Ten sentence starters for Year 3, each ending in a conjunction that pupils follow with an ending of their own. The starters run from I like winter because to Although I was tired, and use because, if, when, before, while, so, but, after, until and although, once each. Under them a short checklist asks pupils to tick a capital letter, a full stop and sense. Page 2 is the answer key, with a sample ending for each. It follows England National Curriculum grammar for Year 3.
Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation
“extending the range of sentences with more than one clause by using a wider range of conjunctions, including when, if, because, although”
Starters 1, 2, 3 and 10 use because, if, when and although, and pupils complete each clause so that it makes sense.
Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation
“using conjunctions, adverbs and prepositions to express time and cause”
Starters 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 use when, before, while, after and until for time, and starters 1 and 6 use because and so for cause.
Ten numbered starters with the conjunction in bold and one line each, such as My little brother cried when and The class was quiet while.
Three tick boxes: starts with a capital letter, ends with a full stop and makes sense when read out loud.
A sample ending for every starter, such as I kept running until I reached the finish line at the park, with a note to accept any sensible ending.
Oral starters
Say a starter aloud, such as I wanted to win but, and take three different endings from pupils before anyone writes.
Partner check
Pupils read each ending aloud to a partner and tick the checklist. The partner listens for a missing full stop.
Split task
Send five starters home and use the other five as a quick check the next day.
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