Image of lightning striking as red embers fall down through the air
Martin Rietze
Grammar,

When Lightning Meets Lava

Whoa! This eruption is out of this world!

From the March 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: to identify when a comma is needed before a coordinating conjunction

Featured Skills: Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    L.3
  • Grade 6
    L.6.3
  • Grade 7
    L.7.3
  • Grade 8
    L.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    2b, 10c, 10d (ix)

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Directions:

Read the hint below. Then read the blurbs that follow. Decide whether a comma is needed in the space before each bolded coordinating conjunction. If so, on a separate sheet of paper, write the comma on the line.

Comma or No Comma?

Not sure whether you need a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)? If what comes both before and after the conjunction can stand alone as a sentence, the answer is yes:

Example:

Phil likes onions, but he doesn’t like olives.

could be a sentence: Phil likes onions

coordinating conjunction: but

could be a sentence: he doesn’t like olives

If what comes both before and after the coordinating conjunction cannot stand on its own as a sentence, the answer is no:

Example:

Phil likes onions but not olives.

could be a sentence: Phil likes onions

coordinating conjunction: but

could NOT be a sentence: not olives


iStockPhoto/Getty Images
This is Sakurajima on a quiet day. One of the most active volcanoes in the world, it erupts more than 100 times a year.

Jagged Bolt

Fiery red lava spews from the volcano as an enormous cloud of ash and gas shoots into the air. The eruption of Japan’s Sakurajima volcano is a spectacular sight __ yet it’s about to become even more spectacular. Suddenly, a jagged bolt of lightning cracks across the sky!

You might assume a thunderstorm is passing by__but you would be mistaken. This lightning is actually caused by the eruption itself.

Erlend Haarberg/naturepl.com/Alamy Stock Photo

Fire and Ice

Lightning occurs when static electricity builds up __ and then gets released. (Think of walking on a carpet in your socks __ and then getting a shock when you touch a door handle—but on a massive scale.) 

Scientists believe the static electricity that leads to volcanic lightning comes from tiny bits of crushed rock or ice crashing together in an ash cloud. The lightning that results can be a single bolt __ or strikes that go on for minutes, hours, or even days. Volcanic lightning has been observed at more than 150 volcanoes around the world. 

Martin Rietze

Exciting Possibilities

Researchers still have more to learn about volcanic lightning __but they are excited by what it could tell us. Volcanic lightning might, for example, be helpful in predicting the size of an eruption or the path of ash clouds, which can pose a danger to planes. 

Meanwhile, like the rest of us, scientists will continue to look at volcanic lightning with awe __ for it is a truly stunning example of the power of nature.

 

This article was originally published in the March 2024 issue.

Activities (2)
Skill-Building Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (2)
Skill-Building Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Prepare to Read

2. Read and Discuss

3. Write

1. PREPARE TO READ (10 MINUTES)

Set a Purpose for Reading

  • Direct students’ attention to the hint box and directions on page 2 or at the top of the digital story page. Read each aloud.

2. READ AND DISCUSS (10 MINUTES)

  • Have students read the three boxes of text independently or with a partner, placing a comma in each purple box when necessary. Optionally, share the interactive version of this article. Then discuss the answers.

  • In your Resources tab, find an anchor chart and an additional skill-reinforcement activity called Comma or No Comma? The activity includes additional support around simple sentences, compound sentences, and the coordinating conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so (known by the acronym FANBOYS). This activity is also available as a Google Slideshow for projecting.

3. WRITE (2 MINUTES)

  • Have students practice using this grammar skill in context. Project this Exit Ticket prompt on your board for students to respond to on a sticky note before they leave class:

    Write a sentence that includes the following: 

    • the word singing 
    • the word dancing
    • one of these two coordinating conjunctions: and, but
    • a comma
Text-to-Speech