English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Hyphens to avoid ambiguity
Punctuation
CCSS L.5.2England: Y6 GPS (hyphens)England: KS2 SATs GPS
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Hyphens to avoid ambiguity.
- 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: Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis
Leads to: Hyphens in compound modifiers (a well-known author)
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 (Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 is now quiet. • The volcano which – last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. • The – volcano which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. • The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. (The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 is now quiet. / The volcano which – last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. / The – volcano which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. / The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.) → The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.Prompt: Parenthesis is extra information. If you remove it, the sentence should still make sense.
- Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • The volcano which – last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. • The – volcano which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. • The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. • The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 is now quiet. (The volcano which – last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. / The – volcano which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. / The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet. / The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 is now quiet.) → The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.Prompt: Parenthesis is extra information. If you remove it, the sentence should still make sense.
- Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • The test – thankfully – was easy. • The test thankfully – was easy –. • The test – thankfully was easy. • The – test thankfully – was easy. (The test – thankfully – was easy. / The test thankfully – was easy –. / The test – thankfully was easy. / The – test thankfully – was easy.) → The test – thankfully – was easy.Prompt: Parenthesis is extra information. If you remove it, the sentence should still make sense.
Hook · 3 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Hyphens to avoid ambiguity. 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: What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? The fast-moving river was dangerous.
- Step 1: Hyphens join words or a prefix to a word to make the meaning clear.
- Step 2: So the answer is: the river moved quickly
- Answer: the river moved quickly
- 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.
- What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector. (she collects books that are not used much / she is a small person who collects used books) → she collects books that are not used muchPrompt: The hyphen joins words into one describing word.
- What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? We saw a man-eating shark. (a man who is eating shark meat / a shark that eats people) → a shark that eats peoplePrompt: The hyphen joins words into one describing word.
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 5 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.
- What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? We saw a man-eating shark. (a shark that eats people / a man who is eating shark meat) → a shark that eats peoplePrompt: The hyphen joins words into one describing word.
- What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector. (she is a small person who collects used books / she collects books that are not used much) → she collects books that are not used muchPrompt: The hyphen joins words into one describing word.
Watch out for
- Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
- Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis.
- 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: Hyphens in compound modifiers (a well-known author).
- 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