Combining Like Ideas

​Combining Sentences

Combine the similar information and create one sentence!



Radium is an element on the periodic table that is radioactive. It was discovered by a female scientist. Her name was Marie Currie. Her work exposed her to a large amount of radiation, which led to her developing cancer. What information is repeated?

​Combining Sentences

Combine the similar information and create one sentence!



It was discovered by a female scientist. Her name was Marie Currie.






How can we combine them? How are they related?

​Combining Sentences

Combine the similar information and create one sentence!



It was discovered by a female scientist. Her name was Marie Currie.



It was discovered by a female scientist named Marie Curie.

Radium was not fully understood when it was first discovered. No one realized it was radioactive and harmful at the time. For example, radium was used to paint watch hands. This made the hands glow in the dark. The women who painted the watches with radium all got very sick from the radiation. Those women are often called "glowing girls" because they left work covered in the glowing radium.



What do the sentences have in common?

For example, radium was used to paint watch hands. This made the hands glow in the dark.


How can we combine those ideas? How are they related?

For example, radium was used to paint watch hands. This made the hands glow in the dark.


For example, radium was used to paint watch hands because it made them glow in the dark.

Read Amazing Armadillos: Nature's Living Tanks

Multiple Choice

What is the best way to combine sentences 3 and 4?

(3) The word "armadillo" comes from Spanish. 4) The word means "little armored one” in Spanish.

• The word "armadillo" comes from Spanish" and the word means "little armored one" in Spanish.

• The word "armadillo" comes from Spanish and means "little armored one."

• The word "armadillo" comes from Spanish and the word means "little armored one."

• The word "armadillo" comes from Spanish, so the word means "little armored one."

Multiple Choice

How should sentence 6 be revised so that it does not repeat information?

(6) There are twenty different species of armadillos, but the most common species of armadillo is the United States in the Nine-banded Armadillo.

• There are twenty different species of armadillos, so the most common species of armadillo in the United States is the Nine-banded Armadillo.

• There are twenty different species of armadillos, but the most common species of armadillo in the United States is the Nine-banded one.

• There are twenty types, but the most common species of armadillo in the United States is the Nine-banded Armadillo.

• There are twenty different species of armadillos, but the most common type in the United States is the Nine-banded Armadillo.

Multiple Choice

What is the best way to combine sentences 9 and 10 in a clear and effective way?

(9) They have strong claws. (10) Their claws help them dig burrows in the ground where they sleep and stay safe.

• They have strong claws that help them dig burrows in the ground where they sleep and stay safe.

• They have strong claws, and their claws help them dig burrows in the ground where they sleep and stay safe.

• They have strong claws that help them. Dig burrows in the ground where they sleep and stay safe.

• They have strong claws that help them dig burrows in the ground where they sleep and stay safe because of their claws.

Orange = Repetitive

​(1) One of the most amazing things about armadillos is that they can hold their breath for up to 4 minutes. (2) This helps them when they cross small streams by walking underwater. (3) Sometimes they float across the streams.


Combine the ideas in sentences 2 and 3 to create one clear and effective sentence.

Orange = Repetitive

​(1) One of the most amazing things about armadillos is that they can hold their breath for up to 4 minutes. (2) This helps them when they cross small streams by walking underwater. (3) Sometimes they float across the streams.





​(1) One of the most amazing things about armadillos is that they can hold their breath for up to 4 minutes. (2) This helps them when they cross small streams by walking underwater or floating across the stream.

Open Ended

Combine the ideas in sentences 5 and 6 to create one clear and effective sentence.