STRETCH: Adding Details to Simple Sentences

• Have students talk about what makes a sentence a sentence. After discussion, remind the class that both a subject and a noun are needed.
• Mention that most of the sentences we say aloud in everyday conversation are long, detailed, and interesting. When we start to write, our sentences often come out short and sometimes sound boring.
• Display the Sentence Stretcher graphic organizer using an interactive whiteboard or projector.
• Use this organizer to help turn an ordinary sentence into more elaborate or detailed sentences.
• Write a simple sentence on the board. (Example: The baby cried.)
• Model and rewrite the sentence using the boxes in the graphic organizer. Rewrite the completed sentence on the board. (Example: The cranky baby cried loudly in the stroller because it was hungry.)

• Write two more simple sentences on the board and ask for volunteers to fill in the graphic organizer.
• Rewrite the sentences and have students copy the sentences in their writing journal or on a clean sheet of paper.

• Have students work on their own simple sentences in their journals or on writing paper. Example sentences include: She is my best friend. I like to eat. I went shopping. The baby cried. The cake was good. I like to read.
• As students work independently, walk around to assist any students who need support.
• After students finish working with the graphic organizer, ask them to transfer completed sentences to their writing journals or a sheet of paper.

• Enrichment: For students who need a greater challenge, you can pair them up to assist those who are having a hard time with this concept.

• Support: For students who need support, fill out half of the boxes in the graphic organizer with words. This way, they will have to come up for half of the content necessary to complete the worksheet. These students may also benefit from completing the Stretch a Sentence worksheet.

Use interactive whiteboard to display the graphic organizer.

• Students will turn in their completed graphic organizer and new sentences for review.
• The Stretch a Sentence worksheet can also be used to assess a student's understanding if necessary.

• Call students together as a group to share their sentences.
• Pick a few sentences that students shared and have them rewrite them on sentence strips. This way, you can display them in your classroom.
• Remind students that the technique they just learned is called sentence stretching. Encourage your class to use this technique to add more details to their writing pieces.
• Tell students that the more they practice this technique, the easier it will become for them.