Lesson Plan
A PowerPoint presentation introduces students to the idea of sentence variety. Students will learn to recognize sentences which begin with a prepositional phrase. Students will also create sentences beginning with a prepositional phrase both orally and in writing. The text Brothers in Arms is used as an example piece.
This lesson works both as a companion to a whole class reading of Brothers in Arms and as a stand-alone writing lesson. The teacher reads aloud a selection from the book. Depending on the proficiency and reading levels of students, this could be a few paragraphs or a complete chapter.
1. The PowerPoint guides students through a quick review of setting and conflict. Students then compare two writing samples. One sample contains similar sentences. The other contains a variety of sentence types and more sophisticated vocabulary.
2. Students are presented with multiple examples of sentences beginning with a prepositional phrase, along with some background on prepositions. The example sentences are drawn from the text.
3. Students create sentences orally or in writing, using a sentence frame with an initial prepositional phrase provided.
4. Students locate sentences following this pattern in a small text selection and in Brothers in Arms. They then create their own original sentences using this pattern in pairs or alone, using marker boards or paper.
5. The teacher reads aloud a selection or chapter from Brothers in Arms. Students wink or otherwise communicate with the teacher/class when they hear a sentence which begins with a prepositional phrase.
6. Students individually create sentences starting with a prepositional phrase. These sentences may be used as a Ticket Out of class.
