A simple introduction to sentence imitating. You can find more sentence composing activities in my materials on TeachersPayTeachers: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Daily-Sentence-Writing-Part-1-1195854

1. Imitating Sentences

2. Imitating Sentences
The frog/ swam/
in the water.

3. Imitating Sentences
The frog/ swam/
in the water.
Complete subject

4. Imitating Sentences
The frog/ swam/
in the water.
Verb

5. Imitating Sentences
The frog/ swam/
in the water.
Prepositional
phrase

6. The frog/ swam/ in the water.
We can imitate
this sentence by
replacing the
sentence parts.

7. The frog/ swam/ in the water.
This picture
shows a moth.
Where would
we put this word
in our new
sentence?

8. The moth/ swam/ in the water.
Hmm…does
this sentence
make sense?
Try to replace
the rest of the
parts to
describe the
picture.

9. The moth/ climbed/ on the grass.
Here is one
possibility. What
other sentences
did you create?

10. Longer Sentences
Quickly,/ the
salamander/ scuttled/
under the log.

11. Longer Sentences
Quickly,/ the
salamander/ scuttled/
under the log.
Subject

12. Longer Sentences
Quickly,/ the
salamander/ scuttled/
under the log.
Verb

13. Longer Sentences
Quickly,/ the
salamander/ scuttled/
under the log.
Prepositional
phrase

14. Longer Sentences
Quickly,/ the
salamander/ scuttled/
under the log.
Adver
b

15. Quickly,/ the salamander/ scuttled/
under the log.
Use the sentence
parts above to write a
new sentence to
describe this picture.

16. Even longer sentences!
At dusk, the
lean fox
trotted along
the dunes.

17. Can you break this sentence
into chunks?
At dusk, the
lean fox
trotted along
the dunes.

18. Can you break this sentence
into chunks?
At dusk,/ the
lean fox/ trotted/
along the dunes.

19. Now, try to imitate the
sentence
At dusk,/ the
lean fox/ trotted/
along the dunes.

20. Here is one idea…
In the afternoon,/
the baby bird/
chirped/ in the
grass.

21. What did you learn?
What have you
learned about
writing
sentences?

22. Emily Kissner
Non-commercial use only
All photos by Emily Kissner