Extending Sentences Creatively

Overview

A 45-minute English session for Year 1 pupils focusing on extending simple sentences using conjunctions and, but, and so. Through an immersive comic strip activity centred on "Gustavo the Shy Ghost," students will develop their speaking, writing, and comprehension skills by practising sentence extension to express thoughts and feelings. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England’s English programme of study.

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National Curriculum Links

English – Year 1

• Reading: Comprehension

  • Understand both the books they can already read accurately and fluently and those they listen to by drawing on what they already know or on background information and vocabulary provided by the teacher.
  • (NC Ref: English Programmes of Study – Reading)

• Writing: Composition

  • Write simple sentences which can be read by themselves and others.
  • (NC Ref: English Programmes of Study – Writing)

• Writing: Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation

  • Expressing time, place and cause using conjunctions and, but, and so.
  • (NC Ref: English Programmes of Study – Writing)

• Spoken Language

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
  • (NC Ref: Spoken Language)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Identify and use conjunctions and, but and so to extend simple sentences.
• Write extended sentences in speech bubbles to express characters’ thoughts and feelings.
• Recognise how conjunctions help improve sentence flow and add detail.
• Collaborate to create and share a comic strip narrative.

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Resources

• Pre-drawn comic strip template featuring Gustavo the Shy Ghost in 3 different short scenarios (one per comic panel).
• Word banks with simple conjunctions (and, but, so) and example sentence starters.
• Colouring pencils, pens, and sticky notes for speech bubbles.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Visual mood chart (happy, scared, curious faces) to help students express feelings.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Welcome and context setting: Briefly introduce Gustavo the Shy Ghost and explain he is shy but experiences different feelings in various situations.
• Discuss the idea of joining ideas in sentences to make them more interesting using words like and, but and so.
• Use simple example on the board:
  • “Gustavo is shy.”
  • Extend: “Gustavo is shy but he wants to make friends.”
• Engage pupils with quick oral practice, prompting them to extend simple sentences with conjunctions.

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2. Guided Activity: Exploring Conjunctions (10 minutes)

• Present each panel of Gustavo’s comic strip characters facing a situation, e.g.:
  1. Gustavo sees a group playing.
  2. Gustavo wants to join but feels nervous.
  3. Gustavo tries to speak up.
• For each scenario, model writing a sentence with a conjunction relating to Gustavo’s thoughts or feelings.
• Pupils orally suggest conjunctions and help complete sentences on the whiteboard.

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3. Independent/Pair Work: Comic Strip Creation (15 minutes)

• Each pupil receives a printed comic strip template with blank speech bubbles.
• Pupils write extended sentences for Gustavo’s speech bubbles using and, but, or so to describe his thoughts and feelings.
• Encourage them to use the word bank and mood chart to help express emotions and make sentences more detailed.
• Offer support with spelling and sentence structure as needed.

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4. Sharing and Discussion (7 minutes)

• Each pupil shares their completed comic strip with the class.
• Discuss how conjunctions helped extend sentences and made Gustavo’s story clearer and more interesting.
• Encourage pupils to listen actively and ask questions about their peers’ choices of conjunctions.

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5. Plenary and Assessment (3 minutes)

• Recap the role of and, but, and so in extending sentences.
• Quick oral quiz: Teacher says a simple sentence, pupils extend using an appropriate conjunction.
• Verbal feedback emphasising effort and correct use of conjunctions.

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Differentiation

• For less confident writers:
  Provide partially completed sentences with gaps for conjunctions to fill.
• For more able pupils:
  Challenge to write sentences using more than one conjunction or describe why Gustavo feels a certain way.
• Visual aids and paired discussion help consolidate understanding.

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Assessment and Next Steps

• Formative assessment through observation of participation, sentence construction, and oral contributions during activities.
• Evaluate pupils’ written speech bubbles to ensure conjunctions are used appropriately to extend ideas.
• Next lesson: Focus on using conjunctions because and when to extend sentences with cause and time.

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Creative Extension Idea for Future Use

• Develop a digital storybook where pupils can record themselves reading their extended sentences aloud as Gustavo’s story progresses, combining literacy with speaking & listening technology skills.

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This lesson fosters not only grammar accuracy but also creativity, empathy, and collaborative storytelling, all rooted in the statutory requirements of the Year 1 English curriculum.