Sentence Variety
Essential Questions
• WHAT IS SENTENCE FLUENCY?
• HOW CAN SENTENCE FLUENCY
IMPACT WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION?
Key Learning Areas
Sentence Fluency
Concepts Taught
Essay Writing
Target Age
9 – 18 Year Olds
Duration
1 x 60 minute Session
Learning Intention / Overview
Effective written communication requires sentence diversity. If
one reads a paragraph that contains thorough idea development,
precise word choice, and conventional correctness, but starts
nearly every sentence in the same way, what’s the result?
Clearly, the author’s message and authority is reduced by their
redundancy. Even the most distinguished writers are reduced in
quality when they opt to take the easy way out in beginning their
sentences in the same way. This mini lesson provides a fun way
for students to practice varying the beginning words in
sentences. Varying these opening words has the potential to
change the dynamics of written compositions.
You will need:
Word Cards (provided)
Ziploc bags
Index Cards
Worksheet
Methods / Teaching Strategies
• Mini lesson
• Practice worksheet
Assessment of Learning
•
•
Cooperative learning formative assessment
Worksheet to be used as formative assessment
How might you customize or alter this lesson?
Online Resources:
• http://edgalaxy.com/educati
on-quotes
• http://edgalaxy.com/classro
om-posterscharts/2013/9/10/14-
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Teaching Instructions
1. Read the following two paragraphs to students. (You may want to display the two
paragraphs on a screen, if desired.)
Imagine a rainbow projected beautifully across the cascading
waterfall. This illustrious image describes one of the many
natural wonders found in Kentucky. There are also horses that
are raised on Kentucky’s bluegrass meadows. These talented
Thoroughbreds might even get the opportunity to race at the
Kentucky Derby. This natural beauty is also found in the
mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Tourists will also appreciate
the ability to enjoy one of Kentucky’s large water bodies. There
are a number of boating adventures to be found at Lake
Cumberland, the Ohio River, or the Green River. This state
provides the right mix of southern hospitality and natural
beauty.
Imagine a rainbow projected beautifully across the cascading
waterfall. Cumberland Falls is the natural wonder described in
this illustrious image. There are also horses that are raised on
Kentucky’s bluegrass meadows. From there, some of these
talented Thoroughbreds might even get the opportunity to race
at the Kentucky Derby. Even more natural beauty can be found
in the mountain of Eastern Kentucky. Tourists will also
appreciate the ability to enjoy one of Kentucky’s large water
bodies. A number of boating adventures can be found at Lake
Cumberland, the Ohio River, or the Green River. Certainly, The
Bluegrass State provides the right mix of southern hospitality
and natural beauty.
2.
Ask students to compare and contrast the two paragraphs. They will likely point out
the sentences that start the same way in the first example. (There are two sentences
that begin with “this” and two sentences that begin with “there”.
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3. After students have recognized the second paragraph as flowing better, remind them
of the words: sentence fluency.
4. Ask students if they recall what sentence fluency is. (If you have never discussed this
term, now is a good time to mention the three parts of sentence fluency:
a. Varying sentence types.
b. Starting sentences in different ways.
c. Using a variety of sentence lengths.
5.
For the group activity, provide each group (3 people per group) with a sheet of word
cards.
a. There are a total of different sheets, so rather than overwhelming groups with
ten different sentences, these can be alternated between groups.
b. Explain that none of the words are capitalized, but no single word is meant to
be the beginning word in the sentence.
c. Explain to students that they can change the tenses of the words if they need
to. (Walked could be changed to walking, etc.)
6. Allow each group to cut the cards apart.
7. Explain that there are three blank cards that can be used as “wild” cards. In other
words, students can create any word that they need to, as they work through this
activity.
8. After they have cut the words apart, have them use at least five of the words to create
a sentence.
9. They will record their sentence on a piece of notebook paper.
10. Following recording their first sentence, they should re-arrange the words to try and
create another sentence. (Remind them to use the “wild” cards to create words that
they need, but which are not provided.)
11. As each group creates sentences, they should record these on their notebook paper.
12. When they have exhausted their ability to make sentences with these words, they
should place all the cut out word cards and “wild” cards in a Ziploc bag and return it
to the teacher.
13. At this time, another Ziploc bag can be provided for them to make more sentences
from the next set of cards.
14. Groups can continue alternating bags, as long as time allows.
15. This activity shows students how there are multiple ways to begin a sentence, without
sacrificing meaning.
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16. A key for each of the original sentences is provided below:
a. Nine furry kittens chased their tails in the barn, while their mother searched
for food.
b. There are sixty-two people in attendance at today’s conference.
c. Shopping for clothes can be exhilarating, frustrating, and exhausting.
d. Bright colors lit up the night sky, as the Independence Day celebration
continued.
e. Are you sure that the time displayed on the invitation is correct?
f. Fiery debris sparkled in the distance, as the wild fires raged on.
g. Crooked roads are difficult to drive on.
h. Pink and purple colors adorned the wedding décor.
i. Lush green trees and vibrant flowers surrounded the vacation resort.
j. I visited Hawaii last year and loved the tropical climate.
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
nine
kittens
chased
tails
furry
their
in
the
while
barn
their
mother
searched food
for
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
there
are
people
at
meeting today’s
in
attendance
sixtytwo
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
shopping
for
clothes
be
can
exhilarating
frustrating exhausting
and
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
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bright
colors
up
lit
the
night
sky
the
Independence
as
day
celebration
continued
DO NOT USE DO NOT
USE
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
you
sure
are
the
time
that
displayed
the
on
invitatio correct
is
n
**WILD** **WILD* **WILD
*
*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
fiery
sparkled debris
in
distance the
as
the
fires
wild
raged
on
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
roads
crooked are
drive
on
to
DO NOT DO NOT
USE
difficult
USE
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
Pink
and
purple
adorned décor
wedding
Colors
DO NOT
the
USE
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
surrounded
the
resort
vacation furry
their
flowers
and
vibrant
lush
green
trees
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
nine
kittens
chased
last
year
and
climate
I
visited
loved
the
tropical
DO NOT visited
Hawaii
USE
**WILD** **WILD** **WILD*
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers
© www.edgalaxy.com – Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers