Colon to introduce a list, dice game, fiction and non-fiction, differentiated 3 ways

I can use a colon to introduce a list (when the clause before the list is independent)

This fun dice game gives children lots of opportunities to use a colon to introduce a list.

I have included three versions of the game, to ensure that all learners are included and challenged appropriately.

On track version: In pairs, use the on track dice guide. As players progress in the game, they must shade one colon on their game board for every item (or noun phrase) they include in each list. The first player to reach the finish is the winner.

Support version: In pairs, children use the support dice guide. During each round both players create a list sentence, using the opening clause on the dice guide, and a list of noun phrases. There are visual prompts on the dice guide to support writers with ideas.

Challenge version: Use the ‘on track’ dice guide, but ask the children to experiment with lists made up of expanded noun phrases that include commas, wherever possible. They can try using semi-colons to separate the items in each list.

Example of a sentence that could be created by playing this dice game at challenge level:

To create her magic potion she needed the following: wild mushrooms, from the lower field; oak bark, from the oldest tree in Western Wood; three long, white feathers and a twist of fresh sap, not more than a day old.

Your class will soon get the hang of colons to introduce lists if you play this for a session.