Grade 1Englisheasy
Punctuation Practice: Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Marks
This worksheet helps Grade 1 students practice using periods, question marks, and exclamation marks at the end of sentences, plus capitalizing the first word.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Identify the correct ending punctuation (period, question mark, or exclamation mark) for sentences based on whether they are statements, questions, or excited expressions
- Apply proper capitalization by recognizing that the first word of every sentence must begin with a capital letter
- Demonstrate understanding of how periods end telling sentences and how question marks end asking sentences
- Use exclamation marks appropriately to show excitement, surprise, or strong feeling at the end of sentences
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Begin by reviewing the three punctuation marks together. Show your student a large visual aid displaying a period (.), a question mark (?), and an exclamation mark (!). Say each mark out loud and explain: periods stop telling sentences, question marks end asking sentences, and exclamation marks show excitement.
- Step 2: Read the first sentence aloud together with natural expression. Ask your student: 'Is this sentence telling us something, asking us something, or showing excitement?' Listen to their voice to hear if they naturally read it as a question or with excitement.
- Step 3: Have your student identify and circle the first letter of the sentence and discuss whether it needs a capital letter. If it's lowercase, talk about making it bigger and stronger with a capital letter.
- Step 4: Guide them to write the correct punctuation mark at the end of the sentence. They can trace the mark if needed, or you can show them where to place it.
- Step 5: Repeat this process for all 10 sentences on the worksheet. After completing the worksheet, have them read aloud their finished sentences with proper expression to reinforce that punctuation shows how to read sentences.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Many Grade 1 students confuse question marks and periods because both are small marks. Help them remember by saying: 'A question mark looks like a hook that catches your question' and 'A period is a dot that stops your sentence.' Practice identifying these marks in familiar picture books before completing the worksheet.
Students often forget to capitalize the first letter when writing sentences. Create a simple rule poster together that says 'First letter = BIG!' and point to it frequently. During worksheet practice, have them circle the first letter in green before adding punctuation.
Watch for students who add exclamation marks to every sentence. Explain that exclamation marks are special—they're for when we're really excited or surprised. Read sentences with normal tone, then with excited tone, so they hear the difference and understand when an exclamation mark belongs.
Model 'think aloud' behavior by reading each sentence aloud with expression before choosing punctuation. Say the sentence with a question voice ('Is this a question?'), a normal voice ('This is a telling sentence.'), or an excited voice ('This is exciting!'). This auditory cue helps students match the punctuation to the sentence's meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important for Grade 1 students to learn punctuation marks before learning to write longer sentences?
Punctuation marks are like traffic signals for reading. When students learn what periods, question marks, and exclamation marks mean early, they understand how to read with expression and how to show their meaning when they write. This foundation makes it easier to write clear sentences later in Grade 2 and beyond. It also helps them be better readers because they understand what sentences are asking or telling.
My student can identify question marks but keeps adding them to statements. How should I address this?
This is very common in Grade 1! Your student may be confusing the shape or over-using their new discovery. Try this: Have them ask you real yes/no questions ('Can I have a snack?' 'Do you like dogs?'), and point out that these go up in tone and end with a question mark. Then have them tell you statements in a normal voice ('I like snacks.' 'I like dogs.'). Model reading sentences aloud with your voice—questions go up at the end, statements go down. Practice this a few times before returning to the worksheet.
What's the difference between when to use a period versus an exclamation mark?
A period ends a normal sentence where you're just telling information or facts ('I have a cat.' 'The sun is yellow.'). An exclamation mark is used when you have a strong feeling—you're excited, surprised, scared, or very happy ('I love ice cream!' 'Watch out!' 'What a beautiful day!'). A helpful tip: If you can imagine saying the sentence in a big, loud, excited voice, it probably needs an exclamation mark. If you'd say it in a calm, normal voice, use a period.
Should I correct my student's capitalization mistakes separately from punctuation mistakes, or address them together?
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