Weslandia Sentence Signals

Instructional Delivery & Interventions

Guided Practice & Assessment Guide

Guided Practice Protocol (We Do - 10 Minutes)

Check 1:

Display sentence: "Weave the fibers into a sun hat." Ask: "Who is speaking, and is an action being ordered? Can we say '(You) weave'?" Have students flash a 'C' hand shape for Command or '!' hand shape for Exclamation.

Check 2:

Display sentence: "How gigantic the stalks have grown!" Ask: "Is this commanding you to do work, or sharing amazement? What clue word starts it? (How)."

Check 3:

Display sentence missing punctuation: "Water the seedlings every morning [ ]". Have students vote: period or exclamation point? Highlight that routine instructions end in a period.

Diagnostic Misconceptions & Corrections

Misconception: "Commands must have an exclamation mark."

Students assume giving an order means yelling. Explain: Most commands are calm, polite instructions ending in a period (e.g., "Please pass the seeds."). Only urgent danger uses ! (e.g., "Watch out!").

Misconception: "No subject means it's an incomplete sentence."

Students believe "Meet us in Weslandia" lacks a subject. Teach the "Secret Agent You" trick: In English commands, the reader/listener is always the understood subject.

Differentiation & Scaffolding

Support / ELL

Use physical gestures: pointing finger forward for Command, hands on cheeks in surprise for Exclamation. Provide verb bank: Turn, Plant, Bring.

On-Level

Complete Worksheet Parts 1 and 2 independently. Partner-read sentences aloud using appropriate inflection (command tone vs thrilled tone).

Extension / Advanced

Have students write a 4-line procedural code of laws for Wesley's new civilization using alternating commands and celebratory exclamations.

Formative Exit Ticket Success Criteria Benchmark: 3 / 3 Items Correct

Item 1: Label Function Accurately identifies sentence as Command or Exclamation with no cue hints.

Item 2: End Punctuation Selects appropriate mark (. or !) based on purpose and voice tone.

Item 3: Student Creation Writes one original command with an imperative verb and period.

Weslandia Sentence Signals • Teacher Guide Page 2 of 2

A Write 2 COMMANDS giving instructions to helpers in Weslandia: End with a period (.)

Command 1 (e.g., harvesting, building, or weaving):

Command 2 (e.g., watering plants or setting rules):

B Write 2 EXCLAMATIONS expressing awe or surprise at Weslandia: End with an exclamation mark (!)

Exclamation 1 (e.g., describing a giant plant or delicious food):

Exclamation 2 (e.g., expressing wonder about the new inventions):

Tear or Cut Here for Exit Ticket

Quick Check Formative Assessment

Exit Ticket: Sentence Signals

Name: Score: ___ / 3

1. Identify: "Gather the dry stalks before sundown."

This sentence is a:

2. Punctuate: "What a spectacular sunset over Weslandia

Mark:

Why?

3. Create: Write one command you would give to someone visiting Weslandia:

Weslandia Sentence Signals • Student Worksheet Page 2 of 2

Part 3 Rubric & Exit Ticket Solutions

Scoring Criteria & Diagnostic Guide

Part 3: Exemplar Student Writing & Scoring Rubric

A. Commands (Exemplars) 2 Points

"Plant these black seeds in neat rows."

"Drink the herbal tea before it gets cold."

Criteria: Must start with an action verb (Plant, Drink, Build, Carry), have an implied subject (you), and end with a period.

B. Exclamations (Exemplars) 2 Points

"What a delicious purple fruit this is!"

"The tree sprouted five feet in one afternoon!"

Criteria: Must clearly convey wonder, amazement, or strong emotion, and must conclude with an exclamation point (!).

Formative Assessment Key

Exit Ticket: Item-by-Item Solutions

Total: 3 Points

Item 1: "Gather the dry stalks before sundown."

Student writes: Command (starts with imperative action verb Gather).

1 pt: Command

Item 2: "What a spectacular sunset over Weslandia [ ! ]"

Student puts ! and explains: Shows awe/wonder about the sunset.

1 pt: ! + Reason

Item 3: Student writes original command for a visitor:

Sample: "Taste the Weslandian roasted seeds." or "Put on this fiber hat."

1 pt: Valid Command

Formative Diagnostic & Next Steps

If student misses Item 1 or 2:

Prompt student to use the "Understood (You)" test: Can you say "(You) gather the dry stalks"? If yes, it is an instruction (command).

If student includes "I" or "We" in Item 3:

Remind student that commands do not start with "I want you to..." or "We should...". Have them cross out the pronoun and begin with the verb.

Weslandia Sentence Signals • Teacher Answer Key Page 2 of 2