I can use a period at the
end of a simple sentence and check that my sentences
start, make sense, and end correctly.
Materials
Short, sharpened pencil
Eraser
Ruled paper (primary lines preferred)
Tracing Pad (below)
Short sentence strips or cards (for example: I see a cat)
Mini-lesson — periods show the end
A period is a small dot: .
It shows that a sentence has come to an end.
1. period at the end
We put a period at the very end of a sentence.
It tells the reader, "Now you can take a little breath."
Example: I see a dog.
2. Do not use it after every word
We do not put a dot after each word.
We wait until the whole idea is finished.
Wrong: I. see. a. dog.
Right: I see a dog.
3. Use your stopping voice
When you see a period, your voice has a
little stop.
Read to the end, pause, then start the next sentence.
This makes your reading sound smooth.
4. periods and capitals
After a period, the next sentence
starts with a capital letter.
Example: I like cats. They are soft.
Say this rule:
"I write my sentence, then I stop with a dot."
Picture strip: "Where does the period go?"
Guided Practice — Stop with a dot
Use this routine to add periods to your simple sentences.
Say a sentence:
Try I see a cat. or We run fast.
Say the whole sentence in one smooth voice.
Feel the ending:
When your voice stops, that is where the
period belongs.
Trace on the pad:
On the Tracing Pad, choose a pattern like
I see or a cat.
Write the words and add a dot at the end.
Read and stop:
Slide your finger under the words.
When you reach the dot, give a tiny pause.
Move to paper:
On your paper, write a whole sentence.
Check: capital, spaces, period.
Try two sentences:
For example:
I like cats.They are soft.
Remember a dot at the end of each sentence.
Think: "I say my idea, then I stop with a dot."
Tracing Pad
Drag & Drop — Build sentences with periods
First, build each short sentence on the screen.
Then copy it neatly on your ruled paper with a period at the end.
On the device:
Look at the word chips for each question.
Drag the words into the correct order to make a sentence.
Make sure the period (dot) chip comes last.
On paper:
Copy the finished sentence onto your paper.
Check for a capital letter at the start,
spaces between words, and a period at the end.
Iseeadog.
Wesitandread.
Ilikemypen.
Thecatisbig.
Iruntoschool.
Quick Check — Punctuation and periods
Answer each question about periods and
simple sentences. This is a gentle 10-question check.
What is a period?
Where do we put a period?
What should you do when you see a period while reading?
What should a simple sentence have?
Which line shows periods used correctly?
Why do we use periods?
What should happen after a period?
Which sentence uses the period in the right place?
Next Gen Learning