English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Commas in dates, addresses and letters

Punctuation

CCSS L.2.2.ACCSS L.2.2.BEngland: Y2 GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Commas in dates, addresses and letters.

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: Capital letters and full stops (periods)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Capital letters and full stops (periods)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Which sentence is written correctly? • It is cold and windy. • it is cold and windy. • It is cold and windy • it is cold and windy (It is cold and windy. / it is cold and windy. / It is cold and windy / it is cold and windy) → It is cold and windy.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? in may, kofi and i went to spain. (3 / 4 / 5 / 6) → 5Prompt: Count the first word.
Which sentence is written correctly? • The frog sat on a log. • the frog sat on a log • The frog sat on a log • the frog sat on a log. (The frog sat on a log. / the frog sat on a log / The frog sat on a log / the frog sat on a log.) → The frog sat on a log.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.

Hook · 3 min

Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
Share the objective: Commas in dates, addresses and letters. 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 one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Austin, Texas • Austin Texas, • Austin, Texas, is • Aus,tin Texas
Step 1: US style: Month day, year; City, State; Dear Name, …; Love, Name.
Step 2: So the answer is: Austin, Texas
Answer: Austin, Texas
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.

Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • July, 4 1776 • July, 4, 1776, • July 4, 1776 • July 4 1776, (July, 4 1776 / July, 4, 1776, / July 4, 1776 / July 4 1776,) → July 4, 1776Prompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.
Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Your friend, Tom, • Your, friend Tom • Your friend, Tom • Your friend Tom, (Your friend, Tom, / Your, friend Tom / Your friend, Tom / Your friend Tom,) → Your friend, TomPrompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.

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.

Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Your friend, Tom • Your friend Tom, • Your friend, Tom, • Your, friend Tom (Your friend, Tom / Your friend Tom, / Your friend, Tom, / Your, friend Tom) → Your friend, TomPrompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.
Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Paris France, • Paris,France, • Paris, France • Par,is France (Paris France, / Paris,France, / Paris, France / Par,is France) → Paris, FrancePrompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Capital letters and full stops (periods).
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

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-2.

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