• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (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 shoes of James (Jameses shoes / James's shoes / Jame's shoes / James shoes) → James's shoesPrompt: Who is the owner? One owner or more than one?
2. Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. The ___ lunches were in the fridge. (the workers) (workers' / worker's / workers) → workers'Prompt: Does the word show ownership, a contraction, or just a plural?
3. Which shows possession correctly? the hats of the men (the mens hats / the man's hats' / the men's hats / the mens' hats) → the men's hatsPrompt: Who is the owner? One owner or more than one?

• Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
• Share the objective: Possessive apostrophes: singular, plural and irregular plurals. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Choose the correct form. The brackets tell you how many owners there are. The ___ coats were hanging by the door. (more than one girl)
• Step 1: Singular owner → 's (dog's). Plural ending in s → s' (dogs'). Plural not ending in s → 's (children's).
• Step 2: Plural ending in s: add just an apostrophe.
• Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The girls' coats were hanging by the door."
• Step 4: So the answer is: girls'
• Answer: girls'
• 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. Choose the correct form. The brackets tell you how many owners there are. The ___ toys were all over the floor. (more than one child) (children's / childrens / children / childrens') → children'sPrompt: First write the owner word correctly: one dog / two dogs / children.
2. Read the question and choose. "The cat's bowls were empty." How many cats are there? (one / more than one / none / we can't tell) → onePrompt: Look at where the apostrophe is: before or after the s?

• 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. Read the question and choose. "The cat's bowls were empty." How many cats are there? (more than one / we can't tell / one / none) → onePrompt: Look at where the apostrophe is: before or after the s?
2. Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly? • The player's boot's were muddy. • The players's boots were muddy. • The players' boots were muddy. • The players boot's were muddy. (The player's boot's were muddy. / The players's boots were muddy. / The players' boots were muddy. / The players boot's were muddy.) → The players' boots were muddy.Prompt: Find the word that owns something, then check every other word ending in s.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-6.