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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? • We: visited three cities Lima, Quito and Bogotá. • We visited: three cities Lima, Quito and Bogotá. • We visited three cities Lima: Quito and Bogotá. • We visited three cities: Lima, Quito and Bogotá. (We: visited three cities Lima, Quito and Bogotá. / We visited: three cities Lima, Quito and Bogotá. / We visited three cities Lima: Quito and Bogotá. / We visited three cities: Lima, Quito and Bogotá.) → We visited three cities: Lima, Quito and Bogotá.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
  2. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] She trained hard [?] and won the race. (; / , / no punctuation) → no punctuationPrompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  3. In which sentence does [?] need this: ,? (The tickets sold out in minutes [?] demand was huge. / The museum was closed [?] we went to the park instead. / She trained hard [?] and she won the race.) → She trained hard [?] and she won the race.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? The results were clear: the new design was faster. (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 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?

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? You will need three things a torch: a map and a whistle. (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

    Is this sentence correct? We visited Spain: France and Italy.

    • 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? We visited: Spain, France and Italy.

    • 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

    Is this sentence correct? The sign gave a clear warning: do not feed the animals.

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

  6. Question 6

    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.

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Answer key: When is a colon correct?

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

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

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

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

  5. 5. A. yes, it is correct

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