Students learn the building blocks of sentences — independent and dependent clauses — and how joining them creates simple, compound, and complex sentences that make writing clearer and more varied.
Students will be able to…
Why does good writing mix short punchy sentences with longer, more detailed ones? It all comes down to how clauses combine.
Project this and tap each clause and sentence type. Have students see how independent and dependent clauses build the three sentence types.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Read all-short sentences — then a smooth mix. Which sounds better?
Teacher models.
Class uses the Clause Explorer.
Students build sentences.
Students share a sentence.
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and in specific sentences.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar.
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing.
Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task and purpose.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students revise a choppy paragraph by combining some sentences into compound and complex sentences for better flow. A printable revision sheet is in the ELA library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.