Pointing Back Teacher Guide Pointing Back Teacher Guide
Grade 3 • Grammar & Writing
Objective
Students will identify pronouns and their antecedents in simple sentences and understand how they agree in gender and number.
Materials
Pronoun Power Slides
The Antecedent Arrow Anchor Chart
Target Practice Worksheet
Blue markers or colored pencils
Lesson Pacing
5 min
Warm-up: The Funny Sentence
Display the sentence: "The boy ate the boy's lunch." Ask students why it sounds funny. Guide them to realize that repeating names makes writing "choppy" and "repetitive." Ask: "How can we fix it?"
10 min
Video Viewing & Discussion
Watch the "Pronouns and Antecedents" video. Use these strategic pause points:
0:57 Pause: After the "She → Mary" arrow.
1:15 Pause: Reassure students they don't need to memorize all pronoun types yet. Focus on the handshake (agreement).
2:15 Pause: Predict what "Sasha read her new book" would sound like without the pronoun.
3:30 Pause: Have students read the "Puppy" sentence aloud. Ask: "How does your tongue feel saying 'puppy' that many times?"
15 min
Activity: The Antecedent Arrow
Distribute the Target Practice Worksheet . Model the first sentence on the anchor chart:
Circle the pronoun.Box the antecedent.Draw an arrow connecting the pronoun back to the antecedent.
5 min
Closure: Partner Share
Students share one "Arrow" pair from their worksheet with a neighbor. Verify that the pronoun and antecedent "agree" (matching gender and number).
Key Vocabulary
Pronoun
A word that stands in "for" a noun (he, she, it, they).
Antecedent
The specific noun that a pronoun refers back to.
Agreement
When pronouns match their nouns in gender and number.
Redundant
Repeating words in a way that is unnecessary or boring.
Pronoun Power Slides Pronoun Power
The Secret of the Antecedent Arrow
Warm-Up
"The boy ate the boy's lunch."
Why does this sound funny?
How can we fix it?
Watch & Learn
Embedded media
Listen for the "Handshake Agreement"!
PAUSE! (0:57)
In the video, who does "She" point back to?
Mary She
Yikes!
Too many pronouns? Don't worry!
Case Study #1
"Sasha read her new book."
If we didn't use the pronoun "her," what would we have to say?
The Puppy Problem
"The puppy couldn't remember where the puppy put the puppy's bone."
Read this aloud! How does it feel?
Pronoun
A word that replaces a noun to make writing less choppy.
Ex: he, she, it, they, her, his
Antecedent
The specific noun that the pronoun refers back to.
"Ante" = Before
The Handshake Agreement
Number
Singular or Plural?
Gender
He, She, or It?
They MUST match!
Ready for Target Practice?
1
Circle Pronoun
2
Box Antecedent
3
Draw Arrow
Antecedent Arrow Anchor Chart The Antecedent Arrow
Connecting Pronouns to the Nouns They Replace!
Mary went to the store. She bought milk.
The pronoun points back to the antecedent!
Antecedent
The specific noun that was named first. It's the "boss" that the pronoun follows!
Ex: Mary, The Puppy, Sarah & Tom
Pronoun
The word that stands in "for" the noun so we don't repeat ourselves.
Ex: she, he, it, they, her, his, them
The Handshake Agreement
Number
Singular (1) or
Gender
Male (he), Female (she),
"They must match! A singular girl noun needs a singular girl pronoun."
Writing Tip: Keep it clear, keep it fluid!
Target Practice Worksheet Target Practice
The Antecedent Arrow Activity
Name:
Date:
Mission Instructions
1
CIRCLE the pronoun
2
Box the antecedent
3
DRAW an ARROW back
1. Timothy finished his homework before dinner.
2. The puppy chased its tail in circles.
3. Sarah and Ben said they were ready to go.
4. Mom forgot her umbrella on the bus.
5. The fireworks were bright as they exploded.
6. Marcus told a joke and he laughed loudly.
7. The garden is pretty when it blooms in spring.
8. Lily shared her snack with a friend.
Agreement Check!
Did your pronoun match the antecedent in gender and number?
Bonus Challenge: Write your own sentence on the back and label it!
Target Practice Answer Key Target Practice ANSWER KEY
Teacher Reference Sheet
Verified Agreement: Gender & Number Match
1. Timothy finished his homework before dinner.
2. The puppy chased its tail in circles.
3. Sarah and Ben said they were ready to go.
4. Mom forgot her umbrella on the bus.
5. The fireworks were bright as they exploded.
6. Marcus told a joke and he laughed loudly.
7. The garden is pretty when it blooms.
8. Lily shared her snack with a friend.
