SAMPLE LESSON PLAN

Grammar and Usage

Developed by: Bill Huitt, April 2005

Return to | Educational Psychology Interactive | Instructional Plan Instructions |

Derived from: John Hummel, Four Types of Sentences

Grade level: Grade 7, Language Arts

Purpose: This lesson provides students at the middle school level in writing sentences according to a specific purpose: declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory.

Objectives:

After the lesson on types of sentences, Ss will:

list and define in their own words using complete sentences the 4 categories of sentences with 100% accuracy.

state the correct end punctuation associated with each of the 4 types of sentences with 100% accuracy.

when given 12 sentences without end punctuation, correctly punctuate at least 10 of the sentences.

when given 20 sentences, label at least 17 correctly as to the type of sentence each is in no longer than 15 minutes.

when given a topic, Ss will write an example of each of the 4 types of sentences for the topic with 75% accuracy.

on a homework or in-class assignment, Ss will, when given a topic, write at least one 5-7 sentence paragraph on the topic that employs each of the 4 types of sentences with 75% accuracy (correct grammar and spelling).

PRESENTATION

Overview: Review:

Teacher discusses previously learned forms that sentences can take, including simple and compound sentence, as well as sentence fragments. Students give examples of these when requested by the teacher. The teacher also reviews 3 types of ending punctuation: the period (a dot .), the question mark (?), and the exclamation point (!). Students will repeat sentences with each type of ending punctuation.

Overview: What:

The teacher explains the lesson objectives to the students, giving the students an opportunity to ask questions about the objectives.

Overview: Why:

Tell the students that when they learn how to create properly structured sentences using correct ending punctuation, they will better communicate their intentions to the reader. Remind them that ending punctuation can give different meanings to written sentences. Ask the students to give examples of when changing the ending punctuation could give a listener or reader a different impression of what is meant.

Explanation:

Provide an explanation and give examples of the 4 types of sentences:

declarative: statement of fact without strong emotion and ends with a period;

I am a male.

Bill threw the ball.

interrogatory: asks a question and end with a question mark;

What time will you be home?

Did you feed the dog?

imperative: make a command or request and end with a period;

No talking until everyone finishes the assignment.

Pass the ketchup, please.

exclamatory: communicates a high level of excitement or emotion and ends in an exclamation point;

She hit me for no reason!

I hate you!

At each point in the explanation have students provide additional examples. Ask other students to evaluate the correctness of the students' examples.

Probe and Respond:

Read some sentences aloud and have students chorally respond the type of sentence and punctuation:

What time is it

Go make your bed

Let's go to the movie

Oh, my gosh, I'm late

Did you make your bed

It is 11:45

PRACTICE

Guided Practice:

Have students work in groups of three on the following exercise:

1.         Name and define the four types of sentences (spell each correctly!)

2.         Describe the end punctuation each type of sentence uses.

3.         For each of the following sentences write the type of sentence each is, insert the correct end punctuation, and write a sentence explaining why the sentence is the type you indicated.

a.         Tom is Harry’s best friend

            SENTENCE TYPE __________________

b.         Please help me put the groceries away

            SENTENCE TYPE __________________

c.         Are you going to church tomorrow

            SENTENCE TYPE __________________

d.         sunset is so pretty I think I am going to cry

            SENTENCE TYPE __________________

4.         Write a paragraph (5 or more sentences) using each of the 4 sentence types at least once on the following topic: PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA SHOULD HAVE CLASSES FROM 8-NOON ON SATURDAYS. After each sentence, in parentheses, label each sentence by type.

Independent Practice:

1. For each sentence, indicate the type of sentence and it’s correct end punctuation (some of the sentences have NO end punctuation, some have correct end punctuation, and some have incorrect end punctuation).

SENTENCE	TYPE OF SENTENCE	END PUNCTUATION
It’s time to go home
Would you please carry my books!
I am unhappy?
You devil—you are so clever!
Shemeka, you need to stay so I can talk with you!
Hand me that tool.
Can we go home now!
Hey, you, no butting in line.
She’s a good teacher.

2. For the topic below, write TWO sentences (each related to the topic but they do not have to be related to each other) for each of the 4 sentence types using a topic of current interest (such as the presidential election):

DECLARATIVE:

EXCLAMATORY:

INTERROGATORY:

IMPERATIVE:

Periodic Review:

Over the next two weeks, have students complete on of the following tasks every other day.

For the topic below, write TWO sentences (each related to the topic but they do not have to be related to each other) for each of the 4 sentence types:

DECLARATIVE:

President Bush is running for re-election.

Senator Kerry is the democratic nominee for president.

EXCLAMATORY:

President Bush will try to steal this election like he did the last one!

Senator Kerry lied about his war experiences in Vietnam!

INTERROGATORY:

Who do you think will win the election?

Can you give me one good reason why I should vote?

IMPERATIVE:

Your civic duty requires that you vote this November.

If you don’t vote you can’t complain about the outcome of the election.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Formative (Daily Success):

Review the guided practice exercise to make sure that everyone understands the task. Review the homework (independent practice) and reteach concepts as necessary.

Summative (Mastery):

Exam/Quiz on Sentence Types

1. Which type of sentence asks a question?