THE CONJUNCTION

Purpose

Direct
To bring the consciousness of the child the function of the conjunction.

Control of Error
The directress

Age
5 years onwards

Materials
– Three or four articles having the same relationship with an
another, e.g. different colored flowers or pencils in an appropriate container.
– A piece of ribbon
– Grammar symbols
– Supply tray
– Prepared cards for use with the flowers and farm one set of noun phrases for the objects in the farm and a second set with the conjunction “and” printed on them.

Presentation: The Flowers

Materials
– Flowers or pencils
– Ribbon
– Supply tray
– Symbol tray

Presentation

1. Show the children all of the material and bring it to the table. (Except for the bouquet of flowers)
2. Write an article, adjective, and a noun, such as “the red flower”.
3. Give the slip to the child to read and then have the child go and get the correct object.
4. Have the child place (in this example) the red flower above the slip of paper and reread the slip of paper.
5. Repeat so each child has a chance to go and get an object.
6. Ask for each flower in turn by using the words used on the slip of paper.
7. Tie the flowers together with the ribbon.
8. Have the children read all of the slips.
9. Tell the children, “all of the flowers are joined together but all of the words are not joined together”.
10. Write the word “and” on a slip of paper using the RED pencil and have the children read it out loud.
11. Place it between two slips of paper saying “the —— flower” but say that you need one more joining slip of paper.
12. Write “and” in RED and place it between the last two slips of paper reading “the —— flower”
13. Then read all of the slips together: “the red flower and the blue flower and the pink flower”
14. Tell the children that the flowers are all connected and all of the words are connected.
15. Have the children place the correct symbols for the adjective and noun above the adjective and noun written on their slip of paper. Also add symbols for the articles.
16. Introduce the symbol (the small pink rectangle) that shows us the joining word.
17. Then have the children read everything to see if it makes sense.

(Photo shows the phrases and conjunctions put together using the prepared labels.)

1. The directress can then change all of the noun phrases and place them in a different order.
2. Have the children read everything again to show them that it still makes sense.
3. Repeat the changing of the order of the noun phrase to again prove this point.
4. Have the children replace all of the material in turn.

Exercise 1
Introduce the prepared tickets. The children work as in the presentation. They are able to then work alone with the prepared tickets.

Exercise 2
The child can make a booklet or a list.

Presentation 2: The Farm Animals

Materials
– The farm
– Ribbon
– Supply tray
– Symbol tray

Presentation

1. Using the prepared tickets and the farm, repeat as in Presentation 1.

Exercise 1
The child can work alone with the prepared tickets.

Exercise 2
The child can make a booklet or a list.