Developing strong writing skills is crucial for upper elementary students. One effective way to improve their writing is by teaching the passive and active voice. Understanding these concepts helps students enhance their sentence structure and clarity.
Through engaging activities, this blog post will explore the distinctions between voices. Let’s get started!
You can find all the activities mentioned in this post in the provided handout, which can serve as a valuable student reference.
Passive vs. Active Voice: Understanding the Difference
Before we delve into the activities, let’s clearly understand different voices. In active voice, the subject acts; in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Let’s explore these two voices in more detail.
Activity 1: Teach the Rules
Active voice sentences showcase the subject as the doer or performer of the action. The structure follows this pattern:
Subject + Action Verb + Object or Receiver of the Action
For example:
- Mary wrote the letter.
In this sentence, Mary is the subject, and she performs the action of writing the letter.
Passive Voice:
On the other hand, passive-voice sentences emphasize the action being done to the subject. The structure follows this pattern:
Object or Receiver of the Action + Action Verb + Optional Subject
For example:
- The letter was written by Mary.
In this sentence, the letter is the subject and receives the action of being written by Mary.
Activities for Teaching Passive and Active Voice
Activity 1: Teach the Rules
Teaching students the rules associated with voice usage is essential to lay a solid foundation. I like to use an anchor chart as it provides a reference for students to use while studying and learning.
Active Voice:
- The subject of the sentence performs the action.
- Active voice makes sentences more direct, clear, and concise.
- It is often used in persuasive writing or when emphasizing the actor or the action.
Passive Voice:
- The subject of the sentence receives the action.
- Passive voice is used when the actor or agent is unknown, unimportant, or should not be emphasized.
- It is often used in scientific or technical writing or when emphasizing the action rather than the actor.
Activity 2 – Videos
To help students learn about active and passive voice, we recommend using instructional videos to reinforce the concepts. The following videos provide helpful explanations:
Video 1: (Duration: 6:05) explains the different voices and provides examples.
Video 2: (Duration: 3:24) provides a step-by-step guide for converting sentences from passive to active voice.
By watching these videos, students will better understand the concepts and be better prepared to practice using active and passive voice in their writing.
Activity 3 – Sorting Activity
To make the learning experience interactive, we have designed a sorting activity. This activity involves 16 sentences that students must sort into “Passive” or “Active” voice categories. Print the provided cards on card stock, laminate them for repeated use, and cut them apart. Students read the sentences on the cards and sort them into the appropriate piles. Using two containers for the sorted piles helps students remember which is which. You can use Solo cups or any containers you have on hand.
Activity 4 – Rewriting Activity
For further practice, Activity 4 provides a handout and cards. Students engage in rewriting passive voice sentences into active voice sentences. This activity reinforces their understanding of the concepts while allowing for creative expression.
Activity 5 – Printable Quiz Page
Check students’ understanding of this skill with a quiz covering identifying and transforming passive and active voice sentences. The printable quiz tests two skills. In the first exercise, students identify sentences as active or passive. In the second exercise, students rewrite passive voice sentences into active voice sentences.
Teaching different voices equips our upper elementary students with essential writing skills. The activities in this blog post and the accompanying handout offer an engaging and comprehensive approach to understanding and applying these concepts. Remember, both voices have their place in writing, and the appropriate choice depends on the context and purpose of the paper. Please encourage your students to explore and experiment with these voices, enhancing their writing. Happy teaching!
If you missed the link to the handout, here it is again.
