401 Combining Sentences

👩‍🏫 Teacher’s Guide

Objective
Students will learn how to combine sentences to improve sentence fluency and variety. Students will also practice using commas in compound sentences correctly.

Teaching Notes

• Combining sentences reduces repetition.
• Compound sentences join two independent clauses.
• Coordinating conjunctions include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
• A comma is placed before the conjunction in compound sentences.

🧒 Student Worksheet

Helping Material

Sentence combining helps writing flow smoothly.

Example:
The bell rang, and students entered the classroom.

Modeled Improvement (Before → After)

1. Before: The bell rang. Students entered the classroom.
   After: Why it’s better:

2. Before: I wanted to play outside. It was raining.
   After: Why it’s better:

3. Before: She studied hard. She passed the test.
   After: Why it’s better:

4. Before: We can walk. We can take the bus.
   After: Why it’s better:

5. Before: He was tired. He finished his homework.
   After: Why it’s better:

Writing Choices Q&A

1. What is a compound sentence?

2. Where does the comma go in a compound sentence?

3. Name one coordinating conjunction.

4. Why combine sentences?

5. What happens if sentences are not combined?

Mini Activities

1. Combine the Sentences

2. Choose the Best Conjunction

3. Fix the Sentence

4. Add a Comma

5. Combine Clearly

Writing Samples

Sample 1: After School

Sample 2: The Game

Sample 3: A Rainy Day

Sample 4: Preparing Dinner

Sample 5: School Project

Reflection

• How did combining sentences improve your paragraph?