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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 [?] Our team practised every day [?] as a result, we reached the final. (; / , / no punctuation) → ;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  3. In which sentence does [?] need this: ;? (She trained hard [?] and won the race. / When the bell rang [?] everyone left. / The forecast said sunshine [?] however, it rained all day.) → The forecast said sunshine [?] however, it rained all day.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? You will need three things: a torch, a map and a whistle. (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? • There was only: one explanation someone had taken the key. • There was only one explanation: someone had taken the key. • There was only one explanation, someone had taken the key: • There: was only one explanation. (There was only: one explanation someone had taken the key. / There was only one explanation: someone had taken the key. / There was only one explanation, someone had taken the key: / There: was only one explanation.) → There was only one explanation: someone had taken the key.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. Is this sentence correct? The sign gave a clear warning: do not feed the animals. (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? • My favourite: subjects are art, music and science. • My favourite subjects are: art, music and science. • My favourite subjects: are art, music and science. • My favourite subjects are art, music and science. (My favourite: subjects are art, music and science. / My favourite subjects are: art, music and science. / My favourite subjects: are art, music and science. / My favourite subjects are art, music and science.) → My favourite subjects are art, music and science.Prompt: 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

eurekami

When is a colon correct?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct? You will need three things a torch: a map and a whistle.

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

  2. Question 2

    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.

  3. Question 3

    Is this sentence correct? She had one goal: to finish the marathon.

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

  4. Question 4

    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.

  5. Question 5

    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.

  6. Question 6

    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

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Answer key: When is a colon correct?

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

  2. 2. B. We visited Spain, France and Italy.

  3. 3. A. yes, it is correct

  4. 4. B. She had one goal: to finish the marathon.

  5. 5. A. We visited Spain, France and Italy.

  6. 6. A. yes, it is correct