Introduction: This is great for 4th grade when the Writing TAKS test is approaching and the students are stressing. Have posted around you on sentence strips, written in colorful markers, quality sentences various students have written. When the students gather around you, look at each sentence nod your head and, smile.


An Historic Moment
By William J. Harris

The man said,
After inventing poetry,
“WOW!”
and did a full somersault.

[from GOOD BOOKS, GOOD TIMES! Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, HarperCollins, 1990]

Extension: Invite students to read out loud the sentences posted around you. Discuss the good points each sentence offers and talk about how the author of each sentence strip must have felt when they invented a ‘fabulous sentence’. Pass out colorful paper and encourage the students to invent a ‘fabulous sentence’ (they may have a few days to work and conference with peers) to be displayed.