Simple sentences for first grade

How to Teach Sentences to Students

Teaching sentences will be a big part of your language instruction! From simple to complex, sentences are woven into a large part of your language curriculum. Successful understanding of sentence structure and development will improve your students’ reading, writing, and language skills. So, teaching sentences is a great place to start!

Throughout this blog post, I’m going to reference the Common Core State Standards. So first, let’s look at these standards. Then, we can dive into tips! Within the Language domain of these national standards, each grade level builds upon each other to increase knowledge of skills.

• Kindergarten- L.K.1.f- Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.
• 1st Grade- L.1.1.j- Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts.
• 2nd Grade- L.2.1.f- Produce, expand, and rearrange complete simple and compound sentences,
• 3rd Grade- L. 3.1.i- Produce simple, compound, and complex sentences.
• 4th Grade- L.4.1.f- Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.

Step 1 for How to Teach Sentences to Students: Types

One of the first steps in How to Teach Sentences to Students, there will need to be explicit instruction on the four types. Starting in first grade, students should be able to identify the four sentence types. These include declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory. Starting out, I always recommend starting a topic with an anchor chart. This can be teacher-made, or digital/printable, like the one above! While students are learning about content skills, they can always refer back to the anchor chart to support understanding and correct misconceptions. Then, they’ll become more comfortable with the types of sentences they’re working with.

Then after explicit instruction, students will need to apply their skills. During this time, partner/group/independent activities are a great supplement to your instruction! In the activity above, students read sentence examples and identify their type. This has students working on a skill and building their experience.

Get Students Familiar with the Difference Between Simple and Compound

After teaching sentence types, you can move into simple and compound sentences. Another skill, another anchor chart! Help students understand the concept of subject and predicate (or verb in younger grades). They will need to know “who” and “what”, who the sentence is about, and what they are doing. Remember to teach students that who doesn’t just mean a person. It is “who” because it is the subject of the sentence.

Then, as students begin to understand the subject and predicate, you can introduce compound sentences. Use a matching or sorting activity, so that students can read and identify sentences that are already formed. This will allow them to focus on the components of simple and compound sentences before they have to construct them on their own.

Producing Sentences Focus

In Kindergarten, students can begin to produce sentences. This activity can include building short sentences with parts or identifying sentences that are complete or incomplete. Using a simple task, like the one above, can help students strengthen their understanding of sentences.

In first and second grades, the activities can increase in difficulty. Activities, similar to the one in the next section, are good for students developing writing skills. Have students produce their own sentences on a topic or idea. Spending adequate time in the sentence production stages of teaching sentences will be essential!

Expanding Sentences Focus

In third grade, teaching sentences will dive into another type. In addition to simple and compound sentences, students will be learning about complex sentences. Here, you will want to show students dependent clauses. Try using the sentence “expanding” activity to help students build this skill. They will write a simple sentence about a topic. Then, expand that sentence into a compound and complex sentence.

Rearranging Sentences Focus

Another skill builder in how to teach sentences to students is rearranging sentences. In this case, students will take an already composed sentence. Then, they will rearrange the clauses in order to make the sentence make sense. Rearranging sentences can help students who struggle with sentence structure.

Run-on and Fragment Practice (Advanced)

Now, it is time for run-ons and fragments! While teaching run-on sentences, students will be extending their understanding of that original subject and predicate concept. First, they will need to be able to identify when there are clauses present in a sentence that do not belong. On the other hand, if a clause or part of a sentence is missing, they will know it is a fragment. Repeated exposure to fragments and run-ons will help students with this. Activities that have students classifying sentences are great for this!

Free Sentence Activity

If you’d like a free sentence activity, check out this blog post in the link below! This simple, paper-folding activity can be completed again and again!

Link: Free Paper Folding Activities Blog Post

Suggested Resources to Teach Sentences

If you are looking for ready-to-go resources for teaching sentences, check out these resources in my store. They come complete, with lessons, printables, activities, and assessments!

• Kinder L.K.1.f
• 1st Grade L.1.1.j
• 2nd Grade L.2.1.f
• 3rd Grade L.3.1.i
• 4th Grade L.4.1.f

Need it DIGITALLY?

I have created a few digital activities in ready-made Google Slides. These sentence activities are made for Kindergarten through 4th grade, each connected to the grade’s standards.

• Kindergarten: Complete Sentences
• 1st- Sentence Types
• 2nd- Types of Sentences
• 3rd- Produce Sentences
• 4th- Producing Sentences

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! Finally, I  really hope you enjoy using these tips when teaching your kiddos all about sentences!

Want more Language tips?

• Teaching Nouns
• Free Folding Paper Activities for ELA
• Teaching Unknown Vocabulary

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What Are Sentences? | 1st Grade Grammar

Speaking and writing are two of the most important things humans can do.

We speak to each other in sentences.

A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole story.

Here's a sentence:

Annie is funny.

Every sentence starts with a capital letter.

We start with "Annie," not "annie".

The order of words in a sentence matters. 

The order has to make sense.

Does this sentence make sense?

Kathy won a teddy bear at the carnival.

Yes!

How about this one?👇

carnival the won Kathy at a teddy bear.

Nope, that makes no sense. 😹

So we see that word order matters!

Every sentence ends with a special mark, called a punctuation mark, like ?, !, or .

The most common punctuation mark, "." is called a period.

Each punctuation mark makes a different type of sentence.

Let's learn about 3 types of sentences you use all the time.

Types of Sentences

1. Statements

Sentences that end with a period are called statements.

Here's an example statement:

Recess is fun.

Can you think of another statement?

I love learning.

Statements say what is or describe things.

2. Questions

? is called a question mark.

A sentence that ends with a question mark is called a question.

Questions ask something. Here's one:

Would you rather be happy or right?

3.

! is called an exclamation mark.

An exclamation is a sentence that ends with an exclamation mark and shows strong feelings.

Here's an exclamation:

Watch out!

Great job learning about sentences.

You've just read lots of them here. 😺

Now, complete the practice. It helps you learn more and remember for longer.

Training dictations in Russian | Grade 1

Training dictations are short texts from simple sentences related in meaning.

Russian language dictations for the first grade are designed to develop the perception of oral speech, ear and hand coordination, and to consolidate calligraphy skills.

Dictation texts for Grade 1 are simple and clear. In principle, you can compose such passages yourself. The texts given here serve as a guide for parents, they can be used to review and consolidate the material covered during the summer holidays. nine0003

The texts are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Slightly more difficult writing dictations for the second half of the year.

Control dictations for grade 3 with assignments posted here.

Control dictations with assignments for grade 4 here.

First half of the year

***

Boris has a cat. Barsik rolled a ball. We were in Park. There are lindens and pines. Zina is small. Zina has a doll. nine0003

***

Roma small He washed his own hands. Here are the chickens. Ivan feeds the chickens. Here is the juice. Dana drank juice.

Key

Alyosha and Kolya were going to the grove. It was hot. And here is the key. He is clean. Alyosha drank water.

***

Summer has flown by. It's beautiful in the forest. We have paints and brushes. Nina and Lena painted pine trees. Anton painted bushes.

In summer

Siskins sing in summer. Swifts fly. Lilies of the valley bloom in the forest. Hedgehogs rustle under the spruce. The guys are looking for cones in the forest. nine0003

Beavers

Beavers live on the river. They are excellent builders. Beavers have razor-sharp teeth. On the river, beavers make dams from aspen trunks.

Lynx

A red cat was lying on a tree. The cat had green eyes and tassels on its ears. Strong paws dug into the trunk. It was a lynx.

New house

We have a big construction site going on. Syoma and Yasha are going to a new house. The house has five floors. At the porch of the car. The boys are happy.

Reference words: large, floors, we have.

Toys

We had a labor lesson. We made our own toys. Here is a horse and a bunny. Lyuba and Masha have a doll. Kolya made a Christmas tree out of paper. Our toys are great!

Words for reference: we have done.

Rosehip

A beautiful bush grew in the forest. The bush bloomed with bright flowers. It was a rosehip. Nice scented roses! Masha began to pick roses. And there are spikes. Masha has a splinter.

Two comrades

Pupil Yura Chaikin solved a problem. The task was difficult. Slava Schukin has arrived. Friends solved the problem together. So Slava helped his comrade.

My friend

We live in a new house. Alyosha is my friend. He goes to school. Alyosha loves to read. He teaches me. I already know all the letters.

Reference words: friend, me, new.

Our school

Our school is new. She is bright and beautiful. Maple and linden trees grow near the school. We love our school. Our students live together. nine0003

Words for reference: about, growing, students.

My uncle

In the morning people go to work. Uncle Syoma works at a factory. He is a worker. The factory makes cars. Uncle Syoma is a good worker.

Reference words: morning, factory, worker.

At the factory

Aunt Nina and aunt Olya work at the factory. Aunt Nina knits fluffy scarves. Aunt Olya knits warm sweaters. Smart machines make their work easier.

Reference words: factory, facilitate, work.

Nursery

Granny Ray takes Luda and Nikita to the nursery. The kids love to play there. Nikita is building a house. Luda has a beautiful ball. There are many different toys in the nursery.

Reference words: love, toys, a lot.

Our grandfather

Me and my brother Petya lived with my grandfather. We helped grandfather dry the net. Grandfather Semyon taught us how to repair nets. I loved working with my grandfather.

Dymok

Seryozha has a cat Dymok. He is small. The cat is gray and fluffy. The cat's paws are white. Smoke eats fish.

Roses for mother

Beautiful bushes grew in the garden. They were roses. They were raised by Syoma and Yura. Good roses! The boys cut three roses for their mother.

Grandmother and grandchildren

Dima and Serezha had a grandmother. Grandmother bought a primer for her grandchildren. They are glad. The boys began to learn letters. Soon they will be reading books.

Book

I love to read. Aunt Lucy bought me a book. There are pictures. Here is an elk and a horse. And these are Christmas tree cones. I read poetry about the fox.

Reference words: pictures, reading.

***

Me and my brother Igor love my mother. Our mother is kind and affectionate. Everyone respects mom. She teaches children. Mom loves to listen to music.

Words for reference: respect, affectionate, she.

Our yard

Our yard is big. My brother Alyosha and I made a slide. Good porridge. The kids were happy. They quickly rush on a sled down a hill. nine0003

For friends

Sasha and Timosha left the house. They go for a walk. Here is the yard. Babies are playing. The boys began to make a slide for them. The kids are happy.

Hard times

January opens the year. This is a tough month. Blizzards howl. The snow covered all the food in the forest. Birds fly to human habitation. You help them!

Winter in the forest

Winter. Freezing. Snow covered the stumps and bushes. Thick ice blocked the fast stream. Snow coats were put on by pines and firs. A fluffy scarf lies on the branches of a cedar. Here is a snowdrift. The bear is sleeping there. nine0003

In winter

We were waiting for winter. We called winter. The house has snowdrifts. Olga rolls a snowball. Tanya rolls a snowball. Here is the snowman.

Reference words: fun, rolling.

In winter

It's winter. Children are happy. Alyosha has a house made of snow. Vanya took the sled. Petya put on his skis. They go up the hill. Everyone is having fun there.

Reference words: fun, they.

In winter

Winter has come. Fluffy snow all around. There are patterns on the windows. Here is the bird feeder. Zina and Lisa have bread crumbs. They feed the birds. Words for reference: feed, feeder. nine0003

First snow

The first snow fell. Everyone is happy with the snow. Misha and Yasha went out into the yard. Olya was waiting for them there. Dad bought her skis. The children go to the park.

Words for reference: fell, snow, in the yard.

Bird food

Fluffy snow all around. He falls silently to the ground. The old stump is covered with snow. Yura goes to the forest. In the hands of the boy is food for birds.

Bunny

Winter has come. Snow all around. A hare has a white coat in winter. It is difficult for a fox to find a bunny. He sat down by a bush and slept. nine0003

Reference words: snow, hard.

Meeting

It's a clear day. We are going to the forest. There is snow on the paws of the spruce. A snowball fell on an old stump. Vanya noticed a hare. The bunny hid in the bushes.

Reference words: stands, noticed, lies

Spruce

Winter has come. I am going to the forest. The snow crunches. At the edge of the forest is a spruce. A squirrel hid in the thick paws of the spruce. A ball of snow fell from the spruce.

Reference words: snow, standing. nine0080