Fifth graders + commas = chaos with a sprinkle of misplaced punctuation. If you’ve ever seen commas tossed into a sentence like confetti—“My dog, barks, loudly, every, morning,”—you know the struggle is real.
Luckily, this post has everything you need to help students master comma rules and enjoy the process. From quick-reference charts to video clips and Jeopardy-style games, these low-prep activities can turn your classroom into a comma-confidence zone.
👉 Grab the handout with ready-to-use printables, links to Google Slides task cards, and the Jeopardy game here. These low-prep activities can be ready to use in just moments. Before you know it, your students will master all the comma rules and have fun doing so.
Teaching Idea #1 – Anchor Chart: Your Visual Lifesaver
Start with an anchor chart that breaks down the 5th-grade Common Core standards.
- separate items in a series
- use commas with introductory elements
- tag questions, direct address, “yes” and “no”
- appositives, quotes, cities and states, dates, letters—you know, the real-world stuff
This chart becomes a go-to reference, especially during practice activities or when students suddenly “forget” everything mid-test.
Teaching Idea #2 – Organizer: The Staggered Flip Book
Fold, staple, done. That’s the magic of this staggered flip organizer. No cutting, no chaos. Just three pieces of copier paper staggered and folded to create a flipbook with room for rules, examples, and a snazzy title flap.
On each inner page, students jot the rule at the top, then expand with examples beneath. It’s compact, visual, and classroom tested to hold up in backpacks (mostly).
Check out the step-by-step photos in the post to build yours in minutes. 👀
Teaching Idea #3 – Videos: Let Commas Steal the Spotlight
There’s something magical about seeing commas in action—especially when they pause conversations or clarify who Steve is.
Four videos bring rules to life, including clips from The Electric Company and animated lessons that tackle commas with quotes, direct address, and introductory phrases. These work great during mini-lessons or as warm-ups before practice.
Commas as Pause – My Daughter Studies (The Electric Company)
Commas and Quotes (The Electric Company)
Introductory Elements and Commas
Grammar Matters–Direct Address Comma
Teaching Idea #4 – Jeopardy Game: Review, Rebooted
Created in Google Slides (convertible to PowerPoint for full link features), this Jeopardy-style game reviews all five comma standards. Categories include everything from inserting commas to explaining grammar in student-friendly terms.
Perfect for test prep, partner play, or just a little Friday fun.
Teaching Idea #5 – Task Cards: Flexible & Editable
Editable in Google Slides, these task cards are quick to customize for station work, Scoot, review games, or independent practice.
Students can:
- identify which comma rule is being used
- rewrite comma-free sentences with proper punctuation
- color-code rules (because who doesn’t love a theme?)
Short sentences make the task light while reinforcing big concepts.
Teaching Idea #6 – On the Web
Need a backup or bonus challenge? Try:
39 FREE Punctuation Worksheets
Rules for Learning Commas – This Grammarly page goes over comma rules with example sentences. This is a great resource for students to use as they complete the foldable organizer.
Commas Galore interactive (Quia Game)
By the time your students wrap up these activities, they’ll be sprinkling commas like seasoned writers—not glitter enthusiasts at a craft table.
Ready to comma-and-conquer? Download the handout to get started.
See the product that inspired this post.
Looking for a way to make grammar stick? These TPT lessons combine video instruction, animated shorts, and printable games to bring grammar to life. Students get clear visuals, engaging stories, and fun practice with concepts like commas and verb tenses—all in one easy-to-use bundle.
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