Teach Complex Sentences with Hands-On Learning

Complex sentences are one of the trickier grammar concepts we have to teach our students. It’s important not to shy away from this topic, as these sentences build the foundation for more sophisticated writing.

This card game has been designed by our team to help your students build complex sentences by matching a sentence beginning with a sentence ending. Here is an example of a set of matching cards from the resource:

Although the trail became rocky and steep, (sentence beginning)
the explorers kept moving through the forest. (sentence ending)

This resource contains:

• Instruction page
• 36 matching cards
• Recording sheet
• Answer key

Read on to learn more about using this hands-on resource in your classroom.

Fun Ways to Use These Complex Sentence Sort Cards

This resource is designed with flexibility in mind, providing multiple ways to introduce and explore complex sentences with your students. Here are some ways to tailor the activity to different learning styles:

1. Movement Match-Up – Distribute one card to each student, then have them walk around the room to find the card that completes their sentence. For an extra challenge, see if they can complete the activity without speaking!
2. Silly Sentences – After the students have correctly matched the clauses to create complex sentences, have them create mismatched, silly sentences to add an element of fun to the lesson.
3. Sort Before Matching – To set your students up for success with this activity, have them sort the cards into sentence beginnings and sentence endings before matching to create complex sentences.

Download These Complex Sentences Examples

Getting your hands on this matching activity is simple! Use the Download button above to access the easy-print PDF or editable Google Slides file. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

We recommend that you print the matching cards on cardstock for added durability, then place them in a zip-lock bag or large envelope for safekeeping. Once prepared, this resource is yours to use year after year – a reliable tool for grammar lessons, revision sessions or fast‑finishers who love a challenge.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

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