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English lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 30 minutes

When is a colon correct?

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2.BCCSS L.8.2England: KS3 English (punctuation)England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: When is a colon correct?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Colons; Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Leads to: Colons and dashes before an explanation or list (SAT)

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Colons; Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • You will need: three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. • You: will need three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. • You will need three: things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. • You will need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. (You will need: three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. / You: will need three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. / You will need three: things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. / You will need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener.) → You will need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
  2. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The film was long [?] but it was gripping. (; / , / no punctuation) → ,Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  3. In which sentence does [?] need this: no punctuation? (Our team practised every day [?] as a result, we reached the final. / The phone that I bought [?] stopped working. / The tickets sold out in minutes [?] demand was huge.) → The phone that I bought [?] stopped working.Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: When is a colon correct?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? • The results were clear: the new design was faster. • The results were: clear the new design was faster. • The results: were clear, the new design was faster. • The results were clear; : the new design was faster.
  • Step 1: A colon follows a complete independent clause and introduces a list, an explanation or an example.
  • Step 2: The second part explains the first.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: The results were clear: the new design was faster.
  • Answer: The results were clear: the new design was faster.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this sentence correct? My favourite subjects are art, music and science. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Cover everything after the colon. Is what's left a complete sentence?
  2. Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? • The pack includes the following items: a tent, two mats and a stove. • The pack includes the following: items a tent, two mats and a stove. • The pack includes: a tent, two mats and a stove. • The pack: includes a tent, two mats and a stove. (The pack includes the following items: a tent, two mats and a stove. / The pack includes the following: items a tent, two mats and a stove. / The pack includes: a tent, two mats and a stove. / The pack: includes a tent, two mats and a stove.) → The pack includes the following items: a tent, two mats and a stove.Prompt: Cover everything after the colon. Is what's left a complete sentence?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? • The sign gave a clear: warning do not feed the animals. • The sign gave a clear warning: do not feed the animals. • The sign: gave a clear warning do not feed the animals. • The sign gave: a clear warning do not feed the animals. (The sign gave a clear: warning do not feed the animals. / The sign gave a clear warning: do not feed the animals. / The sign: gave a clear warning do not feed the animals. / The sign gave: a clear warning do not feed the animals.) → The sign gave a clear warning: do not feed the animals.Prompt: Cover everything after the colon. Is what's left a complete sentence?
  2. Is this sentence correct? The sign: gave a clear warning do not feed the animals. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Cover everything after the colon. Is what's left a complete sentence?

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Colons.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Colons and dashes before an explanation or list (SAT).
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-8.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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When is a colon correct?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? • She had: one goal to finish the marathon. • She had one: goal to finish the marathon. • She: had one goal to finish the marathon. • She had one goal: to finish the marathon.

    • A. She had: one goal to finish the marathon.
    • B. She had one: goal to finish the marathon.
    • C. She: had one goal to finish the marathon.
    • D. She had one goal: to finish the marathon.

  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence correct? There was only one explanation, someone had taken the key:

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? • She had one goal: to finish the marathon. • She had: one goal to finish the marathon. • She: had one goal to finish the marathon. • She had one: goal to finish the marathon.

    • A. She had one goal: to finish the marathon.
    • B. She had: one goal to finish the marathon.
    • C. She: had one goal to finish the marathon.
    • D. She had one: goal to finish the marathon.

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct? The pack includes the following: items a tent, two mats and a stove.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence correct? The results were clear: the new design was faster.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? • We visited: Spain, France and Italy. • We visited Spain: France and Italy. • We: visited Spain, France and Italy. • We visited Spain, France and Italy.

    • A. We visited: Spain, France and Italy.
    • B. We visited Spain: France and Italy.
    • C. We: visited Spain, France and Italy.
    • D. We visited Spain, France and Italy.

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Answer key: When is a colon correct?

  1. 1. D. She had one goal: to finish the marathon.

  2. 2. B. no, it is not correct

  3. 3. A. She had one goal: to finish the marathon.

  4. 4. B. no, it is not correct

  5. 5. A. yes, it is correct

  6. 6. D. We visited Spain, France and Italy.