Primary students usually learn about simple subjects and simple predicates. These are only one word each; the subject tells who did the action and the predicate tells what action was done. As students become more fluent readers of more complex material, they need to learn about complete subjects and complete predicates. The complete subject is all of the words in the subject of a sentence; the complete predicate is all of the words in the predicate. The wild autumn leaves (complete subject) were blowing in the wind. (complete predicate) Please see below for a selection of Leveled Lessons for Below Level (basic), and/or On Level (median), and/or Above Level (competent) readers.

Most of the time we write our sentences with the subject first and the predicate second. Thus, "The boy ran," is a complete sentence with "boy" as the simple subject and "ran" as the simple predicate. Make sure your students understand that basic concept before you introduce more complex tasks. Begin with some easy sentences and then expand them to show the difference between simple and complete subjects and predicates. The boy ran. The tiny boy (complete subject) ran screaming across the room. (complete predicate) The children read. The entire fourth grade of Lake Silver Elementary School (complete subject) read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. (complete predicate.)