English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 60 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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Colons). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • The recipe: is simple mix, bake and enjoy. • The recipe is simple: mix, bake and enjoy. • The recipe is: simple mix, bake and enjoy. • The: recipe is simple mix, bake and enjoy. (The recipe: is simple mix, bake and enjoy. / The recipe is simple: mix, bake and enjoy. / The recipe is: simple mix, bake and enjoy. / The: recipe is simple mix, bake and enjoy.) → The recipe is simple: mix, bake and enjoy.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
- Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • There was only one: problem we had no map. • There was only one problem we: had no map. • There was only one problem: we had no map. • There: was only one problem we had no map. (There was only one: problem we had no map. / There was only one problem we: had no map. / There was only one problem: we had no map. / There: was only one problem we had no map.) → There was only one problem: we had no map.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
- Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • There was only one problem: we had no map. • There: was only one problem we had no map. • There was only one problem we: had no map. • There was only one: problem we had no map. (There was only one problem: we had no map. / There: was only one problem we had no map. / There was only one problem we: had no map. / There was only one: problem we had no map.) → There was only one problem: we had no map.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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 sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art. • 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. / Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. / Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art.) → Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
- Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The lights went out, nobody moved. • The lights went out; nobody moved. • 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. / The lights went out: and nobody moved. / The lights went out nobody moved.) → The lights went out; nobody moved.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 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; and Mum made tea. (The kettle boiled; Mum made tea. / The kettle boiled: and Mum made tea. / The kettle boiled, Mum made tea. / The kettle boiled; and Mum made tea.) → The kettle boiled; Mum made tea.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).
- Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled. • It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled. • 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. / 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.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
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