Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, K-3

In the BrainPOP ELL movie, Mammals (L2U1L4), Ben is taking care of Nikki’s new puppy. He uses reflexive pronouns to explain to Moby what puppies and other mammals can do by themselves. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades K-8, students share ideas using reflexive pronouns, illustrate expressions using reflexive pronouns, and distinguish among different types of pronouns.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Apply sentences using reflexive pronouns to themselves.
  2. Discuss and share ideas connecting the word "reflect" and the concept of reflexive pronouns.
  3. Create a project that illustrates and explains an expression using reflexive pronouns.
  4. Create mini-dialogues about themselves.
  5. Distinguish among different types of pronouns.

Materials:

Vocabulary:

Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves; Reflect, reflection, reflexive

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Mirrors. Show the Who is He Looking At? Image Prompt to introduce and practice using reflexive pronouns. Then pass out several hand-held mirrors to individuals and small groups of students. Ask questions to vary the pronoun use. For example: Who is she looking at? Who are they looking at? Teach the words reflect / reflection, and have partners Think-Pair-Share ideas that connect the words and the concept of reflexive pronouns.
  2. Express Yourself. Reflexive Pronouns are used in many idioms and expressions. Students may create a way to explain and illustrate some or all of the different types of pronouns: subject pronouns (L1U1L1), possessive pronouns (L2U2L1), object pronouns (L2U1L3), and reflexive pronouns (L2U1L4).