Grade 1 - A History Of The Earth

158 The History of the Earth: Supplemental Guide 8B | Dinosaurs

and the meaning of text. These syntactic activities should be used

in conjunction with the complex text presented in the read-alouds.

There may be variations in the sentences created by your class.

Allow for these variations, and restate students’ sentences so that

they are grammatical.

1. Conjunctions are a kind of word we use to connect words and
   phrases.


2. We use the conjunction because to join two phrases when the
   second phrase explains something from the fi rst phrase.


3. Listen to Pam the Paleontologist’s sentence about dinosaurs
   from the read-aloud. I will emphasize the word because as I
   read the selection to you:
   You can’t go and see a T. Rex today at the zoo because
   dinosaurs are extinct.


4. Notice that in this sentence, Pam the Paleontologist uses the
   word because when she explains why you cannot go see a T.
   Rex at the zoo.


5. The word because is used to give a reason for something:
   I will continue to study the earth’s fossil record, and I am
   sure we will fi nd the answer [to why dinosaurs are extinct],
   because the clues about the history of the earth are all there
   in the rocks.
   Pam the Paleontologist uses the word because to tell us why
   she is sure that someday we will fi nd the answer to why the
   dinosaurs became extinct.


6. Let’s listen to another example:
   Jinyi wanted to go to bed early because she had to wake up
   early for a fi eld trip.
   The word because explains why Jinyi wanted to go to bed
   early.


7. Turn and tell your partner why you would or would not want to
   go to bed early, using the word because. Make sure you listen
   to what your partner says, so you can tell the class.