#3279. Sentence Expansion/Elaboration

Reading/Writing, level: Elementary
Posted Fri Nov 12 08:17:10 PST 2004 by Denise Mumford; Donna Savage (denise.mumford@nn.k12.va.us; donna.savage@nn.k12.va.us).
Watkins Elementary School, Newport News, VA USA
Materials Required: Crayons or colored pencils, drawing paper, sentence strips, pocket chart
Concepts Taught: Adding details to sentences

Sentence Expansion/Elaboration
Grade 3

I. Points/Objectives of Lesson:

TLW add details to simple sentences in order to develop more complex sentences.

TLW will distinguish between a descriptive and nondescriptive sentences.

II. Materials Needed:

Crayons or colored pencils, drawing paper, sentence strips, pocket chart

III. Getting Started/Warm-Up Activity:

Read the sentence: I see a dog. Ask students to visualize and draw a picture using only the information given in the sentence. Next, read the sentence: I see a black and white dog with a curly tail and floppy ears. Again ask students to draw a picture based on just the details given. Ask students which sentence gave them the information needed to visualize. Ask them to tell why they were able to draw a more detailed picture.

IV. Introduction and Explanation:

Model how to insert descriptive words in a nondescriptive sentence. Use the following sentences:

I like cake

I like yellow cake with white frosting.

We like hot dogs.

We like hot dogs with mustard and relish.

My dog lives in a house.

My dog lives in a big, white dog house with a door on the front.

Write the words on sentence strips and model inserting the added words or phrases on a pocket chart. Elicit additional responses from the students.

V. Guided Practice (teacher/student):

Students will add descriptive words on phrases to these sentences. Sentences can be shown on an overhead on typed and handed out to each student.

I went to Disney World. (Ex. I went to Disney World with my mom and brother.)

First, I got wet. (Ex. First, I got wet on the water ride because the water splashed on me.)

We watched a show. (Ex. We watched an exciting show about Mickey and Minnie.)

Finally, we went home. (Ex. Finally, we went home with lots of new toys and funny
pictures.)

VI. Independent Practice (student):

Students will edit a writing they are currently working on to expand and/or elaborate their sentences.

VII. Closure:

Ask students to summarize what writing strategy they learned today and how they will use it in their future writing. Encourage them to connect the strategy to their reading as they make mental images during reading.