Combining Sentences Sentence-Level Writing Resource

This sentence-level writing resource and center was designed to reinforce, reteach, and/or practice combining two sentences into one sentence using conjunctions. Use this resource after students have learned about how to use conjunctions to combine sentences, or use it while teaching students about how conjunctions work. Each card is a great opportunity for scaffolding and to practice examples as you and your students complete this sentence-level writing activity.

Each of the 30 cards contains 2 complete sentences. There is also a conjunction (and, because, but, or so) that is listed at the bottom right-hand corner of the card. Students will practice using the conjunction listed on the card to combine the two sentences into one. You can focus on one conjunction or page at a time, or mix up the cards to provide random practice for your sentence-level work.

This resource now includes a DIGITAL GOOGLE SLIDE for every writing card!

Display each question digitally for all your students to see. There is also space to type or write your answers right on each slide!

Each card contains two complete sentences and a conjunction. Use the conjunction stated on the card to combine the two sentences into one complete sentence. The conjunction is listed and provided as a way to scaffold students’ understanding and instruction. Please see the preview file to for photographs and examples of how the cards are used.

This sentence-level work is important to the foundational skills of your writers. If we want our students to be successful, competent writers for paragraphs and essays, we need to first explicitly teach them the foundation of writing pieces – the sentence!

Ideas for Using this Resource

• Use the resource as a teacher-facilitated oral language activity. Use the cards to orally combine two sentences into one sentence using a conjunction. Oral writing, or verbally stating a complete sentence aloud, is an important foundational skill for beginning writers.
• Use the resource as a whole-group practice activity. Complete each card together as a class. You can choose to model combining the two sentences and writing the new sentence on chart paper or under a document camera with correct capitalization and punctuation. You may also choose to combine the sentences as a class together. Students (and the teacher) should always write the sentence with correct capitalization and punctuation.
• Use the resource as an independent writing center after students have had time to practice combining sentences and rewriting them with correct capitalization and punctuation. Labels for a title and directions have been included.
• Use the resource within a small-group center. Take turns completing and then passing the cards around the table, or complete each card together as a group.

Can my younger students complete these activities verbally?

Yes! In fact, it’s a great idea for ALL students to complete the sentence level activities verbally before writing or recording the sentences. Younger writers may wish to stop at the oral language level and simply practice verbally stating complete sentences.

Differentiated Recording Sheets and Options

You may have each student write the complete sentence on any paper you choose, such as a notebook or journal, on handwriting paper, or on a dry-erase board. If you are completing the activity as a teacher model, you may wish to record the sentence on an easel or chart paper or under a document camera.

You can also use one of the three differentiated recording sheets provided within the resource.

I hope you and your students love this sentence-level writing resource and writing center! Be sure to shop my store for additional sentence level writing resources, and my sentence-level writing bundle!

Miss DeCarbo, Inc.

Copyright 2023

All Rights Reserved