5.5 Year 5: using brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis

This Real Grammar KS2 resources pack provides everything that you need to learn how parenthesis is used and punctuated in sentences. Pupils are shown how brackets, dashes and commas are used to punctuate parenthesis, and which is the most appropriate in different situations. Teaching slides, worksheets, games and an opportunity to apply the new learning in a writing task are all included to explore parenthesis with pupils in Year 5 or to revisit this area of learning.

The resources include a model text about Pompeii which could be used as part of a topic on The Roman Empire or volcanoes.

What is parenthesis?

Parenthesis is added to a sentence to give extra information, an explanation or an afterthought. The parenthesis is not needed to make the sentence complete and, if removed, the sentence will still make sense without it. Parenthesis must be punctuated with brackets, dashes or commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

When are brackets used for parenthesis?

The use of brackets means the parenthesis can easily be seen, and they are often used when adding numerical information such as dates. They are used less in very formal writing.

When are dashes used for parenthesis?

Dashes are often used in informal formal writing, showing when information is added as an afterthought. They also draw more attention to the parenthesis.

When are commas used for parenthesis?

When commas are used, the parenthesis blends in with the rest of the sentence. They are often chosen in more formal writing. However, if the text already has many commas, this may become confusing for the reader.

What is included in this resource pack?

This pack is divided into five parts:

TEACH

This section includes PowerPoint teaching slides and teaching notes with an optional script to introduce parenthesis. It can also be used to revisit this aspect of grammar with pupils.

PRACTISE

An independent activity for pupils to practise using what they have been taught, allowing teachers to assess understanding.

REVISIT

A series of short, 10-minute activities that can be used following the TEACH session to revisit and rehearse what has been taught. These may be short writing tasks, grammar games or editing/proofreading activities.

APPLY

A short writing task where pupils can use the grammar skills taught in context to produce independent writing.

REVISE

Five SATs style test questions, including cloze activities and multiple choice quiz questions, based on the grammar that has been taught.

Teachers can choose which section of the resource pack to use according to their pupils’ needs and could use the activities over a series of lessons or weeks

Teacher notes are provided to show how these quality resources could be used with pupils.

How is this resource differentiated?

The PRACTISE and REVISE sections include three activities differentiated for three levels of ability:

• Worksheet 1 for pupils who may need support. Questions will have a lower cognitive domain (what is being asked of pupils) and/or vocabulary used may be simplified where possible.
• Worksheet 2 for pupils working at age related expectations.
• Worksheet 3 for pupils who may need an additional challenge and may be working at a greater depth in this area. Questions will have a higher cognitive domain with more challenging vocabulary.

SUPPORT and CHALLENGE ideas are also included in the teacher notes of each section where relevant, with ideas of how to support pupils working towards the expected standard or at greater depth in this area.

What pupil-facing resources are included?

• TEACH

  PPT slides; model text ‘What happened to Pompeii?’

• PRACTISE

  Practise 1, Practise 2 and Practise 3 worksheets

• REVISIT

  Game 1, game 2

• APPLY

  Planning sheet, questions cards

• REVISE

  PPT slides; Revise 1, Revise 2 and Revise 3 worksheets

Answer sheets for all worksheets are provided, where appropriate.