Simple Sentences
Grade 4
Lesson Title:
Simple Sentences
Lesson Overview:
The purpose of this lesson is to teach students to identify the subject and predicate of a simple sentence as
well as correct fragments.
Materials Needed:
PowerPoint Presentation, Handout: Simple Sentences, Signs: Simple Subject and Simple Predicate
Instructional Focus Addressed:
Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.
Explicit Instruction (steps):
1. Explain to students that sentences express complete thoughts. Remind students that sentences start
with capital letters and end with end marks.
2. Remind students that every complete sentence has a subject and a predicate. Tell students that a
sentence with a simple subject and a simple predicate is called a simple sentence.
Modeled Instruction (steps):
1. Think aloud and model how to identify both the simple subject and the simple predicate from the
sentence, “Opal walked to the store.”
To identify the simple subject, I ask myself whom or what is this sentence about? It’s about Opal, so Opal is the
simple subject. Then I ask myself, what is the main word that tells me what Opal is doing? Opal walked, so
walked is the simple predicate.
Guided Instruction (steps):
1. Tell students that they will now practice identifying simple subjects and simple predicates.
2. Distribute Simple Subject and Simple Predicate signs.
3. Display the four sentences below:
a. Winn-Dixie smiled at Opal. (SS)
b. He caught a mouse in the church. (SP)
c. Opal ran after Winn-Dixie. (SP)
d. The mouse wasn’t hurt. (SS)
4. Read each of the sentences above, one at a time. Ask students to show you which part of the sentence
is underlined by holding up their simple subject or simple predicate sign.
5. Display the following sentences (without an underlining):
a. Winn-Dixie whimpered when he heard thunder.
b. Opal vigorously cleaned Winn-Dixie.
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c. Winn-Dixie hid under a bed at Gloria’s house.
d. Otis calmed Winn-Dixie by playing the guitar.
6. Have students identify the simple subject with a single underline and the simple predicate with a
double underline.
7. Share student responses whole class.
Independent Practice (steps):
1. Distribute and review the handout.
2. Tell students they are going to work on their own now, identifying the simple subject and simple
predicate, to complete the handout.
3. Circulate the classroom, re-teaching as needed.
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Copyright © 2014 by Write Score LLC