Lesson 9: Using "Is" to Ask Questions - Teacher Answer Key & Explanatory Guide

Core Pedagogical Objectives

Autonomous Question Formulation: Transition from copying/transforming questions to self-generating authentic interrogative inquiries with Is.
Determiner Inclusion: Ensure singular countable nouns are accompanied by appropriate articles (a, an, the) following Is.
Terminal Question Mark Mechanics: Cement the question mark (?) as the non-negotiable ending for all asking sentences.

Instructional Focus & Strategies

Interactive Classroom Inquiries: Have students ask these questions to classmates in real time (e.g., pointing to a book: "Is the book open?").
Predicate Brainstorming: Elicit diverse predicates: descriptive adjectives (sharp, clean, ripe) or locations (on the desk, in the room).
Spelling & Intonation Check: Reiterate the rising intonation pattern and the initial capital letter 'I'.

#	Exemplary Model Question (Accept Creative Answers)	Syntactic Structure	Teacher Evaluation Notes
1	Is the slate clean? (Alt: Is a slate on your desk?)	Is + the/a slate + adjective/prep	Must open with Capital Is and terminate with (?).
2	Is the desk made of wood? (Alt: Is this desk clean?)	Is + the desk + predicate	Check agreement; article required before desk.
3	Is the apple sweet and red? (Alt: Is an apple in the basket?)	Is + the/an apple + predicate	If using indefinite article, check for an (not a apple).
4	Is your pencil sharp? (Alt: Is the pencil in the box?)	Is + the/a/your pencil + predicate	Encourage varied determiners (the, a, your); verify (?).
5	Is the ruler twelve inches long? (Alt: Is a ruler on the table?)	Is + the ruler + predicate	Ensure student wrote a question, not a statement.
6	Is that picture beautiful? (Alt: Is the picture on the wall?)	Is + the/a picture + predicate	Verify singular noun picture; end with question mark.
7	Is the book interesting to read? (Alt: Is the book new?)	Is + the book + predicate	Award credit for meaningful content; check capitalization.
8	Is the classroom door open? (Alt: Is the door shut?)	Is + the door + predicate	Confirm final punctuation mark is (?) and not (.).

Question Formulas with "Is" (Singular Copular Inversion)

Formula 1: Describing a Quality
• Is + [Determiner + Noun] + [Adjective] + ?
"Is the pencil sharp?" • "Is the apple sweet?"

Formula 2: Inquiring About Location
• Is + [Determiner + Noun] + [Prepositional Phrase] + ?
"Is the slate on the desk?" • "Is a ruler on the table?"

Common Student Errors & Teacher Remediation

Bare Noun Omission: Writing *Is apple sweet?* or *Is ruler long?*. Instruct: "Singular nouns must have a helper word like the, a, or an."
Terminal Period Habit: Habitually ending questions with a period (.). Have child circle the '?' at the end of each question in green ink.
Incomplete Question: Writing just *Is a desk?*. Remind child: "Ask what about the desk: Is it big? Is it new? Is it in the room?"

Scoring Rubric (10 Points Total)

Interrogative Syntax (Begins with "Is") 3 pts

Determiner + Singular Noun Accuracy 3 pts

Terminal Question Mark (?) Accuracy 2 pts

Meaningful Predicate & Neat Handwriting 2 pts