What makes a sentence?

Grammar

CCSS L.1.1.JEngland: Y1 GPS (sentences)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: What makes a sentence?.

I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
I can explain each step and say why it works.
I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Building a simple sentence

Leads to: Joining words: and, but, or, because; Statements, questions, commands, exclamations; Fragments and run-on sentences

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Building a simple sentence). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Hook · 5 min

Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
Share the objective: What makes a sentence?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
Example: Which one is a complete sentence? • my sister likes • My sister likes apples. • likes apples • My sister apples.
Step 1: "My sister likes apples." tells us who and what they did, starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Step 2: So the answer is: My sister likes apples.
Answer: My sister likes apples.
Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

Which one is a complete sentence? • rang loudly • The bell loudly. • the bell rang • The bell rang loudly. (rang loudly / The bell loudly. / the bell rang / The bell rang loudly.) → The bell rang loudly.Prompt: A sentence needs someone or something AND what they do.
Which one is a complete sentence? • grows tomatoes • Grandad tomatoes. • Grandad grows tomatoes. • grandad grows (grows tomatoes / Grandad tomatoes. / Grandad grows tomatoes. / grandad grows) → Grandad grows tomatoes.Prompt: A sentence needs someone or something AND what they do.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

Which one is a complete sentence? • grows tomatoes • Grandad grows tomatoes. • Grandad tomatoes. • grandad grows (grows tomatoes / Grandad grows tomatoes. / Grandad tomatoes. / grandad grows) → Grandad grows tomatoes.Prompt: A sentence needs someone or something AND what they do.
Which one is a complete sentence? • The bell loudly. • The bell rang loudly. • the bell rang • rang loudly (The bell loudly. / The bell rang loudly. / the bell rang / rang loudly) → The bell rang loudly.Prompt: A sentence needs someone or something AND what they do.

Watch out for

Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Building a simple sentence.
Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

Move on to: Joining words: and, but, or, because; Statements, questions, commands, exclamations; Fragments and run-on sentences.
Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-1.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

What makes a sentence?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
Which one is a complete sentence? • My sister likes apples. • My sister apples. • likes apples • my sister likes
- A. My sister likes apples.
- B. My sister apples.
- C. likes apples
- D. my sister likes
2
Question 2
Which one is a complete sentence? • chased a mouse • the cat chased • The cat a mouse. • The cat chased a mouse.
- A. chased a mouse
- B. the cat chased
- C. The cat a mouse.
- D. The cat chased a mouse.
3
Question 3
Which one is a complete sentence? • The bell loudly. • The bell rang loudly. • rang loudly • the bell rang
- A. The bell loudly.
- B. The bell rang loudly.
- C. rang loudly
- D. the bell rang
4
Question 4
Which one is a complete sentence? • Grandad grows tomatoes. • grows tomatoes • Grandad tomatoes. • grandad grows
- A. Grandad grows tomatoes.
- B. grows tomatoes
- C. Grandad tomatoes.
- D. grandad grows
5
Question 5
Which one is a complete sentence? • chased a mouse • The cat chased a mouse. • the cat chased • The cat a mouse.
- A. chased a mouse
- B. The cat chased a mouse.
- C. the cat chased
- D. The cat a mouse.
6
Question 6
Which one is a complete sentence? • Omar fed the ducks. • omar fed • fed the ducks • Omar the ducks.
- A. Omar fed the ducks.
- B. omar fed
- C. fed the ducks
- D. Omar the ducks.
7
Question 7
Which one is a complete sentence? • The wind blew the leaves. • the wind blew • The wind the leaves. • blew the leaves
- A. The wind blew the leaves.
- B. the wind blew
- C. The wind the leaves.
- D. blew the leaves
8
Question 8
Which one is a complete sentence? • A fox into the woods. • ran into the woods • a fox ran into • A fox ran into the woods.
- A. A fox into the woods.
- B. ran into the woods
- C. a fox ran into
- D. A fox ran into the woods.

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Answer key: What makes a sentence?

1. A. My sister likes apples.
2. D. The cat chased a mouse.
3. B. The bell rang loudly.
4. A. Grandad grows tomatoes.
5. B. The cat chased a mouse.
6. A. Omar fed the ducks.
7. A. The wind blew the leaves.
8. D. A fox ran into the woods.