Summary
Embark on a delicious adventure with "Punctuation in Practice: Conventions of Standard English," a unique collection of grammar lessons where food meets language! Designed for 11-12th graders, this series transforms punctuation learning into a culinary delight. Each lesson serves up a specific punctuation topic, from commas and semicolons to colons and quotation marks, all seasoned with mouth-watering food themes. Through engaging recipes, cooking short stories, and fun food-related activities, students will savor the rules of punctuation and learn to apply them with finesse. Whether you're slicing commas like a master chef or garnishing sentences with colons, this collection promises to make grammar as enjoyable and memorable as a favorite meal. Bon appétit!Resources
A dash of this and a dash of that works in cooking, but does it work in writing? In this lesson, students will explore the use of em and en dashes. Through reading the short story “Cooking Time,” students will get to explore the use of dashes. Students will also have the opportunity to write a response... Read more »
Created by: Margaret Salesky
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
Just a Dash of Punctuation
The Weirdest Sentence I'd Ever Heard
- 9th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- A.P. Language and Composition, A.P. Literature and Composition, American Literature, British Literature, Composition, Creative Writing
- 11.5.W.7
Semicolons in Wonderland: Pigs, Pepper, & Punctuation
Exploring semicolon rules and the ways they enhance writing style
- 9th - 12th
In this lesson, students explore the rules of semicolons and the ways they can be used to enhance their writing styles. They begin the lesson by identifying (non) examples of semicolon use to hypothesize about the grammatical rules being displayed. Using AI (Artificial Intelligence), students critique... Read more »
Created by: Lisa Loughlin
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
Semicolons in Wonderland: Pigs, Pepper, & Punctuation
Exploring semicolon rules and the ways they enhance writing style
- 9th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- A.P. Language and Composition, A.P. Literature and Composition, Composition, Creative Writing
- 9.5.W.11, PUN 502, PUN 604
In this lesson, students explore the rules of colons and how they can be used to enhance their writing style. They begin the lesson by determining which colon rules are true and which are false. Next, they practice their new knowledge of the colon rules and read an article about the Iroquois’ “Three... Read more »
Created by: Lisa Loughlin
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
Cooking With Colons
Using Colons To Enhance Writing
- 9th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- 9.5.W.8, 11.5.W.7, PUN 302
Julia Child helped us Master the Art of French Cooking. In this lesson, you will help your students master the art of apostrophes! Your students will start by analyzing the incorrect apostrophes in comics and everyday signage before moving on to a card matching activity that enables them to explore... Read more »
Created by: Margaret Salesky
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
Mastering the Art of Apostrophes
Apostrophes
- 9th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- 11.5.W.5, PUN 302
In this grammar and punctuation lesson, students will explore the proper usage of brackets [ ], parentheses ( ), and ellipses … in writing. From ELA to math, science, and social studies, students will explore how brackets, parentheses, and ellipses are used across the curriculum. This exploration will... Read more »
Created by: Polly Base
Date Updated: March 18th, 2025
Cooking with Clarity
Special Grammar Ingredients: Brackets, Parentheses, and Ellipses
- 9th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- A.P. Language and Composition
- 12.3.W.1, 12.5.W.2, 12.5.W.8
In this lesson, students will read “They’re Made Out of Meat” by Terry Bisson and analyze its dialogue structure. They will focus on the significance of punctuation marks such as quotation marks, commas, and ellipses in conveying tone and meaning within a conversation. Through guided analysis and group... Read more »
Created by: DeLayna Basham
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
- 12th Grade
- English/Language Arts
- A.P. Literature and Composition, Creative Writing
- 12.3.W.1
Students will model their writing using mentor sentences and use the mentor sentences to understand how and why authors use commas to make their sentences clear and grammatically correct. Read more »
Created by: Margaret Salesky
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
Use Your Noodle
Avoiding Comma Blunders
- English/Language Arts
- Composition, Creative Writing
- 9th - 10th
- 9.5.W.1, 9.5.W.2, PUN 302
This lesson on comma usage focuses on equipping students with a solid understanding of comma rules and their practical application in writing. Through interactive activities and examples, students will learn how to use commas to separate items in a list, set off introductory elements, join independent... Read more »
Created by: Polly Base
Date Updated: June 13th, 2025
Why Pause? Exploring the Power of Commas
Comma Usage
- 7th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- A.P. Language and Composition
- ACT Prep, Culture, Food, Short Story
- 12.5.W.6, PUN 201, PUN 301, PUN 302, PUN 404, PUN 601
"At the table, we don't just share food, we share memories." Students will connect their understanding of punctuation rules with analyzing and writing food blogs. The knowledge gained through the previous lessons in this collection will enable students to identify successfully how punctuation impacts... Read more »
Created by: Polly Base
Date Updated: June 17th, 2025
Jump to the Recipe
Punctuation Culmination
- 7th - 12th
- English/Language Arts
- A.P. Language and Composition
- ACT Prep
- 12.5.W.2, 12.5.W.5, 12.5.W.6, 12.5.W.7, 12.5.W.8, 12.5.W.10
Standards
- include engaging plots involving well-developed, complex characters resolving conflicts
- establish narrator(s) that enhance(s) the narrative
- are intentionally sequenced in a way to achieve a specific effect (e.g., create suspense, establish mood, reflect theme)
- provide clear descriptions, using precise language, sensory details, and dialogue
- include varied syntax to enhance readability
- emulate literary elements and/or literary devices from mentor texts
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