Colons and Semicolons Year 6 Story Starters Tricky Grammar Worksheets Lesson Pack 1

This Year 6 teaching sequence has been designed to support pupils to revisit and recall how colons and semicolons are used. An interesting and engaging image is provided as a visual prompt to stimulate discussion and inspire creative writing.

Pupils will revisit the grammar focus, in this case colons and semicolons, before completing the short writing task, applying what they have learnt.

What is included in this story starters resource pack?

• Colons and semicolons grammar challenge
  Finish the sentences that include colons or semicolons
• Colons and semicolons writing challenge
  Write the rest of the conversation, and try to use a semicolon and a colon in your writing
• Teacher’s notes

What is a colon?

A punctuation mark that is typically used to introduce a list of items, a direct quotation or some form of explanation.

Colon examples

• Mrs Jones said: “This was not supposed to happen.”
• They talked about three things: the weather, what they’d had for lunch and how noisy it was.
• The pain was bad enough to make one thing clear: he’d really hurt himself.

What is a semicolon?

A punctuation mark that indicates a pause, typically between two closely related clauses, that is more pronounced a comma but less pronounced than a full stop.

Semicolon examples

• I had a huge meal; however, I am already hungry again.
• I saw a large bird; it was eating a worm.
• Let’s go to the library; there is a book I need to borrow.
• I know you don’t like muesli; nevertheless, it is healthier than sugary cereals.

National Curriculum English programme of study links

Pupils should be taught to indicate grammatical and other features by using semicolons, colons or dashes to mark boundaries between independent clauses [and] using a colon to introduce a list.

This resource is part of the Tricky Grammar Story Starters collection.
View more from this collection

• teacher notes
• activity sheets