Let's write sentences: these easy activities give children the hands-on practice they need to be successful sentence writers.1 LETTER LEAVES WHAT IT TEACHES: Capitalization WHAT TO DO: To reinforce that proper nouns begin with a capital letter, cut out a supply of colorful fall leaves from construction paper. Write a common or proper noun on each leaf, using lowercase for the first letter--even for proper nouns. Place the leaves in a paper bag. Invite children to draw a leaf from the bag, read the word, and tell the class whether or not the word begins with a capital letter. Have them write the word on the chalkboard in its correct form for the class to see. After all the children have taken at least one turn, ask them to write sentences with their words, making sure they use proper capitalization. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 ANTICIPATING THE END WHAT IT TEACHES: Punctuation punctuation [Lat.,=point], the use of special signs in writing to clarify how words are used; the term also refers to the signs themselves. In every language, besides the sounds of the words that are strung together there are other features, such as tone, accent, and WHAT TO DO: Give children three lined index cards. Ask them to write each of these sentence-ending punctuation marks on a separate card: a period, question mark, and exclamation mark (character) exclamation mark - The character "!" with ASCII code 33. Common names: bang; pling; excl (/eks'kl/); shriek; ITU-T: exclamation mark, exclamation point (US). Rare: factorial; exclam; smash; cuss; boing; yell; wow; hey; wham; eureka; soldier; INTERCAL: spark-spot. . Have them spread their cards face up in front of them. Then, say a simple sentence and challenge the children to decide which punctuation mark should come at the end of the sentence. Ask them to hold up the corresponding card. After several rounds of practice, using declarative de·clar·a·tive adj. 1. Serving to declare or state. 2. Of, relating to, or being an element or construction used to make a statement: a declarative sentence. n. , interrogative, and exclamatory sentences, write one sentence at a time on the chalkboard and omit o·mit tr.v. o·mit·ted, o·mit·ting, o·mits 1. To fail to include or mention; leave out: omit a word. 2. a. To pass over; neglect. b. the ending punctuation. Have children hold up the correct punctuation card for that sentence. Finally, divide children into small groups. Have them write their own sentences and take turns using these to do the activity. Encourage them to explain why each punctuation mark is or is not appropriate for each sentence. 3 CRAFT-STICK GRAMMAR WHAT IT TEACHES: Commas WHAT TO DO: Use a permanent marker A permanent marker is a type of marker pen that is used to create permanent writing on an object. Generally the liquid is water resistant, contains the toxic chemical xylene or toluene, and is capable of writing on a variety of surfaces from paper to metal to stone. to draw a comma on the end of several large craft sticks. Then tell children that commas are used in sentences to separate words in a list. To demonstrate, line up three objects. Place the craft-stick commas between the objects in the series to separate them. Explain that the word and should be used after the last comma in the list. After placing the craft-stick commas between the objects, have children write a sentence using the series of words and commas. To practice with proper nouns, ask several children to sit on the floor. Then have volunteers place craft-stick commas between the children to show how they are used to separate names in a list. You might also invite children to use the craft-stick commas to demonstrate the use of commas in separating city and state names, and the month and day from the year. After practicing each comma usage, encourage children to write sentences using the comma rule. 4 THE THREE "C"S WHAT IT TEACHES: Capitalization, commas, end punctuation WHAT TO DO: Explain the three Cs of sentence writing: Capitalize the first word of the sentence (and certain other words too), use commas where needed, and close each sentence with the proper punctuation. Then invite children to create their own sentences using the three Cs as a guide. Use magazine pictures of animals, toys, and people as writing prompts. Ask children to choose a picture and then write a few sentences about it. To give them practice in using commas, ask them to use a specific date or city and state in their sentences. After they write each sentence, encourage children to check their work for correct capitalization, commas, and closing punctuation. You may also ask students to exchange their sentences to check each other's work. 5 AGREEMENT HANDSHAKE handshake - handshaking WHAT IT TEACHES: Noun-verb agreement WHAT TO DO: Die-cut a supply of red apples and green apples. Write a noun on each red apple. Be sure to use both singular and plural PLURAL. A term used in grammar, which signifies more than one. 2. Sometimes, however, it may be so expressed that it means only one, as, if a man were to devise to another all he was worth, if he, the testator, died without children, and he died leaving one nouns, as well as a few pronouns and proper nouns. On each green apple, write a verb that agrees with a noun on the left. For example: dogs/run, boy/helps, I/ride, and so on. Place all red and green apples facedown. Then invite children to take turns flipping over red and green apples, reading the words, and deciding if the noun and verb on the apples agree. If so, they write a sentence with the noun-verb combination. 6 COMIC QUOTES WHAT IT TEACHES: Quotation marks quotation marks Noun, pl the punctuation marks used to begin and end a quotation, either `` and '' or ` and ' quotation marks npl → comillas fpl WHAT TO DO: Share with children a few comic strips
adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here , invite children to use their imaginations and invent their own comic strips featuring characters who use dialogue. As children work, have them enclose en·close also in·close tr.v. en·closed, en·clos·ing, en·clos·es 1. To surround on all sides; close in. 2. To fence in so as to prevent common use: enclosed the pasture. each character's speaking part in a speech bubble. When they finish, instruct children to exchange their work with classmates Classmates can refer to either:
RELATED ARTICLE: MORE GRADES 1-2 IDEAS ONLINE Great Word Games Students can create word lists and turn them into instant learning games for word study. Dinosaur Roulette roulette (r  lĕt`), game of chance popular in gambling casinos, and in a simplified form elsewhere. In gambling houses the roulette wheel is set in an oblong table.
This game will let students have a blast while figuring out how animals fit together. scholastic.com/topactivities |
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