Types of Sentences

Submitted by:  Jeffrey L. Miller

Date:  December 10, 1997

Subject:  Language Arts & Peer Relations

Grade Level:  3-5

Objectives:

1.  Students will write examples statements, questions, commands
and exclamations beginning with capital letters and punctuating correctly.

2.  The classroom climate will become more positve through
the sharing of thoughts and feelings.
 

Overview:

This lesson allows students to demonstrate understanding of the
four types of sentences:  Statements, Questions, Commands and Exclamations.
The activity can also be used to facilitate a better classroom climate through
the sharing of feelings.   Students speak and hear others speak all types of
sentences during the school day.  The lesson can be a tool for expressing
feelings that otherwise may be kept inside the student.  The lesson could be
completed in one class setting, but it is best done in two or three days.

Resources and Materials:

Chalkboard or overhead for teacher's samples and
paper and pencil or poster paper and markers for students.
 

Procedure:

1.  The lesson should begin with a review of the four types of
sentences.  The teacher asks the students to give examples and then writes
them on the chalkboard or on the overhead.  Discuss the different types of
punctuations needed for each type.

2.  Inform the students they are going to write examples of
each type that they have heard sometime during the school year, under two
headings.  The first heading is "Sentences that I most like to hear doing the
school day".

Examples:

You did a really nice job on this assignment.
Would you please help me with my math assignment?

Allow the students enough time to write at least on example for each.

3.  After all students have written, have the students share
their sentences.  The sentences could be written on poster paper (to save for
future classes) or on the chalkboard or overhead.  Begin a discussion on why
they like hearing these sentences.

4.  The next step is to have the students repeat the process,
but this time writing sentences they most dislike hearing in school .
Examples:  That was really stupid of you.  Get out of my face, you idiot.
It is important to state that during this part of the assignment no names of
classmates be used in the sentences.  Names may be used but should be
ficticious student names.  This will help to not create anger among
classmates.

5.  Repeat step 3, sharing student responses.  This time
discuss why they don't like hearing them.

6.  A follow up to this lesson would be to make posters of the positve sentences to hang in the classroom.

Assessment:

1.  Students could be instructed to write examples on a quiz or test.

2.  Students could be instructed to write a short narrative including the four types of sentences.

Personal Comment:

I have used this lesson with many classes during my 19 years of teaching.  It is one of my favorite lessons to use.  Many times the shy students or the students who have been labeled stupid by their classmates have had positive experiences sharing.  It gives students a different insight
into each other.

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