ACTIVITIES TO WORK ON PUNCTUATION THROUGH HUMOR

1. What would happen if all the punctuation marks
disappeared from language?
a) Could communication be possible without punctuation? Why/not? (Think of the
past)
b) Would your life be easier/more difficult? Why?

2. PUNCTUATION IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION
Have a look at the front page of the book
1) What do you think the book is about?
2) Who are the main characters?
3) Which are the main actions?
4) What is the conflict?
5) What is the solution to the conflict
(i.e. how does the book end)?

3. We are going to see the short movie based on the book Punctuation takes a vacation.
a) Were your predictions all right?
b) What happened when all the punctuation marks took a vacation? What sorts of problems
could you see?

4. Have a look at the following cartoon.
How can punctuation save grandma’s life?
1
2
Which sentence means…
a) an invitation to your Grandma to
eat together?
b) a suggestion to eat your
Grandmother?

5. Find someone who….
In class you are going to find out more about
your classmates’ personalities.
Interview your classmates. Try to find at least
one student whose personality matches the
description.

6. Find someone who... Student's name
Never starts an argument but
finishes it
Pauses often while speaking
Interrupts other with own thoughts
Makes himself heard no matter what
Asks uncomfortable questions
Loves bringing similar people
together
Often trails off on a tangent
Likes to introduce groups of people
Tells you what everyone else says
Pulls you away from the
conversation
What results did you get?

7. Now you know more about
your classmates, but what
about yourself?
Have a look at the definitions
provided under each
punctuation mark. Which one
are you?

8. TASK. THE PUNCTUATION POLICE.
You are going to be punctuation policemen/policewomen.
You are going to work in groups.
You will belong to a punctuation mark group (based on the results you got in your punctuation
personality interview).
Your missions will have to do with punctuation:
a) MISSION #1. Match sentences to cartoons.
b) MISSION #2. Punctuate sentences correctly in order to avoid problems.
c) MISSION #3. Explain jokes based on punctuation marks.
d) MISSION #4. Illustrate jokes & situations based on changes on punctuation.
e) MISSION #5. Investigate the function different punctuation marks have.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You cannot move to another mission till you have completed the previous
one (i.e. First, do mission 1; then, 2, etc.)
Once you have successfully completed all your missions, show your work to your teacher.
You may be awarded with a PUNCTUATION BADGE 

21. 1. What’s the difference between a cat and a comma?
A cat has claws at the ends of its paws and a comma is a pause at the end
of a clause.
2.- “What is this thing called love?”
“What is this things called, love?”
3.-Some people enjoy cooking, their families and their dogs.
Some people enjoy cooking their families and their dogs.
4) A prisoner's favorite punctuation mark is the period. It marks the end of
his sentence.

27. You have accomplished all your punctuation missions.
You have the chance to be promoted.
Some thieves have stolen all the punctuation marks and
their uses.
Try to rearrange them!

28. PUNCTUATION
MARK
PUNCTUATION
NAME
USE
.
?
" "
'
,
-
!
:
()
;
...

29. PUNCTUATION NAME USE
Comma At the end of a sentence.
In abbreviations.
Period To separate items in a series.
When addressing someone.
Hyphen To introduce a list.
Before a final clause that explains
something in a sentence.
Exclamation mark After a question.
Question mark To report what someone is saying.
Parentheses Use in contractions.
Used to show possession.
Semicolon To show strong emotions.
Quotation marks To join words.
Colon To add extra non-essential information.
Suspension dots To join two independent clauses.
Apostrophe To indicate an incomplete statement.

30. Let’s check your answers.

31. Example: I would be an exclamation mark because I am a sensitive person and
I often express my emotions.

32. Writing a story from a different point of view.
You are going to put yourself in the shoes of
a punctuation mark in order to write a
composition.
You are going to write a story based on a
punctuation mark.
You need to submit all the steps of the writing
process together with your final piece.

33. Brainstorming
Which punctuation
mark(s) are you going
to choose?
What are the main
function(s) of such
punctuation marks?
What type of writing will
you be working on?
(journal entry, story,
letter?
What are the main
event(s)?
Where does the story take
place (setting)?
Are there any other
characters?
What they do look
like?
(emotionally/physic
ally>?
What is the conflict
(main problems)?
What is the ending?

34. Start working on the draft
Think of POWEFUL WORDS (SYNONYMS TOO)
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
PUNCTUATION 
PEER-EDITING. At least 2 classmates MUST read your composition, offering feedback
with the rubric at hand

35. SELF-ASSESSMENT

36. PEER ASSESSMENT

37. TEACHER ASSESSMENT

38. INDIVIDUAL TASK.
1) Have a look at the following sentences. Add punctuation marks, when appropriate.
Use appropriate punctuation marks in the following sentences.
1. We had a great time in France the kids really enjoyed it
2. Some people work best in the mornings others do better in the
evenings
3. What are you doing next weekend
4. Mother had to go into hospital she had heart problems
5. Did you understand why I was upset
6. It is a fine idea let us hope that it is going to work
7. We will be arriving on Monday morning at least I think so
8. A textbook can be a wall between teacher and class
9. The girls father sat in a corner
10. In the words of Murphys Law Anything that can go wrong will go
wrong

39. Answers
1. We had a great time in France – the kids
really enjoyed it.
2. Some people work best in the mornings;
others do better in the evenings.
3. What are you doing next weekend?
4. Mother had to go into hospital: she had
heart problems.
5. Did you understand why I was upset?
6. It is a fine idea; let us hope that it is going to
work.
7. We will be arriving on Monday morning – at
least, I think so.
8. A textbook can be a ‘wall’ between teacher
and class.
9. The girl’s father sat in a corner.
10. In the words of Murphy’s Law: ‘Anything
that can go wrong will go wrong.’

40. PROJECT. Let's punctuate!
Students are given opportunities to show that they can use
punctuation appropriately. Individually, students can...
a) create a board game for students to practice punctuation
b) make up a song (example a rap) dealing with punctuation rules
c) draw illustrations showing (mis)understandings when
(mis)using punctuation
d) write a story/comic book/script to be performed in class where
the main characters are punctuation marks (like the story told in
class, so to speak)

41. The student
can…
1 2 3 4
Identify
punctuation
marks
NEVER AT TIMES OFTEN ALWAYS
Understand the
use of
punctuation
marks
NEVER AT TIMES OFTEN ALWAYS
Use
punctuation
marks
appropriately
NEVER AT TIMES OFTEN ALWAYS
Communicate
successfully
using
appropriate
punctuation
marks in
different media
NEVER AT TIMES OFTEN ALWAYS
RUBRIC

42. For fast-finishers

45. 1) How do you usually communicate with ….
a) Your friends?
b) Your family (those who live with you and those who do not live with you)?
c) Your teacher?
2) Which means of communication do you use to be informed?
a) newspapers, magazines
b) television
c) radio
d) internet
e) others
FOR ELL STUDENTS
STUDENTS WITH DIFFICULTIES

46. The way people communicate has changed a lot throughout
history.
Watch the following t.v. advertisement. Pay attention to the
different means of communication people have used.
1) Which one did you find more interesting?
2) Which one do you find more useful? And the least one?