1st Grade Handwriting Lesson 8: Using Question Marks and Exclamation Marks

Objective

I can use a question mark for a question and an exclamation mark for a strong feeling.

Materials

Sharpened pencil
Eraser
Ruled paper (primary lines preferred)

Mini-lesson — Picking the right ending mark

Ending marks help your reader know what your sentence is doing. Is it asking something, or showing a big feeling?

Question mark

Use a question mark when you ask something.
Your voice usually goes up at the end.
Example: Are you ready?

Exclamation mark

Use an exclamation mark for a strong feeling.
It can show excitement, surprise, or a loud voice.
Example: That was amazing!

Quick trick

If you can answer it, it is probably a question.
If it sounds excited, it is probably a big feeling.

Ask yourself: "Am I asking something, or showing a big feeling?"

Guided Practice — Ending mark warm-up

Choose 3 sentences from the Trace menu and copy them neatly on paper. Then use the Tracing Pad to practice words, sentences, and marks.

Tracing Pad

Lines Trace

Pen

Drag & Drop — Choose the ending mark

Drag the chips to build each sentence. Pick the correct ending mark: ? for a question, ! for a strong feeling.

Are you ready ? !

We did it ! ?

Can we go ? !

Look out ! ?

Did you hear that ? !

That was amazing ! ?

Is it your turn ? !

Stop right now ! ?

Quick Check — Question marks and exclamation marks

Answer each question about questions, big feelings, and ending marks.

Which mark ends a question?

Question mark Period Comma

Which mark can show excitement?

Comma Question mark Exclamation mark

Which sentence is a question?

I like pizza Do you like pizza Pizza is tasty

Pick the best ending:

Are we there yet ? Are ? we there yet ? Are we there yet

Pick the best ending:

I won ! the game ! I won the game I won the game !

The best way to choose an ending mark is to…

Pick a mark randomly Read the sentence first Skip ending marks

Which mark fits: "Can I play"

Question mark Period Comma

Which mark fits: "That is awesome"

Comma Question mark Exclamation mark

A telling sentence usually ends with…

Exclamation mark Period Question mark

A question mark is made with…

A curve and a dot Two dots A long line only

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Uses a question mark at the end of questions Uses an exclamation mark for strong feelings Chooses the correct ending mark for the sentence Makes punctuation marks neat (small dots, clean lines)

Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can tell when a sentence is a question or a big feeling. 🙂 I am getting better at choosing the ending mark. 😅 I mix up question marks and exclamation marks sometimes.

I will practice…

Question mark for questions Exclamation mark for big feelings Reading the sentence first