Language Models: K-2

5 containers (buckets, bowls, boxes, etc.) labeled with the shape and number for each of the five parts of the sentence: 1-circle, 2-heart, 3-triangle, 4-square, 5-star. 

Scissors for cutting sentence strips.

Pencils for completing fill-in-the-blank sentence strips.

Printed sentence strips to "train" a language model

• Sentence strips from Green Eggs and Ham, preferably printed on cardstock.

  • 1. Cut these into sentences. Students will cut them apart to add to the language model.

    2. There are 35 sentences in total. If you have less than 35 students, you can either give some students more than one sentence OR you can cut apart some of the sentences yourself and start “training” the language model prior to the lesson.

• Fill-in-the-blank sentence strips, preferably printed on cardstock.

  • 1. Cut these into individual sentence strips and provide one for each student to customize. 

    2. Page 1 of this document contains 6 fill-in-the-blank sentences appropriate for all grade levels, K-2. Print as many copies as needed to provide each student with one sentence strip to customize.

    3. Page 2 of this document is most appropriate for grade 2. Students must fill in the missing word with a plural pronoun or plural noun for proper verb agreement.

    4. If you are using this activity for upper elementary or beyond, page 3 of this document would potentially be appropriate. It is important that students follow the structure of the sentences from Green Eggs and Ham where:

       • The first word is I or a plural noun or plural pronoun. 

       • The second word or words are things like do or do not, will or will not, can or can not, etc. 

       • The third word is a verb that agrees with I or a plural subject; eat not eats, like not likes, etc.