Summary
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to new concepts and terminology regarding syntax, focusing mostly on defining new terms and identifying them in both isolation and application.
Essential Question(s)
How does sentence structure impact a speaker's or author's message?
Snapshot
Engage
Students participate in a Card Sort activity, matching key vocabulary words with their definitions and examples.
Explore
Students work in small groups to complete a self-guided web inquiry to determine the remaining definitions and examples that they were unsure of during the Card Sort.
Explain
Students complete Guided Notes as they work through definitions and proper examples.
Extend
Using the Why-Lighting strategy, students analyze Martin Luther King, Jr.’s "I Have A Dream" speech for examples discussed in class.
Evaluate
Students revisit the Card Sort to write examples of their own.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Activity Card Sort (attached; one per group)
Student Guided Notes (attached; one per student)
Teacher’s Guided Notes (attached)
Student Version-Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, "I Have A Dream" Speech (attached; one per student)
Teacher’s Guide-Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have A Dream" Speech (attached)
Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have A Dream" Speech Audio (linked)
Resealable plastic bag OR Envelope (for Card Sort)
Highlighters
Pens/Pencils
Engage
5 Minute(s)
Coordinate the lesson with the Lesson Slides.
Show slide 2, the title slide. Define the term “syntax” and explain to students that this lesson introduces different types of sentence structures.
Show slides 3 and 4 to share the Essential Question and Lesson Objectives.
Show slide 5. Share the instructional strategy, Card Sort. Pass out the attached Card Sort Activity handout. Instruct students to match the terms with their definitions and examples in small groups of 2-3. Have them complete the activity in five minutes. Announce beforehand that the activity will be timed.
Explore
10 Minute(s)
Show slide 6.
Instruct students to spend ten minutes completing their Card Sort through a self-guided web inquiry. Encourage them to look up the terms and definitions to help re-sort any matches that are incorrect. Encourage them to get as close to 100% as possible.
Explain
15 Minute(s)
Show slide 7.
Pass out the attached Guided Notes handout to students. As you go through the slide show, introduce definitions, examples, and opportunities for them to practice. Tell students that they may use their Guided Notes as a place to keep track of the grammatical concepts this lesson covers.
Show slides 8-22 to guide instruction at this time. Pause occasionally to ask clarifying questions, provide additional examples of phrases and clauses, or ask students to suggest some examples of their own. Even if a student's example is wrong, encourage them to engage in their own learning. Encourage them to put into practice what they just discussed.
Extend
20 Minute(s)
Display slide 23. Share these two images from the day of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, Speech "I Have A Dream." Inform students that since they have a basic understanding of syntax, it is time to apply it to one of the most famous speeches in history.
Display slide 24, share the instructional strategy, Categorical Highlighting, and pass out the attached Student Version-Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, "I Have a Dream" speech and three different color highlighters. Play the speech one time through for students to just listen to what he is saying. The second time, instruct students to highlight the following:
Parallel Structure
At least five examples
Highlight blue
Dependent Clause
At least three examples
Highlight green
Independent Clause
At least three examples
Highlight pink
Evaluate
15 Minute(s)
Show slide 25. Ask students to revisit their Card Sort. This time, however, instruct them to write new examples for each term based on the knowledge they have gained from this lesson.
Allow students to use the guided notes they just completed.
You can always allow groups to work together.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Card Sort. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/147
K20 Center. (n.d.). Categorical Highlighting. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/192