Activities

1. Make a chart with transition words and phrases that clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
   
   
2. Given an explanatory article, identify the time sequence transition words that show an author is showing the next step in a series of instructions or directions.
   
   
3. Given a social textbook, identify addition transition words that alert the reader that the author is adding more examples, evidence or information.  

4. Given sentence strips without transition words, match each cause and effect sentence strip together.  Rewrite the sentences using transition words that clarify the cause and effect relationship.
   
   
5. Write a paragraph giving instructions on how to complete a task.  Use addition and time sequence transition words to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

6. Create an informational poster that explains one scientific or social topic.  Use clarifying transitions to further explain the relationships among ideas and concepts.
   
   
7. Using a given piece of social studies text, identify transition words and the relationships they are clarifying.  Replace transition words with transition words that would show the same relationship.  Determine if the replacement transition word is better than the original transition word.  Explain why the new transition word is better or why it is not. 

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student makes a chart with transition words and phrases that clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.  Student understands that transition words help the sentences flow and help the reader recognize the relationships between ideas.  Student makes a transition words and phrases chart that shows the following relationships:

2. Given an explanatory article, student identifies the time sequence transition words that show an author is showing the next step in a series of instructions or direction.  Student understands that transition words help the sentences flow and help the reader recognize the relationships between ideas.  Student understands that time sequence transition words signal the reader that the next step in a series of instructions or directions is forthcoming.  Student correctly identifies transition words that show an author is showing the next step in a series of instructions or directions such as first, second, then, now, before, after, afterward, earlier, later, immediately, soon, next, gradually,  finally, previously, before, next, often, eventually, etc.

3. Given a social textbook, student identifies addition transition words that alert the reader that the author is adding more examples, evidence or information.  Student understands that transition words help the sentences flow and help the reader recognize the relationships between ideas.  Student understands that addition transition words signal the reader that another idea is forthcoming.  Student correctly identifies addition transition words that show an author is adding more examples, evidence or information, such as first, second, third, also, in addition, secondly, furthermore, and, or, nor, finally, another, moreover, etc.   

4. Given sentence strips without transition words, student matches each cause and effect sentence strip together.  Student rewrites the sentences using transition words that clarify the cause and effect relationship.   Student understands that transition words help the sentences flow and help the reader recognize the relationships between ideas.  Student understands it is easier to understand the meaning of the sentences when the cause and effect transition words are used.  Student understands and uses the following cause transition words, because, since, on account of, as a result of, etc.  Student understands cause transition words help identify the cause of an event, problem or situation.  Student understands and uses the following effect transition words, as a result, hence, therefore, subsequently, consequently, thus, etc.  Student understands these words can help the reader identify the effect of an event, problem or situation.

5. Write a paragraph giving instructions on how to complete a task.  Use addition and time sequence transition words to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.  Student understands that transition words help the sentences flow and help the reader recognize the relationships between ideas.  Student writes a paragraph that appropriately uses transition words that show addition and time sequence.  Student correctly uses addition transition words such as, first, second, another, also, in addition, furthermore, further, and, or, nor, next, and, then.  Student correctly uses time sequence transition words such as, first, second, then, now, before, after, afterward, earlier, later, immediately, soon, next, gradually, finally, previously, before, next, often, eventually, etc.

6. Student creates an informational poster that explains one scientific or social topic.  Student uses clarifying transitions to further explain the relationships among ideas and concepts.  Student understands that transition words help the sentences flow and help the reader recognize the relationships between ideas.  Student uses appropriate transitions that clarify the topic such as, to clarify, to put another way, to explain, in other words, to rephrase, that is to say, etc.  Student’s poster accurately explains the topic and the transition words used help clarify difficult concepts.

7. Using a given piece of social studies text, student identifies transition words and the relationships they are clarifying.  Student replaces transition words with different transition words that would show the same relationship.  Student determines if the replacement transition word is better than the original transition word.  Student accurately explains why the new transition word is better or why it is not.   Student accurately describes if the new transition words helps the sentence conveys the information in a smooth, easy to understand manner or if the new transition word makes the sentence sound strange or awkward.  Student replaces transition words with similar words that show the same relationship, such as seen in the chart below: