About this worksheet
A whole sentence gives a reader a complete idea, usually by naming who or what and telling what happens. Kindergarten children often write a label such as ‘the dog’ and believe the thought is finished, or produce an action such as ‘is running’ without saying who is doing it. Both fragments make sense to the writer because the missing information is visible in their mind or picture. This worksheet makes the two essential parts concrete. Children distinguish complete thoughts from fragments, choose an action to finish a subject, find the who-or-what part, arrange a short set of word cards, and finally write one sentence of their own. Difficulty adds describing words or a place without changing the basic sentence goal. Do not require inventive spelling to be perfect. Instead, ask whether another person can tell who the sentence is about and what happened, then check the capital, spaces, and ending period after the idea is complete.
What your child will learn
- Name who or what
- Add an action
- Order familiar words
- Write one complete idea
Worked example
‘The rabbit’ is only a naming part. Add what it does: ‘The rabbit hops.’ Now the reader has a whole thought.
Common mistake
Stopping after naming a person or thing without telling what it does.
Helpful hint
Ask two questions: who or what, and what happens? A whole sentence answers both.