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Syntax and Sentence Structure
Fortune Teller

Summary

In this literacy centre, designed for grades 7 and 8, students will explore and master the use of complex sentences with prepositional clauses. Through the interactive and fun activity of using a Fortune Teller, students will better understand sentence structure and how prepositional clauses add context and detail to sentences.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this centre, students will be able to:
  • Practise and reinforce their understanding of sentence structure;
  • Identify and correctly order the parts of a sentence, including subjects and verbs;
  • Analyze complex sentences with prepositional clauses to understand their structure and function.

Material to Prepare

  • Appendix A: Student Guidelines
  • Appendix B: Example Sentences
  • Appendix C: Fortune Teller Template
  • Appendix D: Fortune Teller Diagram Steps Instructions
  • Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Notebook or paper for writing sentences

Procedure

Instructions for Students:
Getting Started
  • Begin by collecting the materials you need: the Fortune Teller template, a pencil, scissors, and a notebook or paper from the resource station.
  • Review the Student Guidelines (Appendix A) to understand how to fold and use the Fortune Teller.
Creating Your Fortune Teller
  • Step 1: Watch the instructional video (provided on a tablet or screen at the centre) on how to fold the Fortune Teller.
  • Step 2: Use scissors to cut out the Fortune Teller template.”
  • Step 3: Follow the instructions in the video to fold the Fortune Teller correctly.
Using the Fortune Teller
  • Step 1: Play with the Fortune Teller alone or with a partner.
    • Choose a colour or a number to reveal a sentence.
  • Step 2: Read the sentence aloud and write it in your notebook.
  • Step 3: Analyze the sentence by identifying and circling the prepositional clause, subject, and any dependent clauses.
    • Example:
      • Sentence: “Beyond the pile of homework on his desk, Timmy will see that his cat has become the ruler of the living room.”
      • Prepositional Clause: “Beyond the pile of homework on his desk”
      • Subject: “Timmy”
      • Dependent Clause: “his cat has become the ruler of the living room.”
Reflection and Self-Assessment
  • After completing several sentences, reflect on your work using the following questions:
    • How does identifying the subject and predicate help you understand the sentence’s main idea?
    • Why is it important to recognize prepositional clauses in a sentence?
    • How do prepositional clauses add detail and context to the main clause?
  • Write your reflections in your notebook, focusing on what you learned and any challenges you encountered.

DIFFERENTIATION: Observing and providing support during analysis.

Possible Observation Intervention Strategies
Students are struggling to identify prepositional phrases.
  • Provide additional examples of prepositional phrases in various sentence contexts. Create a reference chart or flashcards that students can use to practise identifying prepositional phrases independently.
  • Use visual aids such as diagrams or colour-coded sentences to clearly highlight prepositional phrases. Display these visual aids prominently in the learning centre or provide them as handouts for quick reference.
  • Offer short, guided practice sessions where students can work through sentences with prepositional phrases under your supervision, gradually building their confidence.
Students are unable to distinguish subjects from predicates.
  • Conduct a brief, focused mini-lesson reviewing the roles of subjects and predicates in a sentence. Use interactive examples where students can physically manipulate sentence parts (e.g., using sentence strips or magnetic words) to identify subjects and predicates.
  • Introduce sentence diagramming as a visual tool for breaking down and clearly distinguishing between subjects and predicates. Encourage students to diagram sentences from their work or the provided examples.
  • Provide additional practice exercises specifically designed to reinforce the distinction between subjects and predicates, offering immediate feedback to correct misunderstandings.
Students do not understand the concept of prepositional clauses.
  • Use real-life examples to illustrate how prepositional clauses function in everyday language. Relate prepositional clauses to familiar experiences or objects to make the concept more accessible.
  • Incorporate multimedia resources such as short video clips, posters, or slide shows that explain prepositional clauses with animated or illustrated examples. These resources can make abstract concepts more concrete and easier to grasp.
  • Walk students through a step-by-step breakdown of complex sentences, explicitly identifying and explaining each part of the prepositional clause. Provide worksheets that gradually increase in difficulty, starting with simple sentences and moving to more complex ones.

Appendixes

Download the Appendixes document

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