The grammar factory's sorting machine has broken, and 4th grade students have to sort twelve word groups into three bins. Some are complete sentences like "The loud dog barked." Some are fragments like "Because it was hot." Others are run-ons like "The sun set it got dark." A Factory Report asks for the trickiest word group and a new example for each bin. The sort practices L.4.1.f, and the answer key has sample answers.
L.4.1.f
“Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.*”
The twelve-item sort asks students to spot fragments and run-ons, and the Factory Report has them write their own examples of each.
Twelve word groups in a grid, including "Ran to the park," "She read a book," "It is late go sleep," and "Playing in the yard." Students write each one under Fragment, Complete Sentence, or Run-On.
Students explain which word group was trickiest to sort and why, then write a new fragment, a new complete sentence, and a new run-on.
Mini-lesson follow-up
Teach subject and verb first, then hand this out. "Because it was hot" trips up students who think any group with a subject and a verb is a sentence.
Card sort center
Cut out the twelve word groups and put three labeled cups at a center. Students sort, then check with the answer key taped inside a folder.
Fix it next
After sorting, ask students to turn two fragments and two run-ons into complete sentences. It shows whether they can repair the problem, not only name it.
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