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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes

Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis

Punctuation

CCSS L.5.2CCSS L.7.2.AEngland: Y5 GPS (parenthesis)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis.

  • 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 after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses

Leads to: Hyphens to avoid ambiguity; Colons; Dashes and ellipses for effect

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 after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Slowly and silently, the cat crept forward. • Slowly and silently the cat, crept forward. • Slowly and silently the cat crept, forward. • Slowly, and silently the cat crept forward. (Slowly and silently, the cat crept forward. / Slowly and silently the cat, crept forward. / Slowly and silently the cat crept, forward. / Slowly, and silently the cat crept forward.) → Slowly and silently, the cat crept forward.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.
  2. A: Ready, Mum? Let's go! B: Ready Mum? Let's go! Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (A / B) → APrompt: Read both sentences aloud, pausing at each comma.
  3. Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. • Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. • Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. • Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog. (Before breakfast Jo walks, the dog. / Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog. / Before breakfast Jo, walks the dog. / Before, breakfast Jo walks the dog.) → Before breakfast, Jo walks the dog.Prompt: Find where the opening phrase or clause ends and the main clause begins.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis. 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 parenthesis correctly? • The test thankfully – was easy –. • The – test thankfully – was easy. • The test – thankfully – was easy. • The test – thankfully was easy.
  • Step 1: Brackets, dashes or commas can enclose extra information. They come in pairs, around only the extra words.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: The test – thankfully – was easy.
  • Answer: The test – thankfully – was easy.
  • 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. Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • Our cat, a grumpy old tabby, sleeps all day. • Our cat, a grumpy old tabby sleeps all day. • Our cat a grumpy, old tabby sleeps all day. • Our, cat a grumpy old tabby, sleeps all day. (Our cat, a grumpy old tabby, sleeps all day. / Our cat, a grumpy old tabby sleeps all day. / Our cat a grumpy, old tabby sleeps all day. / Our, cat a grumpy old tabby, sleeps all day.) → Our cat, a grumpy old tabby, sleeps all day.Prompt: Parenthesis is extra information. If you remove it, the sentence should still make sense.
  2. Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • My uncle (who lives in Wales keeps bees). • My uncle who (lives in Wales) keeps bees. • My (uncle who lives in Wales) keeps bees. • My uncle (who lives in Wales) keeps bees. (My uncle (who lives in Wales keeps bees). / My uncle who (lives in Wales) keeps bees. / My (uncle who lives in Wales) keeps bees. / My uncle (who lives in Wales) keeps bees.) → My uncle (who lives in Wales) keeps bees.Prompt: Parenthesis is extra information. If you remove it, the sentence should still make sense.

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 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.
  2. Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • My uncle who (lives in Wales) keeps bees. • My (uncle who lives in Wales) keeps bees. • My uncle (who lives in Wales keeps bees). • My uncle (who lives in Wales) keeps bees. (My uncle who (lives in Wales) keeps bees. / My (uncle who lives in Wales) keeps bees. / My uncle (who lives in Wales keeps bees). / My uncle (who lives in Wales) keeps bees.) → My uncle (who lives in Wales) keeps bees.Prompt: Parenthesis is extra information. If you remove it, the sentence should still make sense.

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 after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses.
  • 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 to avoid ambiguity; Colons; Dashes and ellipses for effect.
  • 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

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Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    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.

    • A. The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 is now quiet.
    • B. The – volcano which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.
    • C. The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.
    • D. The volcano which – last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.

  2. Question 2

    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.

    • A. The test – thankfully – was easy.
    • B. The – test thankfully – was easy.
    • C. The test thankfully – was easy –.
    • D. The test – thankfully was easy.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • The Nile (over 6,600 km long) flows north. • The (Nile over 6,600 km long) flows north. • The Nile over (6,600 km long) flows north. • The Nile (over 6,600 km long flows north).

    • A. The Nile (over 6,600 km long) flows north.
    • B. The (Nile over 6,600 km long) flows north.
    • C. The Nile over (6,600 km long) flows north.
    • D. The Nile (over 6,600 km long flows north).

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly? • Mr Diaz, our head teacher, plays the drums. • Mr, Diaz our head teacher plays the drums. • Mr Diaz our head teacher, plays the drums. • Mr Diaz, our head teacher plays the drums.

    • A. Mr Diaz, our head teacher, plays the drums.
    • B. Mr, Diaz our head teacher plays the drums.
    • C. Mr Diaz our head teacher, plays the drums.
    • D. Mr Diaz, our head teacher plays the drums.

  5. Question 5

    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.

    • A. The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.
    • B. The volcano which – last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.
    • C. The – volcano which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.
    • D. The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 is now quiet.

  6. Question 6

    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.

    • A. The test thankfully – was easy –.
    • B. The test – thankfully was easy.
    • C. The – test thankfully – was easy.
    • D. The test – thankfully – was easy.

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Answer key: Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis

  1. 1. C. The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.

  2. 2. A. The test – thankfully – was easy.

  3. 3. A. The Nile (over 6,600 km long) flows north.

  4. 4. A. Mr Diaz, our head teacher, plays the drums.

  5. 5. A. The volcano – which last erupted in 1902 – is now quiet.

  6. 6. D. The test – thankfully – was easy.