The Power of Punctuation

The POWER of PUNCTUATION
Tara Dukanauskas
North Andrews Gardens Elementary
345 NE 56 Street
Oakland Park, FL 33334 754-322-7300
tara.dukanauskas@browardschools.com
For information concerning IMPACT II opportunities, such as interschool visits,
staff developments, workshops, and Adapter and Disseminator grants,
please contact:
The Broward Education Foundation
600 SE Third Avenue,1st Floor
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
754-321-2032
www.BrowardEdFoundation.net
IMPACT II is a program of The Broward Education Foundation

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Why Punctuation Is Important 2

About the Project Goals and Objectives 3

English Language Arts Standards 4-5

Punctuation Rap 6

The Importance of Punctuation 7

Punctuation Games 8

Noisy Punctuation Game 9

Apostrophes 10

Punctuate with Pasta! 11

Red Light Green Light 12

Punctuation Skill Box Activity Ideas 13-18

Conventions Rubrics 19

Punctuation Links/Websites 20-26

Resources/Books 27-32

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Why Punctuation IS Important

Punctuation changes the whole meaning of the sentence!
Punctuation. It has been used and abused. Just adding a comma, colon, semi-colon, or any
other punctuation mark can change the whole meaning of the sentence.

Here is an example:

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

The first one is saying that if a woman is not with her man, then she is nothing, or not worth anything. The
second one is the reverse. It is saying that without a woman, a man is nothing. It may also be talking about
mankind. Since woman is the base of society and is the nurturing mother; without women, man cannot exist.

Did you notice the major difference in the meanings? Just adding the colon and comma changed the whole
point that was getting across.

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ABOUT THE PROJECT/OVERVIEW

September 24th is NATIONAL PUNCTUATION DAY.
This is a great way to celebrate and teach punctuation skills and build reading fluency and writing skills
throughout the year.
Students Will:
Name different punctuation marks.
Identify ways each punctuation mark can be used.
Use punctuation clues to read texts aloud fluently and with expression.
Use different punctuation marks correctly in their writing.
Participate in fun, punctuation-related activities, including inventing a new punctuation mark!
Begin by reading "Punctuation Takes a Vacation" by Robin Pulver.
Have students solve Punctuation Mysteries by identifying which punctuation mark goes with which text.
Students can perform as a punctuation mark in a Punctuation Talent Show.
Students can play games such as Red Light Green Light based on punctuation marks and they can create
sounds and movements for the punctuation marks.
Create Punctuation collages and Pasta Punctuation Pages.
Create posters and books about the punctuation marks.
There are also websites, games and songs that students can explore.
Students can learn about the period and comma, exclamation point and question mark, quotation marks and
parentheses, colon and semicolon, and apostrophe, ellipsis, dash, and hyphen.
http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/
To wrap up, visit http://www.moirarosedonohue.net, the website of the author of Alfie the Apostrophe and
Penny and the Punctuation Bee, for some fun online punctuation-related games.
By making punctuation fun and relevant, you will encourage students to focus more carefully on using
punctuation marks correctly whenever they write and read text. National Punctuation Day can be the starting
point for a future of positive experiences with punctuation.
Read more at Suite101: National Punctuation Day Lesson Plan Activities: On September 24th Teach How to
Use and Read Punctuation Marks | Suite101.com
http://r-carver.suite101.com/national-punctuation-day-elementary-activities-a69462#ixzz1XgkjLNGj

This project began with utilizing Punctuation Day as a way to introduce the Importance of Punctuation in a fun
way and incorporate lessons and activities throughout the year to teach and reinforce skills.
Activities can be adapted for all grade levels K-6 including students with special needs.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS
! L.K.2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling when writing.
Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.
Recognize and name end punctuation.
Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).
Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
! L.1.2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
when writing.
Capitalize dates and names of people.
Use end punctuation for sentences.
Use commas in dates and to separate single words in a series.
Use conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for frequently occurring
irregular words.
Spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on phonemic awareness and spelling conventions.
when writing.
Capitalize holidays, product names, and geographic names.
Use commas in greetings and closings of letters.
Use an apostrophe to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives.
Generalize learned spelling patterns when writing words (e.g., cage ! badge; boy ! boil).
Consult reference materials, including beginning dictionaries, as needed to check and correct spellings.
when writing.
Capitalize appropriate words in titles.
Use commas in addresses.
Use commas and quotation marks in dialogue.
Form and use possessives.
Use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words and for adding suffixes to base
words (e.g., sitting, smiled, cries, happiness).
Use spelling patterns and generalizations (e.g., word families, position-based spellings, syllable
patterns, ending rules, meaningful word parts) in writing words.
Consult reference materials, including beginning dictionaries, as needed to check and correct spellings.
when writing.
Use correct capitalization.
Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

S

when writing.
Use punctuation to separate items in a series.*
Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of the sentence.
Use a comma to set off the words yes and no (e.g., Yes, thank you), to set off a tag question from the
rest of the sentence (e.g., Its true, isnt it?), and to indicate direct address (e.g., Is that you, Steve?).
Use underlining, quotation marks, or italics to indicate titles of works.
Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.
when writing.
Use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.*
Spell correctly
when writing.
Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives (e.g., It was a fascinating, enjoyable movie but not He
wore an old[,] green shirt).
Spell correctly.
when writing.
Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break.
Use an ellipsis to indicate an omission.
Spell correctly.
! L.9-10.2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling when writing.
Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent
clauses.
Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation.
Spell correctly

L.11-12.2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation,
and spelling when writing.
o Observe hyphenation conventions.
o Spell correctly.

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Punctuation Rap
PUNK, PUNK, PUNCTUATION

I am a QUESTION MARK, what do I do?
Im at the end of questions, like Where? What? or Who?


I am a PERIOD, that means full stop,
At the end of a sentence, just make a dot.


I am a COMMA, if you see me just pause,
So hang back, Jack, and think of what was.


QUOTATION MARKS hold the talking within,
So if somebody speaks, just look for the twins.


I am a COLON, I am two dots,
Im the introducer, I express your thoughts.


An EXCLAMATION POINT is so like wow,
If youre writin so excitin then put me in now!


The APOSTROPHE . . . it shows possession,
Team up with an s . . . thats my obsession.


2006 Jeff Rubin National Punctuation Day

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PUNCTUATION
"Punctuation isn't very important. The words are more important." Right? Wrong!
Sometimes punctuation marks can totally change the meaning of the words. Each of the sentences below can be made to
have another meaning by simply inserting or removing punctuation marks. Rewrite each sentence, punctuating it
differently. (You may have to capitalize letters, but don't change any of the words.) Can you think of more than one way
to change some of the sentences?
1. Don't do anything stupid.
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. The committee consists of Mary Jane, Sue Ann, and Louise.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3.The team said the coach is great.
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. Let's talk turkey.
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Well leave it alone.
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. The ladies have cast off clothing at the garage sale.
_______________________________________________________________________________
7. Bring four gallon jugs.
_______________________________________________________________________________
8. Go fetch Fido.
_______________________________________________________________________________
9. Listen to me that doesn't make sense.
_______________________________________________________________________________
10. Don't eat fast.
_______________________________________________________________________________
NOTE: If the above sentences haven't convinced you of the importance of punctuation, read the following true
story: In Russia a period once actually saved a man's life. The czar had condemned the man to death and sent this note to
the jailer, who had been instructed to wait for orders: " PARDON IMPOSSIBLE. TO BE EXECUTED." The czarina,
who felt sympathetic toward the prisoner, intercepted the note and changed the punctuation as follows: "PARDON.
IMPOSSIBLE TO BE EXECUTED." The jailer there upon released the prisoner, who escaped from the country before
the Czar discovered what had happened.

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PUNCTUATION GAMES

Punctuation Relay
o Punctuation relay is an active game that will keep students moving around the room. It also
helps students practice using punctuation. The class is divided into two or three teams. Each
team receives large chart paper or a poster with a number of sentences on it. Five to six
sentences is a good number. The teams also receive a bag full of punctuation marks. When the
teacher says to begin, the students have to select punctuation marks from the bag. Each mark
then needs to be placed throughout the sentences. The team that is able to place correctly all of
the punctuation marks first wins the game. The points can be awarded by sentence or by total
completion. Teachers might also want to use full paragraphs. In this case, the winning team will
have used all of the punctuation marks throughout the paragraph to be considered the winner. In
order to win, the punctuation marks cannot just be placed the fastest. They have to also be
placed in their correct positions. Once a winner has been determined, the class can play as many
rounds as desired with a new set of sentences or paragraphs.
Punctuation Trivia
o Different sentences require different types of punctuation. It's important for students to know
which are needed. A good way to practice this skill is to play a trivia game with students.
Students can play as individuals or be divided into two teams. Each player hears a sentence
without knowing what the punctuation needs to be. Players have one guess to decide what it
needs to be. For example, an interrogative sentence would always need a question mark. The
teams (or individuals) would compete until one team or person collects the most points.
Punctuation Word Sort
o Sorting games provide review in the classroom. Students receive envelopes full of sentence
parts and punctuation cards. The object of the game is to see if students are able to match the
punctuation with the sentence parts. The game can be judged on speed or the number of correct
matches. Students will find that they can interchange their sentences and make new ones that
require different punctuation. This gives them a chance to think critically and review at the
same time.
o Read more: Punctuation Learning Games | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/way_5299448_punctuation-learning-games.html#ixzz1XgzB

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Noisy Punctuation Game
Children will identify commas, periods, question marks and more during this fun read-aloud activity.
Activities
What you need:
short prose piece (preferably fiction) that has many punctuation marks (periods, exclamation points,
commas, question marks, etc.)
What to do:
1. Looking at the story you have chosen, discuss the different punctuation marks and decide on a sound
effect for each. You might whistle a scale for a comma, put a finger into your mouth and make a pop
sound for a period, and clap your hands for a question mark.
2. Next, devise an action to go with each punctuation mark. For example, you could give a deep bow for a
comma, throw both arms into the air for capital letters and turn around for an exclamation point.
Experiment with different movements to find ones you can agree on and perform successfully!
3. Now comes the "performance." One person reads the story while the other performs the punctuation on
cue.
4. Try switching roles of performer and reader with the same piece or with a different one.

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APOSTROPHES

What You Need:
Old magazines and/or newspapers
Scissors
Glue sticks
White piece of poster paper
What You Do:
1. Tell students that you both are going to go on an apostrophe hunt to see how they are used. Explain that
you will look for apostrophe examples in newspapers and magazines.
2. Write the title The Apostrophe either at the top or in the center of the poster paper. Ask students what
they already know about the uses of the apostrophe.
3. Begin cutting out examples that you find in advertisements and articles. Paste them in a collage format on
the poster paper.
4. Try to encourage students to find as many different examples of how apostrophes are used.
5. When youve filled up your collage, look back at the examples and encourage students to articulate what
they thinks the rules are. How do you use an apostrophe? If students are having a bit of difficulty, this is
the place to offer some guidance.
6. If you are having trouble remembering all the rules, here's a quick refresher. Apostrophes are used:
o to form possessives of nouns (i.e. Julie's book, the cat's meow)
o to show omission of letters (i.e. that's, 'cause, isn't)
o One of the most common confusions that arise when using apostrophes is "its" versus "it's." It's is
actually a contraction of "it is," while its is the possessive form (i.e. the school opened its doors").
7. If students have a writers notebook, have them write these rules somewhere in the book so they can refer
to them. Make sure that after each rule, students write a few examples. As another extension, you can
have students look back at their writers notebooks or another writing piece to correct any apostrophe
mistakes.

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Punctuate with Pasta!
Summary:
Students use different shape pasta to punctuate their sentences.
Materials:
Pasta pieces shaped like various punctuation marks, for example:
small shell pasta for periods.
large macaroni (and small shell) for question marks.
rotini for exclamation mark (also with small shell)
small macaroni for commas

OR

Florentine for question marks
Elbow macaroni for commas
Orzo for quotation marks
Spaghetti for exclamation points
Small round pasta shapes for periods
Goals:
Students will practice the correct punctuation in sentences.
Resource Instructions
Think of four or five sentences for the students to copy. Be sure to include a question, an exclamation and a
sentence with a comma. Hand out lined paper for students to copy sentences onto. Write sentences on the
board and use a different color for each different punctuation. Instead of the students writing the punctuation
on their papers, they glue the pasta where the punctuation should go. Have the students leave their papers on
their desks to dry before turning them in.
It is always a good idea to have a model product for the students to see what their papers should look like.

OR
1. Pick a book to draw lots of attention to the punctuation, have students point to punctuation marks in the
sentences and place similarly-shaped pasta pieces on top of the written marks.
2. Discuss what the effect of the punctuation marks are on the sentences. For example, quotation marks
tell the reader when someone is speaking. They mark the beginning and the end of the words that a
character says.
3. Repeat this process for subsequent sentences. Once students gets the hang of it, it's time for them to
write on their own using Punctuation Pasta! Take the book you've been working with, and ask students
to write a new ending to the story. Remind them to include dialogue, questions, and exclamation marks.
4. As they write the story, ask them to place pasta pieces on the paper where they think the punctuation
marks should go. When finished, discuss the punctuation choices. Ask students to explain why they
chose to use question marks, commas, etc. When they are sure that's where the punctuation needs to go
in their story, glue the pieces down to the page and hang the story up for all to see!

Assessment:
Either a formal or informal assessment will work for this activity.

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RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT

Materials:
4 pieces of construction paper, each one with one giant punctuation mark on it: a period, a comma, a
question mark, and an exclamation point (Draw these or cut them out and put them onto the
construction paper)
Flat, open space

What to Do:
1. First, briefly review key reading and writing skills in punctuation: periods, commas, question marks,
and exclamation points.
2. Line the children up across one side of your big, open space. Then you will go to the other end of the
space.. When you shout green light, readers! they can start running forward. But when you shout,
yellow light, readers! they need to look at you right away to see what sign you will hold up. Hold up
a sign, and they must immediately obey it or go back to the beginning. The winner is the first one to
make it across the finish line by following all the punctuation mark traffic commands.
o Comma means: slow down and WALK.
o Exclamation point means: Hop and wave your hands!
o Question mark means: Stop, tilt your head, and put your hands on your hips.
o Period means: STOP right now!
Above all, have fun. They'll get great practice identifying key punctuation marks and their meaning. This is an
extremely important part of learning to read and write. Moreover, this activity is a great way to demonstrate
how punctuation isnt just a flat, two dimensional part of learning to read and write. We divide sentences as a
way to communicate clearlyjust as we use red and green lights to communicate clearly, so that we can all go
about our world safely, without colliding.

BY: Julie Williams, M.A. Education, taught middle and high school History and English for seventeen years.
Since then, she has volunteered in elementary classrooms while raising her two sons and earning a Master's in
school administration. She has also been a leader in her local PTA.

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Punctuations Skills Box Activities and Ideas

Note: The following are activities from Punctuation Skill Box Grades 3-5 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.

Comma
-use to separate items in a series
-use to separate city and state in an address
-use to separate the day and the year in a date
-use to separate describing words
-use in the greeting and closing of a friendly letter
-use after introductory words, such as, yes, next, and finally

Topic: Confusing Comma Changes
Materials: paper, pencil
Fold paper into thirds. At the bottom of each section, write the following sentence:
-I am going to serve chocolate birthday cake cookie dough ice cream and sodas.
Insert the commas in different places to change the meaning of the sentence.
Above each sentence, draw a picture of the food that is to be served.

Topic: Comma Necklace
Materials: Paper, pencils, markers/crayons
You are going to be a jewelry designer today. You must design a necklace.
On the necklace links, you must put a word in one link and a comma in the next.
This shows that items in a series or list need a comma between them.
Here is an idea for words that can be written on the necklace links:
If you have a tropical style necklace, you can write tropical words on it
such as coconut, pineapple, papaya, and so forth.

Topic: Outer Space
Materials: paper, pencil, markers/crayons
You are being asked by NASA to go on a flight to outer space.
Naturally, you are unsure.
Fold a piece of paper into thirds. In each section, write a possible answer you can give
them about whether you would go or not.
Begin one section with the word No, one with Yes, and one with Well.
Make sure you put a comma after the no, yes, and well.
After writing your three answers, draw a picture of you with the NASA representative.

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Colon

Colon
-use to introduce a statement, quotation, or list
-use between the hour and minutes when writing a time
-use after the salutation in a business letter

Topic: Friends
Material: paper, pencil, markers/crayons
Make a list of ten qualities that a good friend should have.
Use a colon in your list.
Decorate your paper by creating symbols that could represent a good friendship.
One example would be a smiley face to represent happiness.

Topic: Daily Schedule
First, draw a clock and label it with numbers.
Then, using the clock on the wall to help you, write down your daily schedule.
For example, list the first thing you do in the morning and approximate time that you do it.
Include 15 activities from your daily schedule.
Make sure you put a colon in all your times listed.

Topic: Tell About Yourself
Write your name in fancy bubble letters. Then draw some pictures
that show what you are interested in or like to do. Below your pictures,
list these talents in one well-written sentence. Use a colon in the sentence.

Topic: Thesaurus
Material: thesaurus, pencil, paper
The thesaurus is a wonderful resource to help you find words and increase your vocabulary.
Spend some time looking through a thesaurus.
Use a colon to list ten new words that you have never used before.
Try to use all ten new words in a few sentences.

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Semicolon and Quotation Marks

Semicolon
-use to join two related clauses into one long sentence

Topic: Birthday Invitation
Design an invitation for your next birthday party.
On your invitation, please include the date, place, time, foods served, and activities to be enjoyed.
Use a minimum of two semicolons on your invitation.

Topic: Punctuation Poster
Materials: construction paper, pencil, markers/crayons
On construction paper or poster board, make a poster to explain what the semicolon means
and how it can be used.
This poster can be posted for students who do not understand how to use it.

Quotation Marks
-use around a direct quote
-use the titles of magazine and newspaper articles, chapters, songs, and poems.

Topic: Comic Strip
Materials: construction paper, pencils, colored pencils
Fold a piece of white construction paper in fourths.
Using word bubbles for your characters, write a comic strip.
Each character word bubble must contain a direct quotation with quotation marks.

Topic: Bugs
Materials: paper, pencils, and colored pencils
Draw a spider and a ladybug. Color them.
Now write a six-sentence conversation between the two bugs.
What would they say to each other?
Each sentence should include quotation marks.

Topic: Talking Pets
Materials: paper and pen
What if your pet could talk? What would he or she say?
What do you think your pet would ask you for?
Take a sheet of paper and draw and color your pet.
Create four word bubbles. In each bubble, write a complete direct quotation from your pet.

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End Marks

End Marks
-use a period after a declarative sentence
-use a question mark after an interrogative sentence
-use an exclamation point after an exclamatory sentence

Topic: Donuts
Materials: pencil, paper, markers/crayons
Wouldnt it be nice to have a donut party at school?
If parents would volunteer to make the plain donuts,
what kind of decorations and treats would you like to put on top of them?
Make a shopping list.

After your list is finished, write out a thank-you note to the parents who made the donuts.
Make sure you use all four types of sentences in your thank-you note.
Draw and color some donuts around the edge of your thank you note.

Topic: Newspaper
Materials: newspaper, scissors, glue, paper, pencil
First, fold a piece of white paper in thirds.
Next, look through the newspaper and find and cut out six sentences for each end mark-
period (.), exclamation mark (!), and question mark (?).
Label each third of your paper. Glue the newspaper clippings in the correct columns on your paper.

Topic: Folktales
Materials: dictionary, paper, pencil
A folktale is a short story that comes from the oral tradition.
Folktales often have to do with everyday life and frequently feature characters who get the better of their
superiors. In many cases, the characters are animals with human characteristics.
Write a one-page folktale. Put yourself in the folktale as a main character.
Use at least one period, one exclamation, and one question mark in your tale.

Topic: Advertisements
Materials: newspapers or magazine, pencils, scissors, paper
Go through a newspaper or magazine and search for exclamation points in advertisements.
Are they used often? Too much? Not enough?
Why do you think companies use exclamations in their advertisements?
Copy three advertisements that use exclamation points.
Then give your opinion.
Do you think that the advertisement would be just as successful without them?

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More End Marks

Topic: 5W Sentences
A 5W sentence is one sentence that can answer who, what, when, where, and why.
Write a 5W sentence.
Draw a picture under this sentence that portrays the sentence.
Here is an example of a 5W sentence:
Tommy ran across the street to catch the bus.
It gives you all the information you need:
(who) Tommy, (what) ran, (where) across the street, (when) this morning, (why) to catch the bus

Topic: The Perfect Classroom
What would the perfect classroom look like?
What color would it be?
What decorations would be on the walls?
Fold a white sheet of paper in half.
On one half, draw and color what you would like the room to look like.
On the other half, write three sentences that describe the room.
One sentence must end with a period, the second sentence with a question mark, and the third with an
exclamation mark.

Topic: Punctuation People
Materials: paper, pencil, crayons/markers
Fold a piece of paper in thirds. On each third, draw a punctuation person from each end mark:
period, exclamation mark, question mark.
Color the punctuation person and write a word bubble to describe how its punctuation mark can be used and
what types of sentences it can punctuate.

Topic: Overused Words
Materials: thesaurus, pencil, paper
So many people overuse the word nice.
Look up nice in the thesaurus.
Write four different kinds of sentences to replace nice in a sentence.
Challenge: Write a seven-word sentence that begins with the word nice.
Then write a seven-word sentence with nice as the second word.
Next, write a seven-word sentence with nice as the third word.
Continue to do this until nice is the seventh word.

Topic: Rainbow Writing
Write a one-page essay about your pet or a pet you would like to have.
-Put the periods in with a red marker.
-Put the exclamation marks in with a blue marker.
-Put the question marks in with a green marker.
Use at least three of each of the end marks in your essay.

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Apostrophe

Apostrophe
-use in place of omitted letters in contractions
-use to show possession of ownership

Topic: Field Trip
Materials: paper, pencil, orange marker/crayon

Plan a Field trip for your class.
Tell your teacher where you want the class to go and why the place youve chosen is a great place to go.
If available, you might want to use the Internet to get prices and more information for your teacher.
Make sure you use some words with apostrophes in your field trip proposal.
Circle the apostrophes with an orange marker or crayon.

Topic: Family
Draw a picture of each person in your family.
You can draw each persons whole body or just the face, if you prefer.
Underneath each drawing, write a complete sentence about that person.
Use each persons name in the possessive form.
Add an apostrophe to each sentence.

Topic: Contractions
Materials: paper, pencil, red crayon/marker
Make a list of contractions.
Put in the apostrophes in your words with a red marker or crayon.
Use your textbook or dictionary to find as many as possible.

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CONVENTIONS RUBRICS

A new six traits classroom resource:

Conventions:
Write your editors names in four of the five blanks
below:

My spelling was looked over by __________.

My end punctuation was looked over by ____________.

My commas and apostrophes were looked over by _______.

My capitalization was looked over by _____________.

My grammar was looked over by ______

A Simple Writing Rubric
The numbers suggested are good for 2nd or 3rd grade assignments. Adjust for the age and ability of your group.
Effort: Does the student write several sentences on the topic?
4 points: Student writes 5 or more sentences about the topic.
3 points: Student writes 4 sentences about the topic.
2 points: Student writes 3 sentences about the topic.
1 point: Student writes 1 or 2 sentences about the topic.
Content: Does the student share enough information to make the writing selection interesting?
4 points: Student shares 4 or more facts about the subject
3 points: Student shares 3 facts about the subject
2 points: Student shares 2 facts about the subject
1 point: Student shares at least one fact about the subject.
Conventions: Does the student use correct punctuation and capitalization?
4 points: Student begins all sentences with capitals, capitalizes proper nouns, no run on sentences and correct punctuation,
including one question mark.
3 points: Student begins all sentences with capitals, one or fewer run on sentences, 2 or fewer errors in punctuation.
2 points: Student begins sentences with capitals, ends with punctuation, 2 or fewer run on sentences, 3 or fewer errors in
punctuation.
1 point: Student uses capital letters appropriately at least once, ends with punctuation.
This rubric needs at least 2 more categories: it is easiest to score them with a possible 20 points. Consider "Style," "Organization" or
"Focus.

2u

PUNCTUATION LINKS/WEBSITES
http:www.punctuation.oigpaiauigm.htm

Punctuation Changes Change the Sentence Neaning: Elementaiy Language Aits
When we change the punctuation of a sentence it means we change the
meaning of the sentence. Enuing punctuation incluueu in this lesson aie
peiiou, question maiks, anu exclamation points. The lesson incluues
piintable woiksheets anu activities.
http:www.biighthub.comeuucationk-12aiticlesSu927.aspx

Punctuation anu Neaning
http:higheieu.mcgiawhill.comsitesuu729829uxstuuent_viewupunctuation_anu_meaning.html

Rules foi Comma 0sage
http:giammai.ccc.commnet.euugiammaicommas.htm

English foi Eveiybouy. Elementaiy Couise: Punctuation.
http:www.english-online.oig.ukelem7punct4e.htm

Language Aits uames on uamequaiium
Bunuieus of fiee, online language aits leaining games anu activities foi Pie-School
thiough uiaue 6 stuuents.
http:gamequaiium.compunctuation.html
Bttp:gamequaiium.comlanguageaits.htm

Fiee online uiammai activities, leaining games. Bomeschool. Paits of speech,
pioofieauing & conventions. Nouns veibs.
Fiee online uiammai activities, leaining games & lessons. Paits of speech,
pioofieauing & conventions. nouns, veibs, commas, anu peiious.
http:theteacheiscafe.comuiammaiuiammai_uames.php

4You4Fiee - Fiee Euucational uames 0nline
http:languageaitsgames.4you4fieepunctuation_capitalization.html

uiammai Blast
http:www.euuplace.comkiushmek_Squizzes

PLAY! Scholastic
http:www.scholastic.complayabout0s.htm

21

Naggie's Leaining Auventuies Bome
http:teachei.scholastic.comactivitiesauventuieinuex.htm

uiammai uames
http:www.ellwoou.goleta.k12.ca.usuiammaiuamesgiammaigames.html

Sheppaiu Softwaie's Comma Chameleon game: Leain about basic punctuation!
Leain about peiious, question maiks, commas, anu moie!
http:www.sheppaiusoftwaie.comgiammaipunctuation.htm

Language Aits uames - uiammai, Punctuation, Capitalization, vocabulaiy
Impiove youi vocabulaiy, giammai, capitalization, anu punctuation with
these fun English games!
http:www.sheppaiusoftwaie.comweb_games_vocab.htm

ClassZone - NcBougal Littell Liteiatuie, uiaue 11
http:www.classzone.comczbooksml_lit_gi11book_home.htm.state=AZ

uiammai Piactice Paik
http:www.haicouitschool.commenuspieviewhaicouit_languagegiammai_paik.html

Punctuation uame - Play Fun Tiivia Quiz
Bo you know what punctuation to use. - Tiivia quiz game. Play now!
http:www.funtiivia.complayquizquiz6617979627u.html

uiammai uames
uiammai uames: A collection of fiee, fun, online giammai games that teach
oi ieinfoice some woiu concepts anu skills. uiammai uames foi Kius,
Piefixes anu Suffixes, anu Root Woius.
http:www.onlinemathleaining.comgiammai-games.html

Basic Skill Piactice uames
http:classioom.jc-schools.netbasicla-giammai.html

Liteiacy Activities anu English uames
Nany inteiactive English games anu activities to help impiove liteiacy skills.
Wooulanus Liteiacy Zone making leaining fun.
http:www.wooulanus-junioi.kent.sch.ukinteiactiveliteiacy2.htm

22

funbiain.com uiammai uoiillas
The uiammai uoiillas show you fun sentences anu ask you to finu the noun,
veib anu moie. This is a paits of speech game.
http:www.funbiain.comgiammaiinuex.html

Capitalization & Punctuation - FREE Language Aits Piesentations in PoweiPoint
foimat, Fiee Inteiactives & uames
http:languageaits.pppst.compunctuation.html

uames Zone - online English language games (leain English thiough games)
http:www.english-online.oig.ukgamesgamezone2.htm

Punctuation uames
Play fun Punctuation games online foi fiee. Finu the best online Punctuation
games that help youi chilu leain while they play games online.
http:www.zooules.comfiee-online-kius-gamespunctuation

Punctuation
Suifnetkius.com iecommenus five punctuation websites. }eff Rubin (ownei of
Put It In Wiiting Newslettei Publisheis) ueclaieu Septembei 24, 2uu6
National Punctuation Bay anu manageu to get it incluueu in "Chases'
Calenuai...
http:www.suifnetkius.compunctuation.htm

Fiee English leaining giammai games online - Englishjet
Englishjet.com offeis links to fiee English euucation lessons, exeicises anu
games online. The piemiei Inteinet iesouice foi leaineis of English as a
seconu language.
http:www.englishjet.comenglish_couises_filesgames_online.asp

Inteiactive uiammai Quizzes | Punctuation Quizzes | Capitalization Quiz
uiammai quizzes, punctuation quizzes, anu capitalization quizzes pioviueu
by The Blue Book of uiammai anu Punctuation.
http:www.giammaibook.cominteiactive_quizzes_exeicises.asp

BBC - KS1 Bitesize uames - Liteiacy - Punctuation
A fun anu inteiactive game to help chiluien with theii use of punctuation.
http:www.bbc.co.ukschoolsks1bitesizeliteiacypunctuationinuex.shtml

2S

BBC - KS2 Bitesize: English - Spelling & giammai
KS2 English activities, games, tests anu notes on spelling anu giammai,
incluuing how to use punctuation, aujectives, auveibs anu nouns.
http:www.bbc.co.ukschoolsks2bitesizeenglishspelling_giammai

Fiee online uiammai, English & Language Aits games, activities, tutoiing anu
lessons. Phonics activities.
Fiee online uiammai, English & Language Aits games, activities, tutoiing anu
lessons. Paits of speech, veibs, nouns, aujectives, sentence stiuctuie,
vocabulaiy, spelling anu all Language Aits activities.
http:www.theteacheiscafe.comTeachei-BiiectoiyFiee-uiammai-Activities.htm

English 8 - Ns. Boinik : uiammai uames 0nline
http:site.ecfs.oighoinikstoiiesstoiyReauei%248

Punctuation Naiks Bingo Caius
Fiee piintable Punctuation Naiks bingo caius foi uownloau. You can also
make youi own custom games using a fiee tiial of oui softwaie.
http:www.bingocaiucieatoi.combingo-caiusenglishpunctuation-maiks

Fun uiammai uames foi Kius - Fiee Inteiactive Exeicises & Piactice Activities
0nline
http:www.funenglishgames.comgiammaigames.html

uot Kius uames - fun online leaining games foi kius!
Fun, euucational anu FREE online leaining games foi elementaiy K - 8 giaue
level kius by Couisewaie Solutions. Inteiactive games foi kius to piactice
math, language aits, liteiacy, giammai, geogiaphy anu science.
http:gotkiusgames.com

Kius ESL uames - Fiee 0nline uiammai uames, uiammai Exeicises anu uiammai
Fun foi ESL Kius
http:kiuseslgames.comgiammai.html

Inteiactive uiammai uames
Inteiactive giammai games online.
http:www.youiuictionaiy.comuictionaiy-aiticlesinteiactive-giammai-games.html

24

Woiu uames 0nline foi Kius, Teacheis & Paients - FunBiain.com
Woiu uames 0nline foi Kius, Teacheis anu Paients. FunBiain is the
Inteinet's piemiei location foi inteiactive, euucational games (math,
giammai, science) foi chiluien anu kius of all ages.
http:www.funbiain.comwoius.html

mquiz
http:www.oswego.oigocsu-webquizmquiz.asp.filename=kueiittepun

uiammai: Sentences - eThemes
http:ethemes.missouii.euuthemes1SSS

SchoolExpiess.com - 1Suuu+ FREE woiksheets
Numeious FREE items incluuing 16,uuu+ woiksheets, make youi own
woiksheets anu awaius, games, anu softwaie.

http:www.schoolexpiess.comfwscat.php.iu=2298

Quia - Capitalization anu Punctuation
Iuentify the sentence that is coiiect.
http:www.quia.comii9uu27.html

Fiee ESL games, piintable communication games, fiee English games to uownloau,
giammai games, piintable boaiu games foi the classioom
Fiee Piintables foi Teacheis - Fiee flashcaius, woiksheets, hanuouts anu
game caius to match, phonics mateiials, piojects, games, anu moie all ieauy
foi uownloau anu piinting.
http:www.mes-english.comgames.php

0nline uiammai uames | Ny Fiesh Plans
Lesson plans anu iesouices foi K-12, incluuing stanuaius-baseu, integiateu,
cioss-cuiiiculai lessons using 21st centuiy skills anu technology.
http:www.myfieshplans.com2u11-u1online-giammai-games

2S

Fouith giaue iesouices
uames, activities, infoimation ielateu to Califoinia fouith giaue stanuaius
ieauing, wiiting, language aits, math, science, anu social stuuies.
http:elceiiitowiie.com4giammai.htm

Fiee Punctuation Woiksheets
Fiee piintable punctuation woiksheets - commas, apostiophes, quotation
maiks, anu moie!
http:englishfoieveiyone.oigTopicsPunctuation.htm

Woiu Play foi kius - uiammai, antonyms, tenses anu moie foi chiluien
These woiu play activities foi kius aie uesigneu to fun anu help chiluien
leain woiu meanings, giammai, antonyms, sentence constiuction, tenses,
anu much moie.
http:www.pitaia.comactivitieswoiuplay

Enuing Punctuation Quiz
Enuing Punctuation Quiz

http:www.softschools.comquizzesgiammaipunctuationquiz272.html

uiammai uames Woiksheets Revieweu by Teacheis
Finu giammai games woiksheets fiom 1uuus of teachei appioveu lessons by
giaue anu subject. Fiom giammai games to miuule school giammai games,
quickly finu woiksheets that inspiie stuuent leaining.
http:www.softschools.comquizzesgiammaipunctuationquiz272.html

Simple uiammai uames --- Love to Leain Place.com
http:www.lovetoleainplace.comuiammaisimplegiammaigames.html

English uames at EZSchool!
English uames - Alphabets, vowels & Consonants, vocabulaiy Builuei,
Rhyming Woius, Paits of Face, Animals, Insects, Biius, Floweis, Nusical
Instiuments, Antonyms, Synonyms, Woiu Recognition, Bomogiaphs,
Bomophones, Compounu Woius, Nouns, veibs, Aujectives, Auveibs,
Pionoun, Paits of Speech, anu veib Tense.
http:www.ezschool.comuamesEnglish.html

26

Kius Spelling, uiammai, Wiiting, Language Aits uames
Kius spelling games, giammai games anu language aits.
http:www.netiovei.com~kingskiuwiitingKius_Wiiting.html

uiammai uames
Want to play some giammai games. Beie aie a few foi you to use in the
classioom.
http:www.english-giammai-ievolution.comgiammai-games.html

uiammai: Inteiactive Wiiting Activities - eThemes
http:ethemes.missouii.euuthemes1S67.locale=en

27
Additional Resources/BOOKS

Elsie, an exclamation point, announces loudly that she's sure she'll win the school
Punctuation Bee. After all, an exclamation point has won the last three years. But Penny,
a period, and her friend, Quentin, a question mark, decide to practice and practice. More
than anything, Penny wants to beat Elsie, who brags way too much. The bee begins and
one by one, the punctuation marks drop out. Finally, as the loudspeaker announces the
end of the school day, only Quentin, Penny, and Elsie remain. It looks like a three-way
tie. Then Quentin asks an important question that saves the day for Penny. Moira
Donohue, author of Alfie the Apostrophe, again makes punctuation fun in this up-close
look at the important mark that stops everything the period. Jenny Law's lively
illustrations add just the right touch.

Alfie and other quirky little figures represent the contestants in the punctuation-mark
talent show: periods and hyphens, commas, asterisks, and parentheses. They all do their
things, including telling jokes and riddles (question marks) and cheerleading
(exclamation points). Alfie, who has butterflies about performing onstage, does magic
tricks, turning two words into contractions and demonstrating the use of the possessive.
He brings down the house and is declared the show's shining star. Fanciful cartoon
drawings capture the whimsy of this original, instructional story.

28

In this interactive pop-up book, teaching and learning punctuation are transformed into a
fun, hands-on activity. Sliding tabs, lift-the-flap features, and fresh, bold illustrations are
sure to engage kids and help them understand the basic rules of punctuation. Wacky
unpunctuated sentences will have kids laughing as they learn to recognize the correct use
of every punctuation mark. Playful quizzesand helpful hints from different animals on
each pagemake this book a perfect learning tool in the classroom and at home.

29

Just as the use of commas was hilariously demystified in Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why,
Commas Really Do Make a Difference!, now Lynne Truss and Bonnie Timmons put their
talents together to do the same for apostrophes. Everyone needs to know where to put an
apostrophe to make a word plural or possessive (Are those sticky things your brothers or
your brothers) and leaving one out of a contraction can give someone the completely
wrong impression (Were here to help you).
Full of silly scenes that show how apostrophes make a difference, too, this is another
picture book that will elicit bales of laughter and better punctuation from all who read it.

Su

As Lynne Truss points out in the Introduction, "Commas can create havoc when they are
left out or are put in the wrong spot, and the results of misuse can be hilarious." With
humor, Truss emphasizes the importance of punctuation marks, specifically commas.
Children who are learning how to punctuate their sentences will get a kick out of seeing
what can go wrong when a comma is misused and how important it is to the meaning of a
sentence to place commas correctly. Each set of facing pages contains the same sentence.
One of the sentences is punctuated properly; in the other, the commas are in the wrong
place, with hilarious results. Each sentence is printed in black ink, except for the commas,
which are red, making them stand out in the sentence. Each sentence is illustrated with
very funny, full-page pen and watercolor sketches by Bonnie Timmons.

A panda bear walks into a bar and orders a sandwich. The waiter brings him the
sandwich. The panda bear eats it, pulls out a pistol, kills the waiter, and gets up and starts
to walk out.

The bartender yells for him to stop. The panda bear asks, "What do you want?" The
bartender replies, "First you come in here, order food, kill my waiter, and then try to go
without paying for your food."

The panda bear turns around and says, "Hey! I'm a Panda. Look it up!" The bartender
goes into the back room and looks up panda bear in the encyclopedia, which read:
"Panda: a bear-like marsupial originating in Asian regions. Known largely for it's stark
black and white coloring. Eats, shoots and leaves."

S1

"#$ %&'() *#+',-. /,0$- 1,-0 $# /),23 4,5$0 #6
78))23 $# 7$&')+$0 13# ",9) , ",5' /:;) 7<,==#<:+( >+-$3:+( $# ?# 1:$3
@5,;;,5
This new, expanded edition offers even more tasty ways to teach parts of speech,
including quirky quizzes, extended writing activities, and Internet enrichment activities
that reinforce new skills. Hot Fudge Monday joins the study of words to the process of
writing those words into meaningful sentences. The book consists of eight chapters, each
one dealing with one part of speech. Students in grades 712 learn about the various parts
of speech through short writing activities that are interesting, humorous, and a bit offbeat.

S2
"Day after day, the punctuation marks showed up in Mr. Wright's
classroom. Day after day, they did their jobs. They put up with being
erased and replaced and corrected and ignored and moved around."
Miffed when the teacher quips, "Let's give punctuation a vacation," the
various marks decide to take a trip and rush out the door. The class misses
them almost immediately, as nothing the students read or write makes any
sense without them. The vacationers send postcards back to the class
requiring the children to dissect the clever wordplay and figure out which
marks sent which cards. The youngsters send their own card apologizing,
and all ends happily as the punctuation marks return and order is
restored. Pulver's clever story moves along at a nice clip and makes its
point without belaboring the matter. Reed's acrylics-on-canvas
illustrations are rich in color and texture, and add to the amusement of the
story. A lighthearted choice to be read independently or used to introduce
a language-arts lesson.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School Hillsdale, NJCopyright 2003

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