Simple Sentences

A simple sentence contains one subject and one predicate (verb plus any complements or modifiers). First-grade instruction should focus on helping students recognize that a complete sentence expresses a complete thought, begins with a capital letter, and ends with appropriate punctuation. Guide students to identify the two essential components—who or what the sentence is about (subject) and what happens or is true about that subject (predicate). Implement scaffolded writing activities that progress from completing sentence frames to constructing original simple sentences about familiar topics and experiences. Address common challenges such as sentence fragments and run-ons by modeling how to recognize whether a group of words contains both a subject and a verb expressing a complete thought. Incorporate movement-based activities where students physically represent subjects and predicates, combining to create complete sentences that reinforce the structural concept. Connect simple sentence instruction to reading development by highlighting well-crafted simple sentences in grade-appropriate texts, discussing how authors use simple sentences for clarity, emphasis, or dramatic effect.