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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes

Colons before lists

Punctuation

CCSS L.5.2England: Y5/6 GPS (colon to introduce a list)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Colons before lists.

  • 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: Commas in lists

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 · 6 min

  • 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 the bus the train and the ferry. (0 / 1 / 2 / 3) → 1Prompt: Count the items in the list.
  3. Which sentence uses commas correctly? • We saw lions, tigers, and, bears. • We saw lions, tigers and bears. • We saw lions tigers and bears. • We saw, lions, tigers and bears. (We saw lions, tigers, and, bears. / We saw lions, tigers and bears. / We saw lions tigers and bears. / We saw, lions, tigers and bears.) → We saw lions, tigers and bears.Prompt: Commas separate the items in a list.

Hook · 6 min

  • 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.

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 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.

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.
  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. (instruments / piano / play / two) → instrumentsPrompt: Find where the list starts.

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.
  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? The bag held everything for the beach towels, sun cream and a bucket. (towels / beach / everything / bag) → beachPrompt: Find where the list starts.

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Commas in lists.
  • 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-5.

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

eurekami

Colons before lists

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    After which word should the colon go? Bring these things on the trip a packed lunch, a coat and a water bottle.

    • A. lunch
    • B. things
    • C. trip
    • D. Bring

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

    • A. I packed three things: a torch, a map and a snack.
    • B. I: packed three things, a torch, a map and a snack.
    • C. I packed three: things a torch, a map and a snack.
    • D. I packed three things, a torch: a map and a snack.

  3. Question 3

    After which word should the colon go? Our robot can do three tricks spin, beep and wave.

    • A. robot
    • B. do
    • C. tricks
    • D. spin

  4. Question 4

    After which word should the colon go? There are four seasons spring, summer, autumn and winter.

    • A. four
    • B. spring
    • C. are
    • D. seasons

  5. Question 5

    After which word should the colon go? The bag held everything for the beach towels, sun cream and a bucket.

    • A. towels
    • B. everything
    • C. bag
    • D. beach

  6. Question 6

    After which word should the colon go? We saw three animals at the pond ducks, frogs and a heron.

    • A. animals
    • B. ducks
    • C. pond
    • D. saw

  7. Question 7

    After which word should the colon go? The recipe needs three ingredients flour, eggs and milk.

    • A. recipe
    • B. ingredients
    • C. flour
    • D. needs

  8. Question 8

    After which word should the colon go? I play two instruments the piano and the drums.

    • A. instruments
    • B. two
    • C. piano
    • D. play

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Answer key: Colons before lists

  1. 1. C. trip

  2. 2. A. I packed three things: a torch, a map and a snack.

  3. 3. C. tricks

  4. 4. D. seasons

  5. 5. D. beach

  6. 6. C. pond

  7. 7. B. ingredients

  8. 8. A. instruments