1. Semicolons
Jeff Anderson

2. Invitation to Notice:
In your writer’s notebook, jot down what you notice about the punctuation in the following text examples.

3. Sophia brushed her teeth on January 8, 2005; March 5, 2006; and February 10, 2007.
Peter was startled to find bugs in his camping tent; furthermore, he was astounded to see spiders in his pillow case.
Mrs. Smith, who is in a constant state of denial, refuses to believe her tire is flat; she truly believes that the other three are just bloated.

4. Connects closely related sentences
; Semicolon
Connects closely related sentences
Connects two sentences when the second sentence begins with a transitional word/phrase
Separates items in a series when one (or more) of the items contains commas

5. BrainPop Semicolons

6. Invitation to Imitate:
She was very tired; she had been up late studying the Human Body Systems rap.

7. Invitation to Imitate:
He never did any physical activity; consequently, he was out of breath just walking up stairs.

8. Invitation to Imitate:
At the circus we saw a clown juggling with swords and daggers; a lion who stood on a spherical object; a fire eater with flashing eyes; and an eight year old acrobat.

9. Connect closely related sentences
Invitation to Write:
Go back to your own writing and see if there is anywhere that you want to:
Connect closely related sentences
Connect two sentences when the second sentence begins with a transitional word/phrase
Separate items in a series when one (or more) of the items contains commas

10. Invitation to Edit:
Draft: The wedding invitations have all been set out two hundred guests are expected.
Revised after lesson: The wedding invitations have all been set out; two hundred guests are expected.

11. Invitation to Edit:
Draft: Boomer often harasses his little sister for example he put Mr. Potato Head’s eyes in her breakfast cereal.
Revised after lesson: Boomer often harasses his little sister; for example he put Mr. Potato Head’s eyes in her breakfast cereal.

12. Invitation to Edit:
Draft: We will be meeting on Tuesday, January 2, Wednesday, January 3, and Friday, January 5.
Revised after lesson: We will be meeting on Tuesday, January 2; Wednesday, January 3; and Friday, January 5.