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Punctuation & Capitalization Power-Up!

Lesson Plan

Punctuation & Capitalization Power-Up!

Students will be able to correctly apply capitalization rules for proper nouns, beginnings of sentences, and the pronoun 'I', and accurately use periods, question marks, and exclamation points at the end of sentences.

Understanding capitalization and punctuation is crucial for clear communication. These skills help students convey their ideas effectively in writing, making their work easier to read and understand. It builds a strong foundation for more advanced writing.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, guided practice, and interactive game play.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Capitalization and Punctuation Power-Up Slides, Warm-Up: Punctuation & Capitalization Check, Punctuation & Capitalization Race Game, Punctuation & Capitalization Race Game Answer Key, and Punctuation & Capitalization Cool-Down

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Warm-Up: Punctuation & Capitalization Check.
    - Have students complete it independently.
    - Discuss answers as a class, reviewing common errors.
    - Introduce the lesson objectives: 'Today, we're going to become punctuation and capitalization pros! We'll learn how to make our sentences clear and correct, and we'll do it with a fun game!'

Step 2

Direct Instruction & Guided Practice (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Use the Capitalization and Punctuation Power-Up Slides to guide the discussion.
    - Capitalization:
    - Review rules for the beginning of a sentence, proper nouns (names of people, places, specific things), and the pronoun 'I'.
    - Show examples and ask students to identify what should be capitalized.
    - Punctuation:
    - Review periods (telling sentences), question marks (asking sentences), and exclamation points (strong feelings/commands).
    - Discuss how each changes the meaning or tone of a sentence.
    - Engage students in correcting sentences on the slides or whiteboard as a group.

Step 3

Punctuation & Capitalization Race Game (8 minutes)

8 minutes

  • Introduce the Punctuation & Capitalization Race Game.
    - Divide students into small teams.
    - Explain the rules: Teams will race to correctly rewrite sentences with proper capitalization and punctuation.
    - Facilitate the game, keeping track of points and ensuring fair play.

Step 4

Cool-Down & Review (2 minutes)

2 minutes

  • Distribute the Punctuation & Capitalization Cool-Down.
    - Have students complete it independently to reflect on their learning.
    - Briefly review key capitalization and punctuation rules from the game.
    - Collect cool-downs as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Punctuation & Capitalization Power-Up!

Let's make our sentences shine!

Welcome students and get them ready to learn. Introduce the topic and the idea of making their writing super clear.

Our Mission Today:

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Use capital letters correctly.
  • Use periods, question marks, and exclamation points correctly.
  • Make your writing super clear!

Explain the objective clearly. What will students be able to do by the end of the lesson?

Capitalization Crew!

When do we use a capital letter?

Introduce capitalization with an engaging question. Ask students for initial thoughts.

Rule 1: Starting Strong!

Every sentence begins with a capital letter.

Examples:

  • The dog barked loudly.
  • My friend loves to read.
  • Are you coming to the party?

Explain the first rule: beginning of a sentence. Provide examples and ask students to identify the capitalized letter.

Rule 2: Proper Noun Power!

Capitalize proper nouns (specific names of people, places, and things).

Examples:

  • People: Mr. Smith, Anna, President Lincoln
  • Places: New York City, Grand Canyon, Main Street
  • Specific Things: Toyota Camry, Halloween, Monday, June

Explain the second rule: proper nouns. Give various examples of names, places, and specific things. Emphasize specific.

Rule 3: The Mighty "I"!

The pronoun I is always capitalized.

Examples:

  • I went to the park.
  • My sister and I played games.
  • Can I have another cookie?

Explain the third rule: the pronoun 'I'. This is a common mistake for young writers.

Capitalization Challenge!

Let's fix these sentences!

  1. my dog, buster, loves to chase squirrels.
  2. i live in california.
  3. we will go to the zoo on saturday.

Time for some practice. Present sentences and have students identify what needs capitalization. Do this as a whole group or in pairs.

Punctuation Patrol!

What marks do we put at the end of a sentence?

Introduce punctuation. What are the main types and when do we use them?

Period Power .

Use a period (.) at the end of a statement (a telling sentence) or a mild command.

Examples:

  • The sun is shining brightly.
  • Please close the door.

Discuss periods. What kind of sentences use them?

Question Mark Quest ?

Use a question mark (?) at the end of a question (an asking sentence).

Examples:

  • What is your favorite color?
  • Did you finish your homework?

Discuss question marks. How do we know if a sentence needs one?

Exclamation Point Excitement !

Use an exclamation point (!) at the end of a sentence that shows strong emotion or a forceful command.

Examples:

  • Wow, that's amazing!
  • Look out!
  • I won!

Discuss exclamation points. When do we use these to show strong emotion?

Punctuation Practice!

What punctuation mark belongs at the end?

  1. My favorite animal is a dolphin
  2. Do you like pizza
  3. What a beautiful day

More practice. Have students choose the correct ending punctuation. Work through these together.

Putting It All Together!

Now let's practice both capitalization and punctuation!

Get ready for your worksheet!

Combine both skills for a final check before independent practice. This slide transitions to the worksheet.

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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Punctuation & Capitalization Check

Instructions: Read each sentence carefully. Add capital letters and punctuation marks where they are missing.

  1. my friend and i went to the store


  2. what is your favorite color


  3. the dog's name is sparky


  4. we are going on vacation in july


  5. wow that was a great movie


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Game

Punctuation & Capitalization Race Game!

Objective: Be the first team to correctly rewrite sentences with proper capitalization and punctuation to earn points!

Materials per Team:

  • Whiteboard or large paper
  • Markers

Instructions:

  1. Divide into small teams (e.g., 2-4 students per team).
  2. The teacher will present an incorrect sentence on the main whiteboard/projector.
  3. As a team, discuss and rewrite the sentence correctly on your team's whiteboard/paper, adding all necessary capital letters and the correct ending punctuation (period, question mark, or exclamation point).
  4. The first team to hold up their correctly rewritten sentence wins a point!
  5. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins the Punctuation & Capitalization Race!

Game Sentences (Teacher reads aloud or displays one at a time):

  1. my friend sarah and i are going to new york city in june






  2. what is the name of your favorite book





  3. i love to visit grand canyon national park





  4. wow that roller coaster was amazing





  5. we have a field trip on tuesday to the science museum





  6. did you see mrs lee at school today





  7. what a fantastic goal





  8. can i have a slice of pizza please





  9. the christmas tree sparkled brightly





  10. where is my dog rover





  11. i want to go to disneyland next summer





  12. look out for that car





  13. my favorite day is friday





  14. do you want to play outside





  15. what a beautiful rainbow





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Answer Key

Punctuation & Capitalization Race Game Answer Key

Corrected Sentences:

  1. My friend Sarah and I are going to New York City in June.
  2. What is the name of your favorite book?
  3. I love to visit Grand Canyon National Park.
  4. Wow! That roller coaster was amazing!
  5. We have a field trip on Tuesday to the Science Museum.
  6. Did you see Mrs. Lee at school today?
  7. What a fantastic goal!
  8. Can I have a slice of pizza please?
  9. The Christmas tree sparkled brightly.
  10. Where is my dog Rover?
  11. I want to go to Disneyland next summer.
  12. Look out for that car!
  13. My favorite day is Friday.
  14. Do you want to play outside?
  15. What a beautiful rainbow!
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Cool Down

Punctuation & Capitalization Cool-Down

Instructions: Answer the questions below to reflect on what you learned today.

  1. Name one new capitalization rule you learned or reviewed today.


  2. What is one way you can remember when to use a period, question mark, or exclamation point?


  3. Why is it important to use correct capitalization and punctuation in your writing?





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Punctuation & Capitalization Power-Up! • Lenny Learning