Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 45 minutes

Semicolons in lists that contain commas

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2.AEngland: GCSE English Language (AO6 punctuation)England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Semicolons in lists that contain commas.

  • 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: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Leads to: Punctuating complex sentences accurately

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 (Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The phone that I bought [?] stopped working. (; / , / no punctuation) → no punctuationPrompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this: ;? (Some birds migrate thousands of miles [?] others stay put all year. / When the bell rang [?] everyone left. / She trained hard [?] and she won the race.) → Some birds migrate thousands of miles [?] others stay put all year.Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  3. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] Some birds migrate thousands of miles [?] others stay put all year. (; / , / no punctuation) → ;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Semicolons in lists that contain commas. 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 is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.
  • Step 1: When list items contain commas, separate the items with semicolons; simple lists use commas.
  • Step 2: Items already contain commas, so semicolons separate the items.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Answer: The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
  • 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. Is this sentence correct? The dates are Monday, 3 March; Tuesday, 11 March; and Friday, 21 March. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. (The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland.) → The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.Prompt: Do the list items already contain commas?

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. Is this sentence correct? Prizes went to Ana, who sang; Leo, who juggled; and Mia, who danced. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • We need; eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. • We need eggs; flour; and sugar for the cake. • We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. • We need eggs, flour; and sugar for the cake. (We need; eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. / We need eggs; flour; and sugar for the cake. / We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. / We need eggs, flour; and sugar for the cake.) → We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake.Prompt: Do the list items already contain commas?

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?.
  • 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: Punctuating complex sentences accurately.
  • 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-10.

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

eurekami

Semicolons in lists that contain commas

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct? She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.

    • A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
    • B. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
    • C. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.
    • D. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.

  3. Question 3

    Is this sentence correct? The dates are Monday; 3 March, Tuesday; 11 March, and Friday; 21 March.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.

    • A. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
    • B. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
    • C. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.
    • D. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence correct? The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, and Mr Patel, a teacher.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.

    • A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
    • B. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.
    • C. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
    • D. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.

  7. Question 7

    Is this sentence correct? Prizes went to Ana, who sang; Leo, who juggled; and Mia, who danced.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  8. Question 8

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada. • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.

    • A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
    • B. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.
    • C. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.
    • D. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Semicolons in lists that contain commas

  1. 1. B. no, it is not correct

  2. 2. A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.

  3. 3. B. no, it is not correct

  4. 4. B. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.

  5. 5. B. no, it is not correct

  6. 6. A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.

  7. 7. A. yes, it is correct

  8. 8. A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.