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups. Be prepared to share your answers with the class.

  1. What role do prepositions play in describing the location of objects?
    • Example Discussion: How does saying “The cat is on the bed” differ from “The cat is under the bed”?
  2. How can prepositions indicate time in sentences?
    • Example Discussion: Compare the meanings of “The meeting is at 3 PM” and “The meeting is in the afternoon.”
  3. Why is it important to use the correct preposition in a sentence?
    • Example Discussion: How might changing a preposition alter the meaning of a sentence, such as “She walked in the park” versus “She walked on the park”?
  4. Can you give an example of a sentence where the preposition helps describe how an action is performed?
    • Example Discussion: “She wrote the letter with a pen” versus “She wrote the letter on paper.”
  5. How do prepositions contribute to making writing clear and precise?
    • Example Discussion: Discuss how adding prepositions like “between,” “under,” or “over” can change the clarity of a description in a story.

Presentation:

  • Step 1: Review the previous topic on adjectives and adverbs.
  • Step 2: Introduce prepositions, explaining their role in sentences and providing examples.
  • Step 3: Allow pupils to practice using prepositions in sentences and provide feedback.

Teacher’s Activities:

  • Explain the concept of prepositions with examples.
  • Provide practice worksheets and activities.
  • Assist pupils in using prepositions correctly.

Learners’ Activities:

  • Participate in discussions about prepositions.
  • Complete worksheets and sentence exercises.
  • Use prepositions in their own sentences.

Assessment:

  • Review worksheets and class participation.
  • Check understanding through fill-in-the-blank questions and discussions.

Evaluation Questions:

  • What is the role of a preposition in a sentence?
  • How can you identify a preposition in a sentence?
  • Can you provide an example of a preposition used in a sentence?
  • Why are prepositions important in writing?
  • How do prepositions enhance the meaning of a sentence?

Conclusion:

  • The teacher will review pupils’ work, provide feedback, and address any difficulties encountered with using prepositions.

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