Introduction to Punctuation Marks – JSS 2 English Lesson

Grammar: Introduction to Punctuation Marks

Subject: English Language
Class: JSS 2
Term: Second Term
Week: 7
Age: 11 – 13 years
Duration: 40 minutes

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Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define punctuation marks.
2. Identify different types of punctuation marks.
3. Explain the functions of common punctuation marks.
4. Use punctuation marks correctly in sentences.

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Keywords

• Punctuation
• Comma
• Full stop
• Question mark
• Apostrophe
• Quotation marks

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Set Induction

The teacher writes a sentence on the board without punctuation:

“let’s eat grandma”

Then, the teacher writes:

“Let’s eat, Grandma!”

The teacher asks the students to compare both sentences and explains how punctuation changes meaning.

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Entry Behavior

Students have previously learned about sentences and their structures.

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Learning Resources and Materials

• Flashcards with punctuation marks
• Chart displaying punctuation marks and examples
• Whiteboard and marker

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Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reminds students that punctuation marks help make sentences clear and meaningful.

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Embedded Core Skills

• Grammar and sentence construction
• Communication skills
• Writing skills

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Learning Materials

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• English Language textbook
• Examples of sentences with punctuation marks

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Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• New Oxford English for JSS 2
• Effective English for JSS 2

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Lesson Content

Definition of Punctuation Marks

Punctuation marks are symbols used in writing to organize sentences, clarify meaning, and indicate pauses or emotions.

Examples: Full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, etc.

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Common Punctuation Marks and Their Uses

1. Full Stop (.)

• Used at the end of a declarative sentence.
  • Example: She loves reading books.
• Used in abbreviations.
  • Example: Dr., Mr., St.

2. Comma (,)

• Used to separate items in a list.
  • Example: I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.
• Used after introductory phrases.
  • Example: After school, I went to the market.
• Used before conjunctions in compound sentences.
  • Example: She was tired, but she finished her homework.

3. Question Mark (?)

• Used at the end of a question.
  • Example: Where are you going?

4. Exclamation Mark (!)

• Used to express strong emotions.
  • Example: Wow! That was amazing!

5. Apostrophe (’)

• Used to show possession.
  • Example: The boy’s book is missing.
• Used in contractions.
  • Example: I can’t go outside.

6. Quotation Marks (“ ”)

• Used to indicate direct speech.
  • Example: She said, “I love my family.”

7. Colon (:)

• Used before a list or explanation.
  • Example: There are three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.

8. Semicolon (;)

• Used to join two closely related independent clauses.
  • Example: I love reading; it improves my vocabulary.

9. Hyphen (-)

• Used to join compound words.
  • Example: My mother-in-law is kind.

10. Brackets ([ ]), Parentheses ( )

• Used to add extra information.
  • Example: The teacher (Mrs. James) explained the topic.

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Examples of Sentences with Punctuation Marks

1. My favorite colors are red, blue, and green. (Comma)
2. Where is my book? (Question mark)
3. I can’t believe we won! (Exclamation mark)
4. The boy’s bicycle is new. (Apostrophe)
5. She said, “I will be home soon.” (Quotation marks)
6. There are three types of sentences: declarative, interrogative, and exclamatory. (Colon)

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Evaluation (Choose the correct punctuation mark for each sentence)

1. Where are you going ___ ( ? . , )
2. My brother ___ s car is very fast. (’ “ -)
3. I love playing football ___ basketball, and tennis. ( ? , !)
4. He said ___ “I am coming home soon.” ( : ; “)
5. The meeting starts at 2___30 PM. ( ; : ,)

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Class Activity Discussion (FAQs and Answers)

1. What are punctuation marks?
   Punctuation marks are symbols used in writing to organize sentences and clarify meaning.

2. Why do we use punctuation?
   To make writing clearer and easier to understand.

3. What is the difference between a full stop and a comma?
   A full stop ends a sentence, while a comma separates parts of a sentence.

4. How do you use quotation marks?
   To show direct speech, e.g., She said, “I am happy.”

5. What is the purpose of an apostrophe?
   It shows possession (John’s book) or contractions (I’m happy).

6. When do we use a question mark?
   At the end of a question, e.g., Where is my phone?

7. Can a sentence have multiple punctuation marks?
   Yes, e.g., She said, “Are you coming?”

8. How do colons and semicolons differ?

   • A colon introduces a list (I bought: apples, oranges, and bananas).
   • A semicolon joins related sentences (She is kind; she helps everyone).

9. Why is the hyphen important?
   It joins compound words, e.g., mother-in-law.

10. When do we use brackets?
    To add extra information, e.g., My best friend (Sarah) is kind.

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Assessment (Evaluation Questions)

1. Write five sentences using commas correctly.
2. Write three questions and end them with the correct punctuation mark.
3. Write two sentences using apostrophes for possession.
4. Rewrite the sentence with proper punctuation:
   • where is my bag i lost it yesterday
5. Identify the punctuation marks in the sentence below:
   • She asked, “Can you help me?”

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Conclusion

The teacher marks students’ work, provides corrections, and assigns homework on rewriting ten sentences with correct punctuation.

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