CJ7 coordinated clauses with but, or

You will need:

• SHAPE CODING app and/or laminated shapes:  2  ovals, 2 hexagons, 2 clouds and diamonds (e.g. is / are / will / could / can).
• card with ‘but’ written / underlined in purple.
• card with ‘or’ written / underlined in purple.
• Black and white pictures for colouring.
• Small figures and toys, e.g. animals, characters, people, vehicles, furniture.
• Photos or photocards for object / people description.

App settings: Default.

Intervention steps:

1. Lay out two separate SV sentences, e.g. “The boy is running. The girl is skipping.”

Discuss with the child that the who/oval is different in both sentences as is the what doing/hexagon.

Explain and demonstrate that you can join these sentences using the ‘but’ between them.

The ‘but’ highlights the difference, as in: “The boy is running but the girl is skipping.”

2. Repeat with multiple examples.

3. Then repeat Steps 1 & 2 for coordinated SA clauses, e.g. “The cat is brown but the dog is white.”

Ask the child to colour two different given pictures in two different colours. Explain and demonstrate that you can join these sentences using the ‘but’ between them. The ‘but’ highlights the difference, e.g.:

4. Then repeat steps 1 & 2 for coordinated SPP clauses e.g. The cat is on the chair but the dog is on the table.

Ask the child to place two different given items in two different places. Explain and demonstrate that you can join these sentences using the ‘but’ between them. The ‘but’ highlights the difference.

5. Now lay out two SV sentences – using ‘will’, e.g. “The boy will walk. The man will drive.”

Discuss with the child that the who/oval is different in both sentences as is the what doing/hexagon.

Explain and demonstrate you can join these sentences using the ‘or’  between them. The ‘or’ highlights a choice.  Ask a ‘how’ question to set the context, e.g. “How will they get to the shop?”

The boy will walk or the man will drive.

6. Repeat with multiple examples.

Then change the diamond to ‘could’ and repeat. Emphasise the ‘or’ shows the choice (and tells others both can’t happen/be true).

Show how you can keep the same person in the oval, when they have a choice to make or they have options, e.g.:

“The woman will stay or she will leave.  The boy could walk or he could cycle.”

7. Extend this learning, if appropriate, by showing how to keep the same subject in the oval with ‘but’. Add a time triangle ‘now’ and use past/present tense diamonds to show the change of action, e.g. “The boy was running but now he/the boy is skipping.”

Other examples: “The cat was asleep but now it is awake. The car was clean but now it is dirty. The cat was on the table but now the cat/it is under the chair.”