English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Colons before lists
Punctuation
CCSS L.5.2England: Y5/6 GPS (colon to introduce a list)England: KS2 SATs GPS
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Colons before lists.
- 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: Commas in lists
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 (Commas in lists). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence uses commas correctly? • We bought, apples, pears and plums. • We bought apples pears and plums. • We bought apples, pears, and, plums. • We bought apples, pears and plums. (We bought, apples, pears and plums. / We bought apples pears and plums. / We bought apples, pears, and, plums. / We bought apples, pears and plums.) → We bought apples, pears and plums.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.
- How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need the bus the train and the ferry. (0 / 1 / 2 / 3) → 1Prompt: Count the items in the list.
- Which sentence uses commas correctly? • We bought apples, pears and plums. • We bought apples pears and plums. • We bought, apples, pears and plums. • We bought apples, pears, and, plums. (We bought apples, pears and plums. / We bought apples pears and plums. / We bought, apples, pears and plums. / We bought apples, pears, and, plums.) → We bought apples, pears and plums.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.
Hook · 3 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Colons before lists. 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 the colon correctly?
- Step 1: Use a colon after a complete clause to introduce a list. Separate the list items with commas.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Our flag has three stripes: red, white and blue.
- Answer: Our flag has three stripes: red, white and blue.
- 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 sentence uses the colon correctly? (Remember: these rules be kind, be safe and be ready. / Remember these rules: be kind, be safe and be ready. / Remember these: rules be kind, be safe and be ready. / Remember these rules, be kind: be safe and be ready.) → Remember these rules: be kind, be safe and be ready.Prompt: The words before a colon should make a complete sentence on their own.
- After which word should the colon go? The bag held everything for the beach towels, sun cream and a bucket. (towels / everything / beach / bag) → beachPrompt: Find where the list starts.
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.
- After which word should the colon go? The recipe needs three ingredients flour, eggs and milk. (ingredients / flour / recipe / needs) → ingredientsPrompt: Find where the list starts.
- Which sentence uses the colon correctly? (Remember: these rules be kind, be safe and be ready. / Remember these: rules be kind, be safe and be ready. / Remember these rules, be kind: be safe and be ready. / Remember these rules: be kind, be safe and be ready.) → Remember these rules: be kind, be safe and be ready.Prompt: The words before a colon should make a complete sentence on their own.
Watch out for
- Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
- Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Commas in lists.
- 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-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder