Build a Better Sentence! Writing Workshop CENTER, Task Cards, & Worksheets

Build a Better Sentence! Writing Workshop CENTER, Task Cards, & Worksheets

upper elementary and middle grades - meets Common Core L.3, L.2, L.5, as well as W.4 and W.5.

Download preview file for a comprehensive overview as well as detailed teacher instructions for using this unit.

Developing better writers starts with writing better sentences! This technique guides students to start with subjects that contain awesome adjectives, add vivid verbs that show strong action, and add at least 2 parts for each sentence. The parts include where parts, when parts, why parts, and how parts.

Here are the 4 steps to Build a Better Sentence!
Step 1 - Start with a subject and add an awesome adjective.
Step 2 - Add a vivid verb to describe the action.
Step 3 - Add at least 2 parts (choose from when, where, why, how).
Step 4 - Move one of the parts to the beginning of the sentence and place a comma after it.

Original sentence: The puppy runs.
Build a Better Sentence! sentence: To find his owners, the frustrated puppy dashes through the rain.

Includes 5 prerequisite worksheets so students can practice using strong action verbs and identifying each of the 4 sentence parts.

Use the posters to create a center or display in your classroom. There are 48 unique task cards that come in 3 levels of scaffolding (see preview for details). I've included a version with a background and an easy-on-the-ink version without a background.

My students use this program for any and all writing activities. When they write vocabulary sentences, they know that their sentence will not be accepted unless it includes at least 2 parts. This method is SO much better than setting a minimum sentence length for sentences turned in because it forces the students to EXPAND the sentences instead of just making them longer.