Sentence Expanding

Middle School Example Lesson Plan

Created by: Brandy Welch, Ed.S., Iowa Reading Research Center Consultant and Sixth
Grade Teacher, Archibald Alexander Elementary Schoool, Iowa City Community School
District
Materials: lesson plan, document camera, Sentence Expanding Notes page (optional),
Sentence Expanding Words and Phrases Bank, sentence strips, small bags or envelopes,
chart paper, Sentence Expanding Practice page
Additional resource: For more on sentence expanding, read the Iowa Reading Research
Center blog post Sentence Expanding: Helping Students Build Stronger Sentences by IRRC
Literacy Consultant Jenninfer Knight, Ph.D.
Set Goal and Purpose
Today, we are going to learn a writing skill called sentence expanding. Sometimes, writing is
missing important details that allow readers to visualize, or picture in their minds, what is
happening in the text.

When we expand or stretch, a sentence, we add important details to it to make it more

descriptive. Descriptive writing lets readers visualize what they are reading and clearly
understand what the author is saying.

Our goal today is to expand simple sentences so they meet the following criteria:
1. Our expanded sentence answers our four key questions (When? Where? Why? How?).
2. Our details allow readers to create a clear picture in their heads of the action in the
sentence.
3. Our expanded sentence can be read fluently.
Modeling
Before we begin, let’s review what a simple sentence is. If If correct: Excellent, you know
you don’t remember, look at our sentence expanding what makes a simple sentence.
notes to help you.
If incorrect: Stop. My turn. A
My turn: A simple sentence is a sentence with one subject- simple sentence is a sentence with
verb combination. one subject-verb combination. Say
Your turn: A simple sentence is a sentence with one it with me. What makes a simple
subject-verb combination. sentence?

The subject describes who or what the sentence is about.

The verb tells us the action. Some verbs tell what the
subject does or did, while others tell what the subject is or
was.

A simple sentence can have more than one subject or more

than one verb, but there will only be a single subject-verb
combination.
Simple sentences tell us who or what is doing something.

To expand a simple sentence, we will add details that answer the following key questions:
Where? When? How? Why?

I will begin with an example. Let’s read this sentence together. [Display sentence on screen
using a projector, or on a sentence strip.]

The man went down the stairs.

Ask students:
Q: Who is the subject of this sentence or the “who” or “what” that is doing something?
A: The man
Yes, the man is the subject of this sentence.

Q: What did the man do?

A: Went down the stairs
Yes, the verb here is “went,” so this part of the sentence tells us the action or what the subject
did.

Now that we have identified the subject of our sentence as well as the action in our sentence, we
will begin adding details that will allow our readers to visualize this text. I am going to cut this
sentence apart at the line here to make it easier to add those details as we work. [Cut the strip
between the words “man” and “went.”]

Today, we will be able to add details using words from word banks. Each word bank has words
or phrases that answer one of our key questions. The examples provided in the bank are a
starting point for you. You are welcome to use them, but they are not the only choices to add
details and expand the sentence. Feel free to use your own words or phrases as well.

As I complete an example with you all, I will choose words and phrases from the banks to make
sure my expanded sentence answers all of our key questions. I also will decide the best place to
put those words and phrases by thinking about the meaning of my sentence, what I want to
communicate to my readers, and whether or not the sentence can be read fluently (or smoothly).
Guided Practice
1. As I read this sentence, I notice it doesn’t tell me how, when, where, or why the man
went down the stairs. Answering these questions will make the action of the sentence
more clear to the reader. I am going to start by answering the first of those questions:
how. By telling readers how the man went down the stairs, I am helping them create a
more accurate picture in their heads of what is happening in this sentence.

There are many different ways a person can go down stairs. For example, someone may
choose to go down the stairs slowly, carefully, or clumsily. These words are adverbs;
they describe verbs, which are actions. For my sentence, I’m going to choose the word
“quickly” from our words and phrases bank. [Display the word “quickly” on a small
sentence strip.]

Next, I need to read the sentence to decide the best place to put the word. I can’t just put
the word anywhere in the sentence and expect it to make sense because changing the
location of a word or phrase can change the meaning of a sentence.

For example, if I put “quickly” right after “The”, my sentence will read “The quickly
man went down the stairs.” This sentence is confusing because it sounds like we are
trying to describe the man instead of answering how the man went down the stairs.

There are other places in this sentence where we could add “quickly” without the
sentence losing its clarity and meaning. “Quickly” is an adverb; it describes the action
in the sentence. I am going to start by putting it at the end of the sentence. I want to read
it to see if the sentence makes sense. [Place the word “quickly” after the phrase “went
down the stairs.”] When I place it there, the sentence reads: The man went down the
stairs quickly. As a reader, I can understand how the man went down the stairs, and I
can read this sentence fluently. This is an appropriate place for the adverb.

Now, I am going to move this detail before “went down the stairs.” [Place the word
“quickly” before the word phrase “went down the stairs.”] By putting it right before the
verb, I am making sure my readers can easily connect the adverb to the verb. When I
place it there, the sentence reads: The man quickly went down the stairs. It still allows
readers to understand how the man went down the stairs. For our example, I will leave it
here.

2. Next, I will choose a detail that tells the reader where the man was when he went down
the stairs. “Where?” is another one of our questions to expand our sentence. It does not
matter in which order I answer the four questions, but I need to be sure they make sense
for what I want to communicate in my sentence. Telling the reader where the action is
happening is a logical detail in a sentence about a man going down stairs.
 I’m going to think of some places a person may go down stairs. Someone may go down
the stairs at a department store, in their apartment, or into a basement. These
prepositional phrases can answer the question “Where?” for my readers. For my
sentence, I’m going to choose the word “into the basement” from our words and phrases
bank. [Display the phrase “into the basement” on a small sentence strip.]

Now, I will read the sentence to decide the best place to put the phrase [Read the
sentence aloud:] The man went down the stairs. I will start by putting it here [Put phrase
after “The man”]. Let’s read this together. [Class reads: The man into the basement
quickly went down the stairs.] Does this sentence sound correct? Does the sentence still
have a clear meaning? Could there be a better place to put this detail so we can read the
sentence fluently? [Teacher solicits student responses.]

I am going to add this detail after “went down the stairs.” [Place the phrase “into the
basement” at the end of the sentence.] Now, I will reread the sentence with our new
phrase to make sure it makes sense: The man quickly went down the stairs into the
basement. This sentence has clear meaning because as a reader, I can understand and
visualize a man going down a flight of stairs into a basement.

3. We’ve told our reader how and where the action of our sentence takes place. Now that
we know how and where he went down the stairs, maybe we should add a detail that tells
the reader when the man went down the stairs. He could go down the stairs on Saturday
or at 8:30 a.m. What are some other words or phrases that could tell us when the man
went down the stairs? [Solicit student responses.]

I’m going to choose the phrase “last night” to tell my reader when he went down the
stairs. [Display the phrase “last night” on a sentence strip.]

Let’s read the sentence to decide the best place to put the phrase. [Read the sentence
aloud:] The man quickly went down the stairs into the basement.

First, I am going to add this detail after “quickly.” Let’s read the sentence now. [Class
reads: The man quickly last night went down the stairs into the basement.] What does
this sentence mean to you? Does this sentence sound correct when we put the “when”
detail right after the “how” detail? Is there a better place for me to put this detail so we
can read the sentence fluently? [Solicit student responses.]

I will place it in another spot in my sentence. [Place the phrase “last night” at the
beginning of the sentence.] Now, I will reread the sentence with our new phrase to make
sure it makes sense. [Teacher reads:] Last night, the man quickly went down the stairs
into the basement. I think this is a great place for this phrase because it lets the reader
 know when the action took place, and it doesn’t confuse the reader about what is
describing how and what is describing when the man went down the stairs.

4. Finally, I will choose a detail that tells the reader why the man went down the stairs.
This is the last of our four questions to expand our simple sentences. Let’s think about
why a man would go down the stairs into the basement quickly at night. One reason
could be to find something he needs urgently. Another reason could be to investigate a
suspicious sound. Why do you think a man would quickly go down the stairs into a
basement at night? [Solicit student responses.]

I am going to use the phrase “to fix a busted pipe” as the answer to my “why.” [Display
the phrase “to fix a busted pipe.”] I like this phrase because it contributes to the meaning
of the sentence. If a pipe was busted in the basement, someone would need to get to it in
a hurry so the basement wouldn’t flood. This allows the reader to picture what is
happening. It also makes sense within the context of the sentence.

I will read the sentence to decide the best place to put the phrase [Read the sentence
aloud:] Last night, the man quickly went down the stairs into the basement. Let’s start by
putting it after “last night.” Now the sentence says, “Last night to fix a busted pipe the
man quickly went down the stairs into the basement.” I don’t think this is the best place
for this phrase. It’s hard to read this sentence fluently and keep track of the point of our
sentence. Where else can I put this phrase so the sentence keeps its meaning and can be
read fluently? [Solicit student responses.]

For this example, I am going to add this detail after “into the basement.” [Place the
phrase “to fix a busted pipe” at the end of the sentence.]

Now, I will reread the sentence with our new phrase. [Teacher reads:] Last night, the
man quickly went down the stairs into the basement to fix a busted pipe. Now we have a
sentence that has answered all four of our key questions, can be read fluently, and has
meaning to the reader because it can be visualized and makes sense.
Independent Practice
Today, you will practice adding details to expand, or stretch, sentences.

Each pair of students will receive blank sentence strips, a words and phrases bank, and a set of
simple sentences.

Your job is to expand these simple sentences so they meet our three criteria:
1. Our expanded sentence answers our four key questions: When? Where? Why? How?
2. Our details allow readers to create a clear picture in their heads of the subject and
action in the sentence.
 3. Our expanded sentence can be read fluently.

As you work, refer to the posted steps titled “How to Expand a Sentence” and the expanded
sentence checklist. These will help you make sure you meet our criteria.

Remember, when you add your details, it is important that you choose an appropriate place in
the sentence for those details. There may be more than one place for you to put your new details.
It is your job to read the sentence to make sure it can be read fluently and your details create a
clear picture.

Provide pairs with words and phrases bank, blank sentence strips, and a marker. Monitor student
work by listening to pairs as they discuss their sentences.
Steps of Expanding Sentences
The following steps and student checklist may be used to help students complete this task in
pairs or independently.

How to expand a sentence

1. Read the simple sentence.
2. Choose a key question to answer.
3. Brainstorm (or choose from the bank) a word or phrase that answers the key question.
4. Place the word or phrase in the sentence.
5. Read the sentence with your new detail.
- If the sentence can be read fluently and has clear meaning, leave the detail there and
go to your next key question.
- If the sentence cannot be read fluently or does not have clear meaning, change the
location of the detail and repeat steps 4 and 5.

Expanded sentence checklist

ο Sentence has a where detail.
ο Sentence has a when detail.
ο Sentence has a why detail.
ο Sentence has a how detail.
ο Readers can visualize what I wrote.
ο Readers can easily understand what the sentence means.
ο Sentence can be read fluently.
Assessment
Students may work cooperatively after initial instruction to expand simple sentences on chart
paper by writing or pasting words and phrases together to meet the criteria for an expanded
sentence.

To assess individual students, have each student complete the sentence expanding practice page
indendently.

Initially, teachers may decide to provide a words and phrases bank for students to use. As they
improve, students may create their own words and phrases that answer the four key questions.
Ultimately, application of the skill should move to student writing, with students finding simple
sentences within their own compositions and expanding them to add details to their work.

To assess partners, set up chart paper where groups can show how they expanded each simple
sentence by writing or taping their expanded sentences. The following rubric may be used to
assess student work.
Developing Needs Improvement Sufficient
One or no key questions Two or three of the key All four key questions (when,
(when, where, why, and how) questions (when, where, why, where, why, and how) are
are answered through the and how) are answered answered through the
addition of details. through the addition of addition of details.
details.
Placement of details obscures One or more of those details Placement of details allows
the meaning of the sentence, are placed in a way that readers to construct meaning
making it difficult for the obscures the meaning of the and create a clear visual of
reader to understand what is sentence. the action in the sentence.
taking place.

Sentence fluency is absent Sentence fluency may be Sentence fluency is evident.

due to misplacement of absent due to misplacement
detail. of detail(s).
Example: The man went Example: Last night, the Example: Last night, the man
down the stairs last night. quickly man went into the quickly went down the stairs
basement down the stairs. into the basement to fix a
busted pipe. OR Last night,
the man went down the stairs
into the basement to fix a
busted pipe quickly.
Sentence Expanding Notes – Middle School
– A simple sentence is a sentence with ____________ subject-verb combination.

o The subject tells ______________ or ________________ the sentence is about.

o The verb tells us the ___________________.

– Simple sentences tell _______________ or _______________ is doing something.

– Stretched sentences give the reader extra _______________ by answering these

questions:

o ________________

o ________________

o ________________

o ________________
Example 1:

The man went down the stairs.

– Who/what is the subject? _____________________________________________

– What did the man do? _______________________________________________

– How? (quickly)

– Where? ___________________________________________________________

– When? (last night)

– Why? (to fix the busted pipe)

– Our expanded sentence:

____________________________, the man ____________________ went down

the stairs ___________________________________________ to fix a busted

pipe.
How to expand a sentence
1. Read the simple sentence.
2. Choose a key question to answer.
3. Brainstorm a word or phrase that answers the key question.
4. Place the word or phrase in the sentence.
5. Read the sentence with your new detail.
- If the sentence can be read fluently and has clear meaning, leave the detail there
and go to your next key question.
- If the sentence cannot be read fluently or does not have clear meaning, change
the location of the detail and repeat steps 4 and 5.

Expanded sentence checklist

ο Sentence has a where detail.
ο Sentence has a when detail.
ο Sentence has a why detail.
ο Sentence has a how detail.
ο Readers can visualize or picture what I wrote.
ο Readers can easily understand what the sentence means.
ο Sentence can be read fluently.
Sentence Expanding – Words and Phrases
Bank – Middle School
“How” Words
absentmindedly happily cautiously
irresponsibly giddily carefully
quietly loudly beautifully
quickly lazily effortlessly
soon separately twice
cheerfully together awkwardly

“Where” Phrases
outside the window in the backyard
at the grocery store in the hallway
under the table behind the swing set
on the floor around the classroom
at the park inside the closet

“When” Words And Phrases

during the meeting last night
at noon this morning
during recess last Monday
during breakfast last week
at bedtime yesterday

“Why” Phrases
to get a pair of shoes because she was disappointed
because they did not want to share so I could escape
to get out of the rain because of the heat and humidity
because someone told a funny joke although she made a mistake
even though he was mad due to extreme exhaustion
Simple Sentences

The siblings argued

The rabbits jumped in the grass
We went to sleep
The manager refunded the customer’s money
I ran away from the dog
My aunt screamed
Our teacher laughed
The brown cat purred
 Name ________________________________
Date ________________________________
Teacher ________________________________
Period __________

Sentence Expanding Practice – Middle

School
Directions: Expand/stretch the following sentences by adding details that answer
each of the key questions. You may use examples from the Sentence Expanding
Words and Phrases Bank, or you may make your own. Rewrite the sentence to
include your new details.

1. Simple sentence: My dad laughed at me.

a. Who/what (subject): My dad

b. Did what: laughed at me

c. How: _________________________________________________________________________

d. When: ________________________________________________________________________

e. Where: _______________________________________________________________________

f. Why: _________________________________________________________________________

My stretched sentence: ____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Simple sentence: The baby giggled.

a. Who/what (subject): The baby

b. Did what: giggled

 c. How: _________________________________________________________________________

d. When: ________________________________________________________________________

e. Where: _______________________________________________________________________

f. Why: _________________________________________________________________________

My stretched sentence: ____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Simple sentence: Our chairs wobbled.

a. Who/what (subject): Our chairs

b. Did what: wobbled

c. How: _________________________________________________________________________

d. When: ________________________________________________________________________

e. Where: _______________________________________________________________________

f. Why: _________________________________________________________________________

My stretched sentence: ____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2
4. Simple sentence: My hands were shaking.

a. Who/what (subject): My hands

b. Did what: were shaking

c. How: _________________________________________________________________________

d. When: ________________________________________________________________________

e. Where: _______________________________________________________________________

f. Why: _________________________________________________________________________

My stretched sentence: ____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________