Questions, Exclamations and Statements

Looking for a way to teach your child about the difference between a question, a statement and an exclamation?  Well, look no further! Here is a fun way to teach this concept to your child.

Materials

The book, Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

paper and pen

scissors

computer and printer for templates

Optional: Ring! Yo? by Chris Raschka

Teaching Statements, Exclamations and Questions

Introduce the vocabulary words: question, statement and exclamation to your child. Give a few examples of each.  A statement tells something. A question asks something. And an exclamation shares strong feelings or emotions.  There is a fourth type, a command, but commands will not be addressed here.

Show your child the cover of the book, Yo! Yes! by Chris Raschka.  Read the title emphasizing the word, “yo” as an exclamation and “yes” as a question.  Ask your child if he noticed the difference in your voice when you read each word.  Talk a bit about how the punctuation at the end of  a sentence or after a word gives the reader clues about how to not only read the word, but also the author’s intended meaning.

Tell your child you are going to read the book now- straight through with no stops- and he should listen for words that sound like questions, exclamations and statements. Then read it.

Have your child identify a place in the story where the characters asked a question, made a statement or made an exclamation. Record only one of each kind of word on the chart below.

Read the book again then record all the words in the book on the rest of the above chart.

Read all the exclamation words with enthusiasm! Read all the question words exaggerating the fact that they are questions. Read all the statements as just that- a statement.

Read the book one more time and discuss what the boys are trying to say to each other.

Print and cut out the game cards below. Create two piles- one with the words and one with punctuation marks.

Have your child select one card from each pile and then read the word according to the punctuation that goes with it.  Below are two examples.

Continue to play the game until all the cards have been used at least once.

Extensions

Try reading the book again, but switch around the punctuation after each word and see how it changes the story.

Write your own version of the story using only one or two words per page.

Use two phones (play or real) and have a conversation about something using only a few words.

Read, Ring! Yo? also by Chris Raschka and do some of the activities above.

Want Some More Practice?

Using the punctuation cards above (leave the others aside), turn the pile upside down. The first player picks a card and makes up his own sentence based on that ending punctuation.  The next player does the same. For example:

Print and cut out the three cards below.  Give them to your child.  Read one of the sentences below (or make up your own). When you are done, ask your child if it is a statement, exclamation or question. To answer, he holds up the card with the corresponding punctuation mark. Repeat with another sentence.

Have your child create a list of questions, statements and exclamation and have someone else in the house decide whether they are questions, statements or exclamations.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATES

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AFTER SCHOOL LINK UP

The After School Link Up is a great place to share ideas and to find new ideas to do with your children after school or in your homeschool.  The After School Link Up goes live every Monday. So, if you are a blogger, an educator or just some one looking for some good ideas, be sure to stop by Boy Mama Teacher Mama (or the other co-hosts) on Mondays and see what others have to share.

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