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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Apostrophes for possession

Punctuation

CCSS L.2.2.CCCSS L.4.1England: Y2 GPS (singular possession)England: Y4 GPS (plural possession)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Apostrophes for possession.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Apostrophes in contractions

Leads to: Proofreading for punctuation; Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT); Possessive apostrophes: singular, plural and irregular plurals

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Apostrophes in contractions). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Write the contraction (short form) of "would not". → wouldn'tPrompt: Which letter or letters are left out?
  2. Which is the correct short form of "are not"? (aren't / arent / arent' / are'nt) → aren'tPrompt: Which letter is missing in the short form?
  3. Write the contraction (short form) of "let us". → let'sPrompt: Which letter or letters are left out?

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Apostrophes for possession. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which shows possession correctly? the shoes of James
  • Step 1: One owner: add 's. Plural owner ending in s: add ' after the s. Plural not ending in s (children, men): add 's.
  • Step 2: A singular name ending in s usually takes 's (James's); James' is also seen.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: James's shoes
  • Answer: James's shoes
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • 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 shows possession correctly? the bike that belongs to Sam (Sam's bike / Sams' bike / Sams bike / Sam bike's) → Sam's bikePrompt: Who is the owner? One owner or more than one?
  2. Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. The ___ coats hung on pegs. (lots of children) (childrens / childrens' / children's) → children'sPrompt: Does the word show ownership, a contraction, or just a plural?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. The ___ bowls were empty. (two cats) (cat's / cats' / cats) → cats'Prompt: Does the word show ownership, a contraction, or just a plural?
  2. Which shows possession correctly? the toys belonging to the children (the children's toys / the childrens' toys / the children toy's / the childrens toys) → the children's toysPrompt: Who is the owner? One owner or more than one?

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Apostrophes in contractions.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Proofreading for punctuation; Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT); Possessive apostrophes: singular, plural and irregular plurals.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Apostrophes for possession

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. The ___ bowl was empty. (one cat)

    • A. cats
    • B. cat's
    • C. cats'

  2. Question 2

    Which shows possession correctly? the toys belonging to the children

    • A. the children's toys
    • B. the childrens toys
    • C. the children toy's
    • D. the childrens' toys

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. I borrowed my ___ pen. (one sister)

    • A. sisters'
    • B. sister's
    • C. sisters

  4. Question 4

    Which shows possession correctly? the coats of the girls

    • A. the girl's coats
    • B. the girls' coats
    • C. the girls coats
    • D. the girls's coats

  5. Question 5

    Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. ___ going to rain later. (it is)

    • A. It's
    • B. Its
    • C. Its'

  6. Question 6

    Which shows possession correctly? the kennel of the puppy

    • A. the puppies' kennel
    • B. the puppy's kennel
    • C. the puppys kennel
    • D. the puppy kennel's

  7. Question 7

    Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. The fox hurt ___ paw. (belongs to it)

    • A. it's
    • B. its
    • C. its'

  8. Question 8

    Which shows possession correctly? the classroom of the teacher

    • A. the teacher classroom's
    • B. the teacher's classroom
    • C. the teachers' classroom
    • D. the teachers classroom

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Answer key: Apostrophes for possession

  1. 1. B. cat's

  2. 2. A. the children's toys

  3. 3. B. sister's

  4. 4. B. the girls' coats

  5. 5. A. It's

  6. 6. B. the puppy's kennel

  7. 7. B. its

  8. 8. B. the teacher's classroom