English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
Commas in dates, addresses and letters
Punctuation
CCSS L.2.2.ACCSS L.2.2.BEngland: Y2 GPS
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Commas in dates, addresses and letters.
- 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: Capital letters and full stops (periods)
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Capital letters and full stops (periods)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence is written correctly? • our class went to the farm. • Our class went to the farm • Our class went to the farm. • our class went to the farm (our class went to the farm. / Our class went to the farm / Our class went to the farm. / our class went to the farm) → Our class went to the farm.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
- This sentence has no capital letters. How many capital letters does it need? on saturday we visited grandma in leeds. (2 / 3 / 4 / 5) → 4Prompt: Count the first word.
- Which sentence is written correctly? • the moon is bright tonight. • the moon is bright tonight • The moon is bright tonight. • The moon is bright tonight (the moon is bright tonight. / the moon is bright tonight / The moon is bright tonight. / The moon is bright tonight) → The moon is bright tonight.Prompt: Look at the very first letter.
Hook · 5 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Commas in dates, addresses and letters. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Austin, Texas • Austin Texas, • Austin, Texas, is • Aus,tin Texas
- Step 1: US style: Month day, year; City, State; Dear Name, …; Love, Name.
- Step 2: So the answer is: Austin, Texas
- Answer: Austin, Texas
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 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 one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Austin, Texas, is • Austin Texas, • Aus,tin Texas • Austin, Texas (Austin, Texas, is / Austin Texas, / Aus,tin Texas / Austin, Texas) → Austin, TexasPrompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.
- Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • January 1, 2030 • January, 1 2030 • January 1 2030, • January, 1, 2030 (January 1, 2030 / January, 1 2030 / January 1 2030, / January, 1, 2030) → January 1, 2030Prompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Paris France, • Par,is France • Paris,France, • Paris, France (Paris France, / Par,is France / Paris,France, / Paris, France) → Paris, FrancePrompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.
- Which one uses commas correctly (US style)? • Your friend Tom, • Your friend, Tom, • Your friend, Tom • Your, friend Tom (Your friend Tom, / Your friend, Tom, / Your friend, Tom / Your, friend Tom) → Your friend, TomPrompt: A comma goes between the day and the year, and between a city and its state or country.
Watch out for
- Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
- Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Capital letters and full stops (periods).
- 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-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder