Please note: In keeping with customary book publishing practices, the front and back sides of each sheet

in the print version of this book were included in the page count. For the eBook version, however, we have elected not to include the back sides of card stock pages, since they have little or no text. Therefore, the actual number of pages available to print will be fewer than are available in the print version.

SENTENCE
Hands-on Literacy Center Activities

Written by Majella Maas

Editor: Designer/Production: Art Director: Project Director:

Stacey Faulkner Barbara Peterson Moonhee Pak Betsy Morris, PhD

2007 Creative Teaching Press Inc., Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Reproduction of activities in any manner for use in the classroom and not for commercial sale is permissible. Reproduction of these materials for an entire school or for a school system is strictly prohibited.

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................... 3 Getting Started Preparing Center Materials .............. 4
Using the Word Cards .................... 4 Using the Sentence-Building Mats, ...... Word Lists, and Directions Cards ...... 5 Using the Reproducible Pages What Falls Down? ....................... 21 Who Can Jump?......................... 22

......................... 23 I Can Write! ............................... 24 Card Stock Word Cards

What Goes Up? Articles and Pronouns (green border) Nouns (purple border) Action Words (red border) Words for the Beginning of Sentences . (pink border) Words for the Beginning of Questions .. (lavender border)

...... 56

Making Travel-Friendly Centers ........ 6 Assessment ................................ 6

Reproducible Word Cards Articles and Pronouns .................... 7

Nouns

.................................... 89

Card Stock Sentence-Building Mats

Build a Three-Word Sentence (blue mat) Build a Three-Word Question (yellow mat) Build a Four-Word Sentence (green mat) Build a Four-Word Question (orange mat)

Action Words ......................... 1011 Words for the Beginning of Sentences ......................... 1213 Words for the Beginning of Questions .............................. 14

Reproducible Extension Activities Build a Three-Word Sentence ........ 15

Build a Three-Word Question ......... 16 Build a Four-Word Sentence .......... 17 Build a Four-Word Question........... 18 What Can I Do?

Card Stock Sentence-Building Word Lists Card Stock Center Directions Cards

......................... 19

How Do I Feel? .......................... 20

Introduction
introduces students to the fundamental concept that words go together to make sentences. The activities included in this resource are geared toward kindergarten and first-grade standards, interests, and abilities. The provided word lists will help students get started in building three- and four-word sentences. Additional word cards are included to allow for longer and more creative, child-authored sentence construction. The interactive, hands-on activities are designed to move students from the ability to read sight words and decodable words to the ability to manipulate words into concrete, meaningful, and readable sentences. Students will practice the following skills:

BUILD-A-SENTENCE

reading and manipulating sight words and decodable words into simple sentences building sentences from left to right reading sentences from left to right and from top to bottom understanding that a sentence must express a complete thought understanding how to construct a question capitalizing the first word in a sentence using ending punctuation marks recognizing and using action words in a complete sentence constructing longer and more complex sentences independently
girl gi rl The Th e
can

sh sh

can ca n

swim sw im

The Th e

Word cards, sentence-building mats, center activity directions, and a variety of reproducible activity pages are provided to give students practice in constructing and writing sentences. Use the materials to help students make the connection between reading and writing, reinforce or extend their abilities to create sentences they can decode and comprehend, and support independent practice. Begin using Build-a-Sentence today. The ready-to-use card stock word cards, sentence-building mats, and center activity directions cards require minimal preparation and are easy for teachers, parents, and volunteers to use. Once introduced, the materials store easily and travel anywhere young readers and writers need them. Get children excited about reading and writing sentences with the ideas and activities in Build-a-Sentence.
Introduction 3

Getting Started

Preparing Center Materials

Pull out the colored card stock word cards, sentence-building mats, word lists, and directions cards. Make overhead transparencies of these pages if you choose to introduce the activities to the whole class before independent or small group instruction. Laminate these pages for durability. Cut all cards on the perforated lines. Once separated and organized the materials are appropriate for small group instruction or for individual students to use independently at their seats, in a center, or at home. Decide on a storage system that works best for your classroom arrangement and your students needs. You may wish to choose from the following options.

1. Place the sentence-building mats and corresponding

Build a 3-word Sentence

directions cards in gallon-size resealable plastic bags or laminated manila clasp envelopes. Label each set with the title of the activity. Store the center materials flat or upright in a plastic shoe-box-size bin.

2. The card stock word cards are color-coded by category to

help identify the type of word. Categories include articles and pronouns, nouns, action words, question words, and words for the beginning of sentences. Group the word cards by color and store them in compartmentalized plastic craft boxes typically used for small hardware or beads or store word cards by category in resealable plastic bags or envelopes. Color-code all labels to match the cards inside.

Using the Word Cards

Before having students use these materials independently, introduce all cards and mats to the whole class. Have students read the sight words and decodable words as you place them in a pocket chart. Tell students that the cards are color-coded by part of speech, or by their use in the sentence. For additional practice with reading the words, have students sort them. Students may initially sort by recognizing the color. When students are ready, encourage them to verbalize their sorts by saying the part of speech, or how the word is used in the sentence.

She Sh

This T

Words for Beginning of Sentenc es

Who W
W hat Is
ds Words stionn Wor Questio Que

ba alll b l
cat ca
Nouns Nouns

Getting Started

Using the Sentence-Building Mats, Word Lists, and Directions Cards

After identifying the words, introduce the color-coded sentence-building mats, word lists, and corresponding directions cards in small groups or to the whole class on the overhead. Demonstrate how to match the word cards with the words on the word list and how to use those words to construct sentences. Point out the particular ending punctuation on each mat and remind students about the importance of spaces between words, pointing out the space between each line on the mat. Note that some word lists may produce sentences with more words than allotted spaces on the mats. Encourage children who discover these sentences to build them to the side of their mats.

sk m ip in e

Y Io su
I Is
ca n th at

juin me m p

can sh
e Ho D

t hip at

As you model using the center materials, talk through your thinking as if you were a student completing the activity. Read and point to the provided directions on the card as you practice each step. Emphasize the importance of reading the sentences created and self-checking for meaning. Model how you listen carefully as you read back your work, asking yourself if it sounds right and makes sense. Some students will need repeated practice with the same mats. Others will catch on quickly and be ready to record their sentences and try new mats. Later, when students are ready, they will be able to use the word cards without the word lists to create their own sentences and questions on the mats. As an option, have students build their own sentences on laminated sheets of construction paper or in a pocket chart. Provide students with ending punctuation marks written on index cards and tongue depressors to remind them to leave spaces between words.

Using the Reproducible Pages

A variety of reproducible pages have been provided for children who are ready to apply and extend what they are learning beyond the introductory sentence-building centers. After students have created sentences on their mats, invite them to copy their sentences on the corresponding Build-a-Sentence reproducibles (pages 1518). Keep copies of these reproducible pages in the center or have students record their original sentences on your choice of writing paper. Encourage students to demonstrate their comprehension of the sentences by drawing matching pictures.

Getting Started 5

Also included are reproducibles that can be used for independent seatwork or homework (pages 1924). These activity sheets combine words featured on the word cards at the center and additional decodable words. When children are ready for building their own sentences from a large pool of words, provide them with a set of the reproducible word cards (pages 714). Ask each child to cut out the words and place them in a resealable plastic bag or envelope. Invite children to use the cards to build sentences. Once a sentence is created, have children glue the words in place on a sentence strip. Have children illustrate their sentences and assemble their strips into personalized books titled My Sentences Book.

Making Travel-Friendly Centers

Use these center materials for take-home review, for work with a classroom volunteer, or for after-school tutoring. Place the directions card, sentence-building mat, word list, word cards, and corresponding reproducible inside a resealable plastic bag or laminated manila clasp envelope. Label the bag or envelope with an inventory checklist of the contents so the person receiving the bag knows what should be returned.

rd Build a 4-wo Sentence

Whats inside :
card Directions t Word lis s Word card encent se 4-word t a m g in ld bui ence Build a Sentge a p y activit

go g o
g og do d

Build a Four Wo - rd Sentence

r ur ou Yo Y

n can ca

biik b ke e

Assessment
Assessment depends on the level of each student and the time of year in which you introduce the centers. Informally assess children by direct observation as they use the materials, noting their successes and areas of need. Once children are ready to record their findings, use the reproducible pages as documentation of their progress. Show childrens work to parents during conferences or send their work home for parents to use in supporting their childrens learning.

Getting Started

my

you

you

my

the

the

that

mine

he

your

that

mine
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

he

it

it

her

she

me

me
7

bike

ball

dog

fish

bike

ball

dog

fish

bike

ball

dog

fish

kite

friend

friend

friend
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

kite
8

game

game

game

bug

cat

boy

lake

bug

cat

boy

lake

ship

ship

girl

girl

toy
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

pen

duck

rat

toy

pen

duck

rat
9

can

can

is

play

can

can

is

play

made

flip

is

skip

made

flip

is

skip
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

like
10

like

tell

tell

go

swim

see

jump

go

swim

see

jump

hit

run

stop

do

hit
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

run

stop

do

look

look

ride

ride
11

This

My

We

You

This

My

We

You

This

My

We

You

The

The
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

I
12

The

The

She

He

Your

That

She

He

Your

That

She

He

Your

That

A
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

It

The

It

It

The
13

Who

Can

Can

Can

Who

What

What

What

How

Where

Will

Are

How

Where

Will

Are
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Is
14

Is

Do

Do

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

Build a Three-Word Sentence

Draw a picture to match each sentence.

1.

2.

3.

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

15

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

Build a Three-Word Question

1. ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

? ? ?

2. ____________________

____________________ ____________________

3. ____________________

____________________ ____________________

Draw a picture to match each question.

1.

2.

3.

16

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Build a Four-Word Sentence

1. _______________________

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

2. _______________________

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

3. _______________________

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

.
3.

Draw a picture to match each sentence.

1.

2.

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

17

Name __________________________________________________________ Date__________________________________

Name __________________________________________________________ Date__________________________________

18

Build a Four-Word Question

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

1. _______________________

? ? ?

2. _______________________

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

3. _______________________

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

Draw a picture to match each question.

1.

2.

3.

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

What Can I Do?

Read the words below. Cut out the words. Glue the words in the boxes to make three complete sentences.

1.

. . . I can jump skip I can can run I

19

2.

3.

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

How Do I Feel?
Read the words below. Cut out the words. Glue the words in the boxes to make three complete sentences. Then glue the matching picture next to each sentence.

1.

. . . I feel feel happy I

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

2.

3.

feel sleepy sad I

20

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

What Falls Down?

Read the words below. Cut out the words. Glue the words in the boxes to make three complete sentences.

1.

. . . The rain down falls snow The leaf The

2.

3.

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

down falls down falls

21

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

Who Can Jump?

Read the words below. Cut out the words. Glue the words in the boxes to make three complete sentences.

1.

. . . A can can can A jump cat jump

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

2.

3.

flea A

frog jump
22

Name ____________________________________ Date_________________________

What Goes Up?

Read the words below. Cut out the words. Glue the words in the boxes to make three complete sentences.

1.

. . . A kite up up goes flag plane A goes up goes A

23

2.

3.

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Name __________________________________________________________ Date__________________________________

24

I Can Write!

Read the words below. Cut out the words. Glue the words in the boxes to make three complete sentences. Then glue the matching examples next to each sentence.

1.

2.

3.

. I can write I letters write can sentences write a, b, c hot, cat That is mine.

words

can

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

my

you

you

you

my

the

the

that

mine

he

your

that

mine

it

it

her

she

me

me

bike

ball

dog

fish

bike

ball

dog

fish

bike

ball

dog

fish

kite

friend

friend

friend

kite

game

game

game

bug

cat

boy

lake

bug

cat

boy

lake

ship

ship

girl

girl

toy
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

pen

duck

rat

toy

pen

duck

rat

can

can

is

play

can

can

is

play

made

flip

is

skip

made

flip

is

skip

like

like

tell

tell

go

swim

see

jump

go

swim

see

jump

hit

run

stop

do

hit

run

stop

do

look

look

ride

ride

This

My

We

You

This

My

We

You

This

My

We

You

The

The

The

The

She

He

Your

That

She

He

Your

That

She

He

Your

That

It

The

It

It

The

Who

Can

Can

Can

Who

What

What

What

How

Where

Will

Are

How

Where

Will

Are

Is

Is

Do

Do

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

can I skip He jump flip You

is mine that can She swim it made I That

can fish I like me You play She

bike her I see can dog swim the game like The

can dog swim your friend go bike is mine That Your

can He tell you bike I my ride ball play She

Is mine that Do fish you can go Who

is that What Can swim you he go Will can go How it ball hit the Who Do see me you Can

Can flip he is she Who How

Is that your kite dog the swim Will Are friend my you

do What will you Is it game my a can rat jump Will Can

Build a Sentence
1 Choose the blue mat and a blue word list.
Find the word cards on the list.

3 w

ords

2 Place three cards on the mat in an order that expresses

a complete thought.

3 Read the sentence from left to right. Does it sound right?

Does it make sense?

4 Make two more sentences using the words from the list.

Have fun!
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Build a Question
1 Choose the yellow mat and a yellow word list.
Find the word cards on the list.

3 w

ords

2 Place three cards on the mat in an order that asks

a question.

3 Read the question from left to right. Does it sound right?

Does it make sense?

4 Make two more questions using the words from the list.

Have fun!
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Build a Sentence
1 Choose the green mat and a green word list.
Find the word cards on the list.

4 w

ords

2 Place four cards on the mat in an order that expresses

a complete thought.

3 Read the sentence from left to right. Does it sound right?

Does it make sense?

4 Make two more sentences using the words from the list.

Have fun!
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press

Build a Question
Find the word cards on the list.

4 w

1 Choose the orange mat and an orange word list. 2 Place four cards on the mat in an order that asks
a question.

ords

3 Read the question from left to right. Does it sound right?

Does it make sense?

4 Make two more questions using the words from the list.

Have fun!
Build-a-Sentence 2007 Creative Teaching Press