• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Apostrophes for possession). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which shows possession correctly? the classroom of the teacher (the teacher classroom's / the teacher's classroom / the teachers classroom / the teachers' classroom) → the teacher's classroomPrompt: Who is the owner? One owner or more than one?
2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The town's oldest building — a stone ___ dates from the 1300s. (chapel / chapel, / chapel; / chapel —) → chapel —Prompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?
3. Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. We have three ___ in our garden. (more than one tree, no owner) (trees' / tree's / trees) → treesPrompt: Does the word show ownership, a contraction, or just a plural?

• Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
• Share the objective: Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT). Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ decision to lower ticket prices doubled attendance.
• Step 1: Use 's for singular possessives, s' for plural possessives ending in s, and no apostrophe for plain plurals. Essential (restrictive) names take no commas.
• Step 2: One owner possesses the noun that follows: 's.
• Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The museum's decision to lower ticket prices doubled attendance."
• Step 4: So the answer is: museum's
• Answer: museum's
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ annual migration covers more than 3,000 kilometres. (herds' / herds / herd's / herd) → herd'sPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?
2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Each of the ___ wings is covered in tiny scales that reflect light. (butterflies's / butterfly's / butterflies / butterflys') → butterfly'sPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ annual migration covers more than 3,000 kilometres. (herds / herd's / herds' / herd) → herd'sPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?
2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Marine biologist ___ has spent two decades studying coral reefs. (, Ana Ruiz / , Ana Ruiz, / Ana Ruiz / Ana Ruiz,) → Ana RuizPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.