Sentence Squad Teacher Guide Sentence Squad
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade Level
2nd Grade
Lesson Objective
Students will identify subjects and verbs to determine if a thought is complete. They will recognize and fix "run-on" sentences by splitting them into two separate thoughts.
Materials Needed
Sentence Squad Slides
Sentence Part Cards (Subject & Predicate)
Two Paper Bags (Labeled "Subjects" & "Predicates")
Monster Sentence Scripter (Worksheet)
Greedy Sentence Journal (Reflection)
Instructional Timeline
Warm-up: Picture Sleuths (5 min)
Use the intro slide with the sleeping cat.
Ask: "Who is in this picture?" (The cat). Explain this is the Subject . Ask: "What is it doing?" (Sleeping). Explain this is the Verb .
Video Viewing & Mini-Lesson (15 min)
Watch "Run-on Sentences for Kids" (0:00 - 2:00).
0:35 Pause: Ask students to find the subject and verb in "The dog plays catch."
Discussion: Discuss the "Sneaky Run-On." Explain that it's greedy because it tries to steal two thoughts into one sentence.
The Fix: Introduce the "Split Rule" — use a period and a capital letter to separate thoughts.
Activity: Build-a-Sentence (20 min)
Part 1: Silly Sentences
Students draw 1 Subject and 1 Predicate card to make a silly, complete thought. Record on worksheet.
Part 2: Monster Run-Ons
Students draw 2 of each. Smash them together to make a "Monster Run-On." Then, "fix" it by writing it as two correct sentences.
Closure: Reflection Journal (5 min)
Students visualize the "Greedy Run-on" mentioned in the video. They draw it and write one thing they learned about fixing them.
Teacher Talk: "The Fix"
"Detectives, we have a problem. Some sentences are getting too greedy! They are trying to hold two whole thoughts at once without any punctuation to help them. This makes them Run-On Sentences ."
"How do we catch a run-on? We look for two subjects and two verbs doing two different things. To fix it, we use our Sentence Splitter (a period) and a fresh capital letter!"
Sentence Squad Slides Sentence Squad
Training Academy
Subject
Verb
Warm-Up: Picture Detective
5 Minutes
🐈💤
Who is it?
The ___________ (Subject)
What are they doing?
The cat ___________ (Verb)
The Perfect Sentence Formula
Subject
The Who or What
Verb
The Action
=
Complete Thought
Makes Sense!
Training Video
Watch Until 2:00
Embedded media
Watch for: The "Sneaky" Run-on Sentence!
Run-On Alert! Run-On Alert! Run-On Alert!
Run-On Sentences are Greedy!
"What is a Run-on?"
It's when two complete sentences are smashed together without any punctuation!
Charlie knocked on the door Billy opened it.
TOO GREEDY!
How to Fix a Run-On
Step 1: Split
Find where the first thought ends and put a PERIOD (.)
Step 2: Capitalize
Start the next thought with a BIG CAPITAL LETTER.
Charlie knocked on the door. Billy opened it.
Mission: Build-a-Sentence
BAG 1: Subjects
Draw 1 Card
BAG 2: Verbs
Draw 1 Card
Then, try to make a Monster Run-On!
Sentence Squad Part Cards Sentence Squad: Card Arsenal
Teachers: Cut these cards out and place them in the correct bags (Subjects vs. Predicates/Verbs).
BAG 1: Subjects (The WHO or WHAT)
The teacher
My mom
A blue bird
A silly monkey
My best friend
A giant pizza
A tiny ant
The astronaut
BAG 2: Predicates (The ACTION)
eats lunch
flies high
reads a book
dances in the rain
jumps on the bed
sings a song
climbs a tree
goes to the moon
Bag Labels (Cut & Tape to Bags)
SUBJECTS
Bag #1
VERBS
Bag #2
Monster Sentence Scripter Worksheet Monster Sentence Scripter
Name
Date
Official Squad File
Step 1: Silly Complete Thoughts
Draw 1 card from Bag 1 and 1 card from Bag 2. Write your silly sentence below!
Silly Sentence #1
Capital Letter?
Period?
Silly Sentence #2
Capital Letter?
Period?
Greedy Monster!
Step 2: The Monster Run-On
Draw 2 more cards from each bag. Smash them all together into one GREEDY run-on sentence with NO PERIODS!
Step 3: Fix the Monster!
Split the monster into TWO correct sentences. Use your periods and capital letters!
Greedy Sentence Journal Reflection Squad Reflection Journal
Case File #202
Detective Name
Date
The Greedy Run-On Sentence
In our video, the narrator said a run-on sentence is "greedy" and "sneaky" because it tries to steal two thoughts into one sentence.
Drawing Space
What does a "Greedy Sentence Monster" look like to you?
Detective Log
Tell me one thing you learned today about how to fix a greedy run-on:
Sentence Squad Certified