Lesson breakdown 

Step 1. Talk about sentence types

Explain simply:

• A statement gives information.

• A command tells someone what to do.

Say both aloud and ask your child which one is a command.

Example:

• The giant feels scared. (statement)

• Stay still! (command)

Look at the picture and ask:

• What is happening?

• What might the small creature tell the giant to do?

• What might the giant say about what is happening?

Step 2: Teach commands clearly 

Explain:

• Commands often start with a bossy verb (stay, stop, look, hold).

• Commands usually end with a full stop or exclamation mark.

Modelled command examples:

1. “Stay still and don’t move.”

2. “Lift your foot slowly.”

3. “Look at the magic fizz.”

Explain that commands do not always need a person’s name at the start.

Step 3: Teach statements clearly 

Explain:

• Statements tell us what is happening.

• They usually end with a full stop.

Modelled statement examples:

1. The giant dipped his foot into the bowl.

2. The tiny creature hovered near the giant’s toes.

3. The bowl was filled with bubbling liquid.

Read each one aloud together and check:

• capital letter at the start

• full stop at the end

4. Writing time 

Ask your child to write:

• 2–3 commands

• 2–3 statements

They should be linked to the picture and the characters.

Support by:

• helping choose a bossy verb for commands

• reminding them commands and statements both need capital letters

Optional challenge (if your child is confident)

Ask them to:

• circle the bossy verb in each command

• explain how they know a sentence is a command or a statement