BBC Skillswise English: Sentence Structure

Details

Activity Description

In this unit on sentence structure, students learn how to correctly construct sentences that begin with a capital letter, use a subject and verb correctly, and end with proper punctuation. This unit is divided into 3 levels (titled Entry 1 & 2, Entry 3, and Level 1) and downloadable/printable fact sheets and worksheets are provided for each lesson and level. An online and printable quiz is provided for each level as well.

Preparation

1. Review the materials contained in each level (under "Start learning") and select the levels that are appropriate for your students.
2. Review and print the video transcript(s), fact sheets and worksheets for those levels.
3. Be sure to check that your students can access the quizzes from their computers (Java script must be enabled and Flash must be installed).
4. Download and print quiz questions if the online quiz is not accessible.

How-To

1. Write the words "candle cake" on the board. Ask the students if this is a sentence. Discuss why it is not (it does not start with a capital letter and there is no verb or punctuation) and introduce the topic.
2. Show the one-minute video [www] and discuss what is required in a sentence (a capital letter at the beginning on the sentence, a subject, verb, and punctuation) . You may want to provide the transcript for your students to help them understand the British English.
3. Distribute copies of the fact sheets for the level you are teaching. Select the "View as popout" icon to display each fact sheet using the projector as you explain the information.
4. Have students work on the worksheets in pairs or small groups and review the answers as a class. Provide time for students to play the following games online as you cover the related topics:
   "Make a Sentence" [www]
   "Spot the Sentence" [www]
   "Verb-Subject Treasure Hunt" [www]
5. When you have completed a level, direct students to the online quiz (or provide printed copies if online quizzes are not accessible).
   Entry 1 & 2 [www]
   Entry 3 [www]
   Level 1 [www]
6. Have students show you their scores upon completion of the quiz.

Teacher Tips

• This is a resource of the BBC and uses British English. Preview to make sure your students can understand and be prepared to explain differences in spelling and vocabulary.
• You may want to print transcripts (when available) for the videos.

More Ways

This site offers short videos, fact sheets, worksheets and accompanying games and quizzes for a variety of levels on other sentence-level grammar topics including punctuation, varieties/dialects of English, verb tenses, and instructions. The same materials are also provided for a variety of topics related to reading, writing, spelling, word grammar, speaking and listening.

Program Areas

• ESL: English as a Second Language

Levels

• Intermediate Low
• Intermediate High
• Advanced

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