✏️ WritingLevel 1Lesson 9
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Punctuation and Periods

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify whether a telling sentence needs a period or already has one
  • 2Place a period right after the last word of every telling sentence
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Mini Lesson

A period is a tiny dot, but it does a very important job. It tells the reader: "This thought is finished — you can stop here." Without it, sentences just keep running and running!

What is punctuation?

  • Punctuation marks are symbols that help readers understand writing.
  • They show where to pause, stop, or feel excitement.
  • The period ( . ) is the most common punctuation mark.

When do you use a period?

  • Use a period at the end of every telling sentence.
  • A telling sentence states a fact or idea — it does not ask a question.
  • Example: The sun is hot. ← telling sentence, needs a period.

Where does the period go?

  • Right after the last word — no space between word and period.
  • Example: I like cats. — not I like cats .
  • The next sentence starts on the same line or the next, with a capital.

How to check for a missing period

  • Read your sentence aloud. When it feels finished — add a period.
  • Look at the very last character. Is it a dot?
  • If the last character is a letter, the period is missing!
A telling sentence ending with a periodA short sentence "The cat sat." with the final period circled and highlighted, showing that every telling sentence ends with a dot.The Little DotThe cat satthis little dot= a periodRight after the last word — no space before.
"The cat sat." — the period is the tiny dot right after "sat".
With periods vs. without periodsTwo panels comparing the same sentences written without periods (confusing) and with periods (clear and easy to read).✗ No periodsThe sun is bright weplay in the yardConfusing — where does one idea stop?✓ With periodsThe sun is bright.We play in the yard.Clear — each thought has a stop.
Periods separate ideas so sentences are clear and easy to read.
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Ask yourself: "Is this a telling sentence? Does it end with a period?"

Vocabulary
Period
A small dot placed at the end of a telling sentence to show that the thought is finishede.g. I like cats.
Punctuation
Symbols that help readers understand writing by showing where to pause, stop, or feel excitemente.g. the period, question mark, and exclamation mark
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← Lesson 8: Writing Simple SentencesLesson 10: Question Marks and Exclamation Marks →