Get your students excited about using punctuation marks with this fun, mermaid-themed Collecting Seashells Game: Adding Punctuation Marks POWERPOINT! This interactive game is designed to help students identify the correct punctuation to complete a sentence - full stop, question mark or exclamation mark - while keeping them engaged through a playful classroom competition.

To preview this interactive PowerPoint game, click on the video below.

The mermaids are all set for a friendly seashell collecting competition, but they need help! The seashells are hidden within the sentences and can only be collected if the correct punctuation mark is added. Students take turns answering questions to help their mermaid gather shells, adding a layer of excitement to punctuation practice.

Perfect for whole-class lessons, small group rotations or early finishers, this game will have students identifying sentence-ending punctuation in a variety of contexts. The visual theme and built-in feedback make it ideal for younger students who benefit from immediate reinforcement and collaborative learning opportunities.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Recognise sentence-ending punctuation marks
• ✅ Identify whether a sentence is a statement, question or exclamation
• ✅ Use full stops, question marks and exclamation marks accurately
• ✅ Work collaboratively in small teams or as a whole class
• ✅ Engage in active, gamified punctuation practise

What’s Included:

• Interactive PowerPoint game (non-editable)
• Animated slides with engaging visuals and mermaid theme
• Sentence prompts for punctuation practise
• Clickable elements to check answers and collect shells

Materials Needed:

• Device with PowerPoint installed
• Interactive whiteboard or screen for group play
• Optional: whiteboards and markers for student responses

How to Use:

1. Divide students into two groups: one team per mermaid.
2. On each turn, click the ‘find shells’ sand pile to reveal a sentence.
3. Students decide if the sentence needs a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.
4. Click the yellow shell to check their answer.
5. If correct, click their team’s mermaid to collect a shell.
6. The first team to collect all the shells wins the game!

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during a punctuation unit as a fun lesson warm-up
• 💡 Add to your literacy rotations for small group work
• 💡 Pair with a punctuation anchor chart for visual support
• 💡 Incorporate into a punctuation bootcamp week or themed writing day

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Project the game on your IWB and use whole-class voting for extra engagement
• 💛 Encourage students to explain why they chose a punctuation mark before revealing the answer
• 💛 Track class wins over time to build motivation and teamwork

Collecting Seashells Game: Adding Punctuation Marks POWERPOINT is the perfect blend of fun and functional, helping students consolidate punctuation skills while enjoying a cooperative, colourful game.