Year 6 Grammar Games - Colons and Semi-colons Sentence Builder

Use our Sentence Builder Game to develop year 6 pupils' understanding of semi-colons and colons to link related independent clauses. Pupils will use the independent clause cards and punctuation cards to create sentences by finding the related clauses and choosing the correct punctuation mark. The grammar game will also give pupils the opportunity to use and understand the year 6 grammar terminology in English appendix 2 when discussing their sentences.

This sentence game for KS2 can be played as a whole class as a fun English lesson starter activity or as the main focus of the lesson. It could also be used as a writing intervention in KS2 for pupils who may need support to when using colons and semi-colons in their sentences.

What is an independent clause?

An independent clause (also known as a main clause) is a clause that makes sense on its own as a simple sentence. 

What is a semi-colon?

A semi-colon ( ; ) can be used to separate two sentences (or independent clauses) which are closely linked and of equal importance. They can also be used to punctuate lists.

What is a colon?

A colon ( : ) can be used to introduce examples or explanations. They can also be used to introduce a list.

This primary resource includes

• Teacher notes
• Punctuating independent clauses cards
• Independent clause cards

National Curriculum English programme of study links
Pupils should be taught to use semi-colons and colons to mark boundaries between independent clauses
Pupils should be taught to use and understand the grammatical terminology in English appendix 2 accurately and appropriately when discussing their writing.

This resource is part of the Grammar Games collection.
View more from this collection

• Teacher notes
• Punctuating independent clauses cards
• Independent clause cards