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Teach complex sentences with this comprehensive teaching bundle, designed to explicitly teach how authors connect ideas by combining independent and dependent clauses to create more detailed, cohesive and purposeful writing. Combining a detailed lesson plan, comprehensive teacher slides and differentiated student activities, this curriculum-aligned resource provides everything you need to confidently teach complex sentences while lightening your planning load.

Built around the I Do, We Do, You Do model, this lesson sequence provides a scaffolded pathway from explicit teacher modelling to guided analysis and independent application. Building on students' understanding of simple and compound sentences, learners investigate how complex sentences combine a main (independent) clause with one or more dependent clauses to strengthen meaning and show relationships between ideas.

Through modelled examples, collaborative discussion and structured learning experiences, students identify independent and dependent clauses, explore the role of subordinating conjunctions and analyse how complex sentences express relationships such as reason, purpose, condition, concession and time. Students then apply their understanding by constructing, editing and refining complex sentences across a range of writing contexts.

What's included in this teaching bundle?

Lesson Plan (PDF)

• A complete lesson sequence aligned to the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework
• Two teaching options using either AWHITEBUS or ISAWAWABUB to teach subordinating conjunctions
• Clear learning intentions and success criteria
• Explicit teaching focused on independent and dependent clauses
• Teacher modelling, guided discussion and formative check-ins
• Reflective exit ticket to assess understanding and guide next-step teaching

Teacher Slides (PowerPoint)

• Comprehensive, ready-to-teach presentation exploring complex sentence structure
• Explicit teaching of independent (main) and dependent clauses
• High-quality modelled examples demonstrating how subordinating conjunctions strengthen meaning and connect ideas
• Guided analysis of authentic sentence examples
• Explicit instruction on expressing reason, purpose, condition, concession and time through complex sentences
• Structured practice constructing and analysing complex sentences for different writing purposes
• Embedded check-ins for understanding throughout the lesson

Differentiated Student Activities (PDF)

• Two teaching options using either AWHITEBUS or ISAWAWABUB to teach subordinating conjunctions
• Three double-sided scaffolded printable worksheets with increasing levels of challenge
• Activities progressing from identifying independent and dependent clauses, to recognising subordinating conjunctions and correct comma placement, and finally constructing complex sentences by combining clauses in different ways
• Clear worked examples and guided practice tasks supporting gradual independence
• A focus on identifying clauses, selecting appropriate subordinating conjunctions, understanding comma use after introductory dependent clauses and constructing purposeful complex sentences
• Answer sheets for every level to support efficient marking and targeted feedback

This complete teaching bundle supports students to move beyond recognising sentence structures, developing the confidence to analyse, construct and refine complex sentences that communicate ideas with greater cohesion, clarity and precision. Ideal for upper primary classrooms, it provides a structured, engaging and curriculum-aligned approach to strengthening grammar, sentence construction and writing across narrative, informative and persuasive texts.

Formats: PowerPoint and PDF

Aligned to Australian Curriculum: Understand that the structure of a complex sentence includes a main clause and at least one dependent clause, and understand how writers can use this structure for effect (AC9E5LA05)

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