Year 6 · SPaG · Spring: Lists, colons and semi-colons
Year 6 choosing punctuation to mark boundaries worksheet and PowerPoint
To choose the correct punctuation to mark the boundary between parts of a sentence: comma, colon, semi-colon or full stop.
Which mark where?
When two parts of a sentence meet, the punctuation mark tells the reader how they are linked. Choose the mark that fits the job.
| comma | after a fronted adverbial or clause: When the bell rang, we lined up. |
|---|---|
| colon | before a list or an explanation: You need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a rubber. |
| semi-colon | between two related main clauses: It was cold; the wind was blowing. |
| full stop | ends a sentence completely |
Examples
- Although it was raining, the match went ahead.
- Some pupils walk to school; others come by bus.
Key words
- boundary
- the place where two parts of a sentence meet
- comma
- a light break
- semi-colon
- a stronger break between related clauses
- colon
- introduces what follows
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write a short paragraph about a rainy day in which you use a comma, a colon, a semi-colon and a full stop correctly. Explain why you chose each one.
Pupil target: I can choose the right mark for the job.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the choosing punctuation to mark boundaries PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 36 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Spring term, block “Lists, colons and semi-colons”. It is taught before the SATs grammar test in May.
Other lessons in this block
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