Punctuation Game
Posted: February 21, 2013
By:Cher From:Swansea,MA
Estimated Time10-20 minutes
Free sample receivedNo
Description:
I cut cats out of colored Post-its and use them to show students that the Capitalization Cat begins every sentence. Then I cut out pigs on other Post-its (usually pink) and put different punctuation marks on the pigs. These pigs are placed at the end of the sentences. This activity can be done on a Black board, white board or paper easel.
How it Works
Step 1Identitfy the Capitalization Cat.
The Cats should be a different color than the Punctuation Pig.
Step 2The Cat will be utilized to remind the students where capital letters will be placed in the sentences.
Step 3Show the students the difference between capital and lower case letters.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
Step 4Write a sentence on the board and let students indicate where the Capitalization Cat should be placed. Explain that a sentence is a complete thought that begins with a capital letter and ends with punctuation.
Step 5The Capitalization Cat can be used to explain other uses for capital letters depending on the grade level. Capitalize words that are particular people, places and things.
Michael - names of people
Paris - cities, towns, states, countries, planets
Disney World-places
Jello- things
Step 6Introduce the Punctuation Pig.
Pink Pigs drawn on Post-its with punctuation marks on them .,?!
Give the students examples of sentences using different punctuation marks.
My cat likes to play with ping pong balls.
My cat chased the mouse across the livingroom floor!
Where is my cat?
Step 7Write sentences on the board and have students place the Punctuation Pigs where they belong on the sentences. For students in higher grade levels " ' ;: can be introduced after basic concepts have been understood.
Educational GoalGoal is to create complete sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
Familiarize students with the placement and concepts of where capital letters and punctuation are placed, until concept becomes ingrained.
Supporting All LearnersI am a Special Education teacher and this lesson works well with students of all ages. It can be made into a game. The sentences can become more challenging. The paragraphs can be developed involving more grammar concepts. The trick is to utilized the Cat and the Pig to link the concepts in the student's minds with a colorful picture reminder.
Lesson ExtensionsMaps can be drawn and the Capitalization Cat can be placed in the cities, countries, and companies.
AssignmentStudents can be presented a paragraph from familiar literature.
Pictures can be cut out of magazines and captions can be written under the pictures, beginning with a Capitalization Cat and ending with an appropriate Punctuation Pig.
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