Building Blocks of Writing: Sentences and Fragments

Just as cells are the building blocks of life, words are the building blocks of writing. Combining words creates sentences, but students often write in fragments without realizing it. Here’s how to help them master sentence construction while incorporating subject matter effortlessly:

Sentence and Fragment Activities

• Oral Identification:
  • Activity: Say groups of words and have students identify if they are fragments or complete sentences. If a fragment is identified, ask students to complete it.
  • Implementation: Use this as a warm-up or a wrap-up activity, replacing traditional bell-ringers or exit tickets. This way, you’re teaching writing skills without taking time away from your subject area.
• Written Identification:
  • Activity: Provide sentences and fragments for students to identify on paper. If a fragment is identified, they must complete the thought and add punctuation. You could use this as a review activity for any content area.
  • Examples:
    • to make their own food
    • photosynthesis is a vital process
    • a type of sugar that serves as their main source of energy
    • which is essential for all living organisms
• Paragraph Correction:
  • Activity: Students find and correct fragments in a paragraph related to your current study topic.
  • Example Paragraph:
    • “The moon, Earth’s natural satellite, has captivated humans for centuries with its beauty and mystery. As it orbits our planet. These phases happen because of how the sunlight hits the moon and the angle at which we see it from Earth. Additionally, the moon influences Earth’s tides, causing the water levels in oceans and seas to rise and fall. Studying the moon. The moon is a fascinating celestial body that continues to intrigue and inspire people of all ages.”
  • Correction Challenge: Students identify the fragments “As it orbits our planet” and “Studying the moon” and correct them. Make it a fun challenge to see who can find and fix the fragments first.
• Scrambled Sentences:
  • Activity: Provide scrambled sentences for students to unscramble.
  • Example:
    • Scrambled: needed to move an object simple machines are the direction or amount of force basic tools that make work easier by changing.
    • Unscrambled: Simple machines are basic tools that make work easier by changing the direction or the amount of force needed to move an object.
  • Creative Flexibility: Encourage students to rearrange words as long as the sentence is factually correct and makes sense. This promotes creativity and problem-solving.

Advancing to Sentence Types and Complex Sentences

Once students understand sentences and fragments, move on to identifying and creating different sentence types:

• Identify Sentence Types:
  • Activity: Have students identify the four sentence types (statement, command, question, and exclamation) in a piece of writing.
• Create Sentences:
  • Activity: After identifying sentence types, students create their own sentences based on the current topic. This reinforces understanding while integrating subject matter.
  • Example: Write four sentences about Isaac Newton’s contributions.
• Combine Simple Sentences:
  • Activity: Challenge students to combine simple sentences into more complex ones.
  • Example:
    • Simple: “Isaac Newton was a scientist. Isaac Newton was a mathematician. Isaac Newton developed three laws of motion.”
    • Combined: “Isaac Newton was a mathematician and scientist who developed three laws of motion.”