Expanding Sentences

Which sentences gives you more information?

• The cow jumped over the moon.

• The cow jumped jubilantly over the moon.

• The cow jumped over.

Which sentence gives you more information?

• Jack and Jill went up a hill.

• Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water.

• Jack and Jill went up.

Which sentence does NOT give enough information?

• Mother Goose read a story.

• Tomorrow morning Mother Goose will be reading a story in the library.

• Mother Goose read a story to the children of East Smiths Station Elementary.

Which sentences tells you WHEN?

• Humpty Dumpty sat peacefully on a wall.

• Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall so that he could see what was happening.

• Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall all night long.

Which sentence tells you WHERE?

• Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet.

• Little Miss Muffet sat quietly.

• Little Miss Muffett sat waiting on her friend, Mr. Spider.

Which sentence tells you HOW?

• The mice ran quickly up the clock.

• The mice ran up the clock because a cat was after them.

• The mice ran up the clock when it struck one o'clock.

There were five little monkeys jumping on the bed.

Which sentence below is rewritten to tell you WHEN they were jumping?

• There were five little monkeys jumping on the bed when their mother was out of the room.

• There were five monkeys excitedly jumping on the bed because they ate 10 cookies,

• There were five little monkeys jumping on the bed that belonged to their father.

Which sentence does not give enough information?

• Little Boy Blue come blow your horn so that the sheep and cows will come home for dinner.

• Little Boy Blue come blow your shiny horn to let the sheep and cows know it's dinner time.

• Little Boy Blue come blow your horn.

Which sentence gives you the MOST information?

• Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow so beautifully in the summer months?

• Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your lovely garden full of exotic flowers and bushes grow all summer long in this Southern heat?

• Mary Mary quite contrary how does this garden of yours grow during June?

Do you feel like you understand expanding sentences?

• Absolutely! I feel like I could teach this to another class.

• I need a little bit more practice with expanding sentences.

• I just don't get it! Please help me.