The website 4You4Free offers a variety of games that teach sentence structure. The game Monkey Business requires players to build a word bridge across a ravine by turning a group of words into a sentence. The object of The Patchworker Game is for players to create a picture by revealing a piece of it each time they correctly turn a group of words into a sentence. Players help teach the character Max to learn kung fu by choosing words in the right order to create a sentence in the game Kung Fu Sentences.
Children can learn sentence structure by using sentence structure card sets created by adults. A sentence structure card set consists of a large card with a picture and a sentence on it and a group of smaller cards with words on them. Young children recreate the sentence on the picture card by putting the words cards in the proper order. When a child becomes proficient at recreating sentences, he can be given the word cards only and must create and illustrate a sentence. To extend the activity even further, the student can create his own sentence structure card sets.
Children can practice sentence structure by creating silly sentences using color-coded piles of noun, verb and helper cards. Children take turns making sentences by choosing one word from each pile. Encourage language development by having the children both read their sentences aloud and write the sentences down. Extend the activity for a visual learner by showing her a sentence then having her recreate it. Adjust the activity for an auditory learner by reading a sentence to her and then having her recreate the sentence using the word cards.
The website Grammar Park, sponsored by Harcourt School Publishers, contains a variety of advanced sentence structure activities for children in grades three through five. Students can practice sentence structure activities that include identifying sentence fragments, identifying sentence clauses, practicing punctuation and determining whether sentences are simple, complex or compound.
Students in grades two through ten can use Collins Educational Associates activities to practice developing advanced sentences. Topics include creating basic sentences using similes and metaphors, developing multiple subject or predicate sentences and using hyperbole and personification to make sentences more interesting. Student practice using techniques such as oral reading and focused sentence correcting.