ED-TECH 20 MINUTE LESSON ACTIVITY

STANDARDS
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.2.A Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive
adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.2.B Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation.
ISTE STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS
1-c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify
students conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
2-a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools
and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
OBJECTIVES
Content
Students will review the basic punctuation marks they have already learned
(periods, question marks, exclamation points).
Students will learn some "new" punctuation marks, such as commas, semicolons,
and colons.
Students will play a game that will reinforce the uses of the new punctuation
marks.
Students will write their own sentences and make sure to include the punctuation
they have learned, and check them using and online resource.
Technology
Students will use an online game to reinforce the uses of the new punctuation
marks they learned, as well as testing how well they know them.
Students will use Google Docs to write their own sentences using the new
punctuation marks they have learned.
Students will share their Google Docs document online with a partner and correct
each other's sentences.
Introduce Learning Activity
Bell ringer: We will review the purposes of "old" punctuation marks (periods,
question marks, exclamation points). I will say aloud random sentences, and they
will tell me what punctuation mark belongs at the end of each sentence.
Motivator: I will ask who has ever used a more complex punctuation mark before,
such as a comma, colon, or semicolon.
o Simple sentences: BORING! Complex sentences: INTERESTING! = This
thinking will motivate the students to want to learn about more
punctuation marks.
Provide Information
I will teach them the basic rules for when to use a comma, when to use a colon,
and when to use a semi-colon.

On my website, they will look at example sentences that contain these

punctuation marks. Each example will explain why it is used.

Provide Practice
They will play an online game (http://mrnussbaum.com/semicolonwars/) that will
help them practice where those punctuation marks go within a sentence.
They will also write their own sentences on Google Docs, share them with a
partner, and correct each other's work.
Provide Knowledge of Results
As they correct each other's work via Google Docs, I will go around to see if they
are having any trouble and also to make sure they are using the punctuation marks
correctly within their sentences.
I will also be aware of who completed the online game with ease, and who had
trouble completing it.
Review the Activity
I will review the material with them by asking them to tell me when they should
use each of the punctuation marks.
I will also repeat the exercise from the beginning of the class: saying sentences
aloud and pausing where there would be a punctuation mark, and having them tell
me which punctuation mark would go there.
Method of Assessment:
For homework, they will write two 5-sentence paragraphs about anything: one
given choice would be what they did last weekend. They would have to make sure
to include commas, colons, and semicolons with one in each sentence. Each
sentence would be a point: if they included one of those punctuation marks
correctly, they would get the point. The assignment is out of 10 homework points.