Activities to Teach Students to Capitalize the Names of People and Pets
As students continue to develop their writing skills, it’s important to teach them about the different grammatical rules that come with writing. One key rule that many students struggle with is capitalization, specifically when it comes to the names of people and pets. While this may seem like an easy concept to grasp, it can often be confusing for students, especially if they are not yet familiar with the rules surrounding proper nouns. Fortunately, there are a few activities that teachers can implement in their classroom to help students strengthen their knowledge of capitalization.
1. Name That Capitalization:
This activity is a fun and interactive way to get students thinking about the correct capitalization of proper nouns. To begin, create a list of names (both human and animal) on the board or on a piece of paper. Then, ask students to identify which names should be capitalized and which names should not. You can also throw in some tricky ones that may be capitalized, but not for the reasons students may think (such as nicknames or titles). This activity can be done as a class or in pairs, and can even be turned into a competition.
2. Capitalization Scavenger Hunt:
In this activity, students will be tasked with finding as many proper nouns (including names of people and pets) as they can around the classroom or school. Give each student a piece of paper or a worksheet with blank spaces for them to fill in the proper nouns they find. Make it a challenge by setting a time limit or by offering prizes to the group(s) that find the most nouns.
3. Create a Pet Portfolio:
This activity not only reinforces the importance of capitalizing pet names, but also encourages creativity and imagination. Ask students to create a “pet portfolio” for a fictional or real pet they own. In the portfolio, they should include the pet’s name (properly capitalized, of course), as well as a picture, a short biography, and some fun facts about their pet. This activity not only teaches capitalization but also may inspire some students to eventually get their own pet!
4. Proper Noun Writing:
To make this activity more interactive, teachers could create a chart that includes a mix of proper and common nouns. Students would then be asked to write a story using different nouns in the chart. This would ensure that they are properly capitalizing proper nouns—such as people and pet names—and help them understand how proper nouns function in the sentence.
By implementing these activities in the classroom, teachers can help students strengthen their understanding of capitalization rules involving people and pet names. As students grow in their writing skills, it’s important to remember that even seemingly small details, such as capitalization, can make a big difference in their writing.