• 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.

1. Which sentence uses commas correctly? • The flag is red, white and green. • The flag is red white and green. • The flag, is red white and green. • The flag is, red, white and green. (The flag is red, white and green. / The flag is red white and green. / The flag, is red white and green. / The flag is, red, white and green.) → The flag is red, white and green.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.
2. How many commas are needed in this list (UK style, no comma before "and")? We need eggs flour sugar and butter. (0 / 2 / 3 / 4) → 2Prompt: Count the items in the list.
3. Which sentence uses commas correctly? • Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions. • Grandpa grows, carrots, beans, peas and onions. • Grandpa grows carrots beans peas and onions. • Grandpa, grows carrots, beans, peas, and, onions. (Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions. / Grandpa grows, carrots, beans, peas and onions. / Grandpa grows carrots beans peas and onions. / Grandpa, grows carrots, beans, peas, and, onions.) → Grandpa grows carrots, beans, peas and onions.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 the colon correctly? (Three planets are closer to the Sun than Mars: Mercury, Venus and Earth. / Three planets are closer to the Sun than Mars, Mercury: Venus and Earth. / Three planets are: closer to the Sun than Mars Mercury, Venus and Earth. / Three: planets are closer to the Sun than Mars Mercury, Venus and Earth.) → Three planets are closer to the Sun than Mars: Mercury, Venus and Earth.Prompt: The words before a colon should make a complete sentence on their own.
2. After which word should the colon go? I play two instruments the piano and the drums. (play / two / piano / instruments) → instrumentsPrompt: Find where the list starts.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. After which word should the colon go? Bring these things on the trip a packed lunch, a coat and a water bottle. (Bring / things / trip / lunch) → tripPrompt: Find where the list starts.
2. Which sentence uses the colon correctly? (I packed three things, a torch: a map and a snack. / I: packed three things, a torch, a map and a snack. / I packed three things: a torch, a map and a snack. / I packed three: things a torch, a map and a snack.) → I packed three things: a torch, a map and a snack.Prompt: The words before a colon should make a complete sentence on their own.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.