Goal: build a meaningful complex sentence for cause or time. Materials: clause cards and paragraph frame.
- Notice, 3: Read “The model shows one shelter.” It stands alone. Read “because the drawing includes one shelter.” Ask if this second string gives a complete claim alone. Key: no, it depends on another clause.
- Model, 5: Combine: “I can report one shelter because the drawing includes one shelter.” Identify independent clause, dependent
becauseclause, and the causal link. Avoid a circular reasoning claim about real needs. - Guide, 7: Make two grounded sentences: “We need another source because the plan gives no use data”; “When the team checks the model, it can count the benches.” Children identify what the source actually says versus a possible action.
- Try, 7: Learner joins one self-selected pair, then reads it back for meaning. Accept: “I cannot report borrowing totals because Card B gives none.” A learner can dictate and point to clause cards; don't score punctuation as clause understanding.
- Check, 3: Ask which part is dependent in “We need another source because the plan gives no use data.” Key: “because the plan gives no use data.” If child chooses first, remove second clause and test which still stands as a complete statement.