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Teach students to use commas in lists, in dialogue and after an opening clause to make their meaning clear with this complete teaching bundle. Students revise the four punctuation marks, separate the items in a list, separate the speech from the speaker with the speaker first and the speech first, punctuate lists inside dialogue, and then use a comma after an opening clause.

Combining a lesson plan, a 48-slide editable teacher presentation, three differentiated student activities with a bonus task, an exit ticket with interpretation guide and a hands-on card game, this curriculum-aligned bundle provides everything you need to teach the lesson from start to finish.

Built around the I Do, We Do, You Do model, students move from explicit teacher modelling to guided practice and independent application. They learn the words we need (list, comma, dialogue, speaker, inverted commas, punctuation, dependent clause, opening clause), see each comma modelled with a think-aloud, punctuate lists, dialogue and opening clauses together on whiteboards, and then write their own.

What's included in this teaching bundle?

Teacher Slides (PowerPoint)

• 48 editable, ready-to-teach slides following the I Do, We Do, You Do structure
• Clear learning intention and success criteria
• Explicit explanations and worked examples for commas in lists (including why Australian writing usually leaves out the comma before the final ‘and’ unless the list would be confusing), the comma between speech and speaker (both orders), lists inside dialogue and the comma after an opening clause
• Mini whiteboard, thumbs and finger-answer check-ins throughout
• Each whiteboard and check-in slide followed by an answer slide

Lesson Plan and Exit Ticket (PDF)

• Complete I Do, We Do, You Do lesson plan for a 45 to 60 minute lesson, with a suggested time for each phase
• Diagnostic, formative and summative assessment points
• Key vocabulary, teacher notes and common misconceptions
• Check-ins for understanding linked to the matching slides
• Exit ticket (two per page) with an answers page and an interpretation guide
• Class recording sheet (Excel) to track results and plan next steps

Differentiated Student Activities (PDF)

• Activity overview to help you match each option to your students
• Three differentiated activities: Lists and Speakers, Punctuate It and Commas at Work
• Students add commas to lists, mark the speech and the speaker, punctuate dialogue in both orders, punctuate lists inside dialogue and add the comma after an opening clause; the extension also covers interrupted speech, writing a short story and repairing a whole paragraph
• Bonus task: Comma Swap (find how moving one comma changes the meaning of a sentence, then write a pair of your own)
• Answer key and marking guide with model answers and evidence criteria

Hands-On Activity: Say It, List It (PDF)

• Partner game, run as a follow-up lesson or literacy rotation (about 15 minutes): turn over a speaker card and a list card, then write the sentence twice, speaker first and speech first, adding every comma and the inverted commas
• Each writer may hide one slip for their partner to find, points are scored for every correct comma, and the first player to 15 points wins
• 9 speaker cards and 12 list cards (including three tricky lists), cut out before the lesson, with a How to Play page and a recording sheet (with answers)
• Support and extension options so every pair can work at the right challenge
• Teacher page with set-up, a model round, what to listen for, misconceptions, differentiation and an answer key

Ideal for upper primary classrooms, this bundle provides a structured approach to teaching commas, combining explicit instruction, shared punctuation practice, differentiated independent writing and an engaging hands-on card game.

Formats: PowerPoint, PDF and Excel

Aligned to Australian Curriculum: Understand how to use the comma for lists, to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause, and in dialogue (AC9E6LA09)

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