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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

Semicolons

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2.ACCSS L.7.2England: Y6 GPS (semicolons)England: KS2 SATs GPSEngland: GCSE English Language (SPaG)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Semicolons.

  • 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

Leads to: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT); Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

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 (Colons). 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. Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • Jo had one goal: to win the race. • Jo: had one goal to win the race. • Jo had one goal to: win the race. • Jo had: one goal to win the race. (Jo had one goal: to win the race. / Jo: had one goal to win the race. / Jo had one goal to: win the race. / Jo had: one goal to win the race.) → Jo had one goal: to win the race.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
  3. 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).

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Semicolons. 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 sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. • Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art.
  • Step 1: A semicolon joins two closely related main clauses (without a conjunction), or separates complex list items.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.
  • Answer: Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.
  • 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.
  1. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • The shop was closed; because we went home. • The shop was; closed we went home. • The shop was closed; we went home. • The shop; was closed we went home. (The shop was closed; because we went home. / The shop was; closed we went home. / The shop was closed; we went home. / The shop; was closed we went home.) → The shop was closed; we went home.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
  2. Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The road was blocked, we took a detour. • The road was blocked; we took a detour. • The road was blocked we took a detour. • The road was blocked; and we took a detour. (The road was blocked, we took a detour. / The road was blocked; we took a detour. / The road was blocked we took a detour. / The road was blocked; and we took a detour.) → The road was blocked; we took a detour.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

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.
  1. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Some birds migrate; while others stay all winter. • Some birds; migrate others stay all winter. • Some; birds migrate others stay all winter. • Some birds migrate; others stay all winter. (Some birds migrate; while others stay all winter. / Some birds; migrate others stay all winter. / Some; birds migrate others stay all winter. / Some birds migrate; others stay all winter.) → Some birds migrate; others stay all winter.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
  2. Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November. (Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.) → Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

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: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT); Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?.
  • 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-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Semicolons

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled. • It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.

    • A. It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled.
    • B. It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled.
    • C. It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled.
    • D. It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.

  2. Question 2

    Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The lights went out; and nobody moved. • The lights went out, nobody moved. • The lights went out; nobody moved. • The lights went out nobody moved.

    • A. The lights went out; and nobody moved.
    • B. The lights went out, nobody moved.
    • C. The lights went out; nobody moved.
    • D. The lights went out nobody moved.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. • Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art.

    • A. Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.
    • B. Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art.
    • C. Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art.
    • D. Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art.

  4. Question 4

    Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The kettle boiled; Mum made tea. • The kettle boiled; and Mum made tea. • The kettle boiled, Mum made tea. • The kettle boiled Mum made tea.

    • A. The kettle boiled; Mum made tea.
    • B. The kettle boiled; and Mum made tea.
    • C. The kettle boiled, Mum made tea.
    • D. The kettle boiled Mum made tea.

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Some birds migrate; others stay all winter. • Some birds; migrate others stay all winter. • Some birds migrate; while others stay all winter. • Some; birds migrate others stay all winter.

    • A. Some birds migrate; others stay all winter.
    • B. Some birds; migrate others stay all winter.
    • C. Some birds migrate; while others stay all winter.
    • D. Some; birds migrate others stay all winter.

  6. Question 6

    Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Lions hunt in groups tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups: and tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups; and tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone.

    • A. Lions hunt in groups tigers usually hunt alone.
    • B. Lions hunt in groups: and tigers usually hunt alone.
    • C. Lions hunt in groups; and tigers usually hunt alone.
    • D. Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone.

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Some birds migrate; others stay all winter. • Some; birds migrate others stay all winter. • Some birds migrate; while others stay all winter. • Some birds; migrate others stay all winter.

    • A. Some birds migrate; others stay all winter.
    • B. Some; birds migrate others stay all winter.
    • C. Some birds migrate; while others stay all winter.
    • D. Some birds; migrate others stay all winter.

  8. Question 8

    Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The road was blocked we took a detour. • The road was blocked; we took a detour. • The road was blocked, we took a detour. • The road was blocked; and we took a detour.

    • A. The road was blocked we took a detour.
    • B. The road was blocked; we took a detour.
    • C. The road was blocked, we took a detour.
    • D. The road was blocked; and we took a detour.

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Answer key: Semicolons

  1. 1. D. It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.

  2. 2. C. The lights went out; nobody moved.

  3. 3. A. Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.

  4. 4. A. The kettle boiled; Mum made tea.

  5. 5. A. Some birds migrate; others stay all winter.

  6. 6. D. Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone.

  7. 7. A. Some birds migrate; others stay all winter.

  8. 8. B. The road was blocked; we took a detour.