You will learn
- Use commas in a list.
- Use commas in greetings and closings.
- Use apostrophes in contractions.
- Use apostrophes to show belonging.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A comma separates items in a list.
- A comma goes after a greeting and in a date.
- An apostrophe shows missing letters: don’t.
- An apostrophe also shows belonging: Ama’s book.
Words to know
a mark that separates items or ideas
a mark like ’ used in contractions and possession
two words joined with an apostrophe
showing that something belongs to someone
1. Discover: Ama’s list
Ama writes a list: eggs, bread, milk and rice. She starts a letter with Dear Kofi, and then writes, I don’t know where Ama’s book is. Kofi replies, It’s on the teacher’s desk.
Think: Where are the commas and apostrophes?
2. Understand: Commas and apostrophes
Idea 1: Commas
Use a comma between items in a list: eggs, bread, milk and rice. Use a comma after a greeting (Dear Kofi,) and between the day and year in a date: March 3, 2026.
Idea 2: Contractions
An apostrophe shows missing letters in a contraction: do not = don’t, it is = it’s, I am = I’m, can not = can’t.
Idea 3: Possession
An apostrophe plus s shows possession: Ama’s book, the teacher’s desk.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): List
Punctuate: apples bananas and oranges.
- Comma between items.
Answer: apples, bananas and oranges
Example 2 (We do it together): Contraction
Short form of do not?
- Apostrophe for o.
Answer: don’t
Example 3 (You try): Possession
The book of Ama.
Show the steps and answer
- Add ’s.
Answer: Ama’s book
Did you know?
Its and it’s are different: it’s means it is; its shows belonging.
Why this matters
Commas and apostrophes make writing clear and correct.
4. Explore: Mark it
Add commas and apostrophes.
- Read a sentence.
- Find where marks are needed.
- Add them.
- Read it aloud.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can add commas and apostrophes.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- I like apples___ bananas and oranges.
- Do not = ___.
- Ama___ book.
- Dear Kofi___
Guided practice
Question 1. Contraction of cannot?
can’t
Question 2. Possession: dog of Tolu.
Tolu’s dog
Question 3. Comma in a list?
between items
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A mark in a list is a ___.
- A mark in don’t is an ___.
- Two words joined is a ___.
- Showing belonging is ___.
- A comma follows a ___.
Level 2: Grow
- Short form of is not.
- Possession: the hat of Kofi.
- Punctuate: red blue and green.
Level 3: Stretch
- Why use apostrophes?
- Is it’s the same as its?
- Where does a comma go in a list?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Write 5 sentences with commas and apostrophes.
Show a sample answer
five sentences
Another one. Fix: Amas book isnt here.
Show a sample answer
Ama’s book isn’t here.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: don’t.
Fix: dogs not dog’s.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can use commas in lists.
- I can use commas in greetings.
- I can use apostrophes in contractions.
- I can show belonging.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Commas separate list items.
- Commas follow greetings.
- Apostrophes show missing letters.
- Apostrophes show belonging.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Complete sentences. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Where do commas go in a list? [1 mark]
- Write the contraction for do not and can not. [2 marks]
- Show possession: the hat of Kofi. [1 mark]
- Punctuate: eggs bread and milk. [1 mark]
- Explain two uses of apostrophes. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- between items [1]
- don’t [1]; can’t [1]
- Kofi’s hat [1]
- eggs, bread and milk [1]
- missing letters in contractions [1]; belonging [1]; example [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A mark in a list is a ___.
- A mark in don’t is an ___.
- do not =
- can not =
- it is =
- True or false: apostrophes show missing letters.
- True or false: dont is correct.
- Ama’s hat means ___ hat.
- Punctuate: red blue and green.
- Write a sentence with an apostrophe.
Homework
Write 5 sentences with commas and apostrophes.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A mark in a list is a ___. | comma | 1 |
| 2. A mark in don’t is an ___. | apostrophe | 1 |
| 3. do not = | don’t | 1 |
| 4. can not = | can’t | 1 |
| 5. it is = | it’s | 1 |
| 6. True or false: apostrophes show missing letters. | true | 1 |
| 7. True or false: dont is correct. | false | 1 |
| 8. Ama’s hat means ___ hat. | Ama’s | 1 |
| 9. Punctuate: red blue and green. | red, blue and green | 1 |
| 10. Write a sentence with an apostrophe. | Ama’s book is here. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 comma; 2 apostrophe; 3 contraction; 4 possession; 5 greeting. Level 2: 1 isn’t; 2 Kofi’s hat; 3 red, blue and green. Level 3: 1 missing letters or belonging; 2 no; 3 between items.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Use commas in a list | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Use commas in greetings and closings | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use apostrophes in contractions | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Use apostrophes to show belonging | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: No apostrophe in contractions. don’t.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use mark cards.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns commas and apostrophes. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Check marks in writing.
- Read together.
- Praise accuracy.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: use commas in a list; use commas in greetings and closings; use apostrophes in contractions; use apostrophes to show belonging.
Prerequisite knowledge. Capitalisation.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Review punctuation.
Explanation (10 min). Teach commas/apostrophes.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Check.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Is it a list, a contraction or belonging?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use mark cards. Extension. Learn plural possessives.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. No apostrophe in contractions. don’t.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use mark cards. Enrichment. Learn plural possessives. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core L.2.2b–c (use commas in greetings and closings of letters; use an apostrophe to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives); Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (grammar and punctuation). These sources informed the lesson.