# Lesson 8: Using question marks and exclamation marks

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟢 A. Getting Started with Writing

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## Objective

I can tell when a sentence is a question or has a strong feeling, and end it with a question mark or exclamation mark.

## Materials

- Short, sharpened pencil
- Eraser
- Ruled paper (primary lines preferred)
- Tracing Pad (below)
- Simple picture cards (for questions like "What is it?")

## Mini-lesson — ? or ! at the end

We can use different punctuation marks at the end of a sentence.

1. Question mark — asking

- A question mark looks like this: ?
- It comes at the end of a question.
- Questions often start with words like who, what, where, when, why, or how.
- Example: Where is my bag?

2. Exclamation mark — strong feeling or loud command

- An exclamation mark looks like this: !
- It shows strong feeling, like surprise, joy, or worry.
- It can also show a loud command.
- Examples: Wow! Stop! That is big!

3. Your reading voice changes

- With a question mark, your voice often goes up at the end.
- With an exclamation mark, your voice sounds more excited or strong.

4. Still use capitals and spaces

- The sentence still needs a capital letter at the start.
- It still needs spaces between words.
- Only the end mark changes: ? or !

Ask yourself: "Am I asking something or showing a strong feeling?"

Picture strip: "Question or exclamation?"

## Guided Practice — Is it a question or a shout?

Use this routine to decide if your sentence needs a question mark or an exclamation mark.

1. Say a sentence: Try Where is my hat? or Stop right now! Say it in your best reading voice.
2. Ask or strong feeling? Is the sentence asking something? Or does it show strong feeling or a loud command?
3. Choose the end mark: If you are asking, choose a ?. If it is a strong feeling, choose a !.
4. Trace on the pad: On the Tracing Pad, choose a pattern like who, what, or wow!. Write a short sentence and add the correct end mark.
5. Read with the right voice: For a question, let your voice go up at the end. For an exclamation, use an excited or strong voice.
6. Move to paper: On your paper, write one question and one exclamation. Check that each one has the right mark.

Think: "Question mark for asking, exclamation mark for strong feeling."

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Drag & Drop — Choose ? or !

First, build each short sentence on the screen. Then copy it neatly on your ruled paper with the correct end mark.

On the device: Drag the words into the correct order. Release inside a slot to drop. Chips stay in their own question.

On paper: Write each sentence with a capital letter, spaces between words, and the correct question mark or exclamation mark.

Can you help me ?
Where is my hat ?
Look at that dog !
Stop right now !
What is your name ?

## Quick Check — Question marks and exclamation marks

Answer each question about question marks and exclamation marks. This is a gentle 10-question check.

#### What does a question mark show?

A very long word A sentence is asking something The word should be louder

#### What does an exclamation mark show?

A very quiet voice A sentence is always a question Strong feeling or a loud command

#### Which sentence needs a question mark?

Where is my bag I like my bag Wow my bag is big

#### Which sentence should end with an exclamation mark?

Where is the ball Stop right now My ball is red

#### Which word usually begins a question?

Wow Great Where

#### How should your voice sound at the end of a question?

It goes up a little It goes down and shouts It stops in the middle of a word

#### How should your voice sound at an exclamation mark?

Flat and sleepy Excited or strong Always whispering

#### Which sentence should end with a question mark?

What is your name Your name is Sam Wow your name is Sam

#### What does a sentence still need when we add ? or ! at the end?

No capital letter No spaces between words A capital at the start and spaces between words

#### How can you check which end mark to use?

Put both marks at the end Read the sentence and see if it is asking or has strong feeling Always use a period only

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Uses a question mark at the end of most questions Uses an exclamation mark to show strong feeling or loud commands Reads questions with a gentle up voice and exclamations with a more excited voice Still uses capitals and spaces when adding ? or !

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can choose ? or ! to end my sentences. 🙂 I need more practice choosing the right end mark. 😅 Question marks and exclamation marks still feel tricky.

#### I will practice…

Noticing when a sentence is a question Noticing when a sentence has strong feeling Ending my sentences with ?, !, or .
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