Strange Sentences Slides Hawkins National Lab • Training Division
STRANGE SENTENCES
Escape the Upside Down with Subject & Predicate Power
Classified Lesson
Grade 3-5 Literacy
Part 1: The Subject
The Subject is the main hero (or monster) of your sentence!
It is the WHO or WHAT that performs the action.
Active Subjects:
11
Eleven
😈
The terrifying Demogorgon
Spot the Subject:
"The brave kids rode their bikes."
Part 2: The Predicate
Under Investigation:
Sheriff Hopper investigates the pumpkin patch.
The Predicate contains the action!
It always starts with the action verb and tells what the subject is doing.
Dustin...
feeds raw meat!
Nancy...
loads the trap!
Level Up: Expanders
Want to make your communication stronger?
Add Expanders to answer the key survival questions:
When?
At midnight...
Where?
In Hawkins Lab...
How?
Very quietly...
Why?
To escape danger...
Building the Escape Sentence
Subject (Who)
Eleven
Predicate (Action)
eats Eggos
Expander (Detail)
inside the secret cabin
Complete Escape Sentence:
Eleven eats Eggos inside the secret cabin.
Begin Field Work!
Take out your Upside Down Survival Guide Worksheet. Track the subjects, face the predicates, and write strong, expanded communication to signal for help!
Trust Your Team!
Friends Don't Lie!
Upside Down Survival Worksheet Hawkins National Lab • Classified
Upside Down Survival Guide
Subject/Predicate Mastery Field Report
Agent:
Date:
Phase 1: Track the Creature (Subject)
Who or What?
Underline the Subject of the sentence.
01
Eleven uses her telekinetic powers to close the gate.
02
A terrifying Demogorgon crawls through the rift in the wall.
03
The brave kids search for their lost friend in the dark woods.
04
Mysterious Christmas lights flash on the living room wall.
Phase 2: Face the Danger (Predicate)
Action/Verb?
Underline the Predicate of the sentence.
05
Sheriff Hopper investigates the strange pumpkins in the field.
06
Nancy and Jonathan set a clever trap in the old house.
07
The massive Mind Flayer shadows over the town of Hawkins.
08
Dustin feeds raw meat to his strange new pet Dart.
Page 1 of 4
Phase 3: Signal for Help (Channels 1-3)
Defeat the darkness! Add an Object (What/Who) and an Expander (When, Where, How, or Why) to the Subject and Predicate (Verb) to write a complete sentence. Use the giant guidelines: Blue for the sky, dashed midline, Red for the ground.
Channel 01
+Obj +Exp
Subject: Mike Verb: rides
Channel 02
+Obj +Exp
Subject: Eleven Verb: eats
Channel 03
+Obj +Exp
Subject: Dustin Verb: finds
Page 2 of 4
Phase 3 continued...
Channel 04
+Obj +Exp
Subject: Will Verb: hides
Escape Plan
Write down your elements, then construct your own original survival sentence containing an Object and Expander!
Subject (Who)
Verb (Action)
Object (What)
Expander (Detail)
Page 3 of 4
Phase 4: Write Your Field Report
Combine your survival sentences into a real **Field Report paragraph**! Use the helpful hints below to fill in each sentence using the giant **Sky-to-Ground** guidelines.
Sentence 1: Tell where the hero rides.
Mike rides...
Sentence 2: Tell what the monster did.
A Demogorgon crawls...
Sentence 3: Tell why the hero ate.
Eleven eats...
Radio Check (COPS)
Capitals • Order • Punctuation • Spelling
C
O
P
S
Page 4 of 4
Survival Guide Answer Key Hawkins National Lab • Teacher Reference
Survival Guide: Answer Key
Confidential Grading Sheet & Evaluation Guide
Strange Sentences
Phase 1: Track the Creature (Subject)
Red Underline = Subject
01
Eleven uses her telekinetic powers to close the gate.
02
A terrifying Demogorgon crawls through the rift in the wall.
03
The brave kids search for their lost friend in the dark woods.
04
Mysterious Christmas lights flash on the living room wall.
Phase 2: Face the Danger (Predicate)
Red Underline = Predicate
05
Sheriff Hopper investigates the strange pumpkins in the field.
06
Nancy and Jonathan set a clever trap in the old house.
07
The massive Mind Flayer shadows over the town of Hawkins.
08
Dustin feeds raw meat to his strange new pet Dart.
Page 1 of 2
Phase 3: Signal for Help Sample Answers
Object + Expander
Channel 01 Example
Mike rides his bike bravely into the dark forest.
Channel 02 Example
Eleven eats Eggos quietly inside the hidden cabin.
Channel 03 Example
Dustin finds Dart under the backyard porch.
Channel 04 Example
Will hides a walkie-talkie under the heavy blankets.
Phase 4: Scaffolded Paragraph Sample Answers
Sentence 1 (Mike rides...):
Mike rides his bike through the dark woods to escape the lab.
Sentence 2 (A Demogorgon crawls...):
A Demogorgon crawls through the wall very quietly at midnight.
Sentence 3 (Eleven eats...):
Eleven eats Eggos in the kitchen to gain her telekinetic power.
Field Evaluation Rubric
Level 3: Specialist
All 8 identification items correct. Sentence and paragraph challenges successfully add both an Object (transitive) and an Expander (adverbial) to write clear complete sentences. Excellent letter placement on sky-to-ground guidelines and COPS followed.
Level 2: Survivor
6-7 identification items correct. Sentences and paragraph are complete and add either an Object or an Expander successfully. Writing is mostly readable and fits within the guidelines with minor errors.
Level 1: Lost
5 or fewer identification items correct. Sentence and paragraph challenges are incomplete, missing both Object and Expander. Struggles with basic letter placement.
