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

Plural or possessive? (cats, the cat's, the cats')

Punctuation

CCSS L.4.2CCSS L.2.2.CEngland: Y4 GPS (plural possessive apostrophe)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Plural or possessive? (cats, the cat's, the cats').

  • 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 for one owner (the dog's bone)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 for one owner (the dog's bone)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. How do we write "the nest of the bird" the short way? (the birds' nest / the bird's nest / the birds nest / the bird nest's) → the bird's nestPrompt: Who is the owner?
  2. Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the shell of the snail → the ___ shell → snail'sPrompt: Who owns it? Write that word.
  3. How do we write "the screen of the robot" the short way? (the robot screen's / the robots' screen / the robots screen / the robot's screen) → the robot's screenPrompt: Who is the owner?

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Plural or possessive? (cats, the cat's, the cats'). 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: The rabbits' burrows were under the hedge. What does "rabbits'" show?
  • Step 1: Plural: dogs. One owner: the dog's lead. More than one owner: the dogs' leads. Irregular plural owners: the children's toys.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: more than one owner
  • Answer: more than one owner
  • 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. The cats' bowls were empty. What does "cats'" show? (plural: more than one, nothing owned / one owner ('s) / more than one owner) → more than one ownerPrompt: Is there an apostrophe? No apostrophe → just a plural.
  2. Choose the correct form. The clue in brackets tells you how many owners. The ___ coats are on the pegs. (lots of girls) (girls's / girls / girl's / girls') → girls'Prompt: Write the owner word first: one or more than one?

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 form. The clue in brackets tells you how many owners. The ___ bike has a loud bell. (one boy) (boys / boys' / boys's / boy's) → boy'sPrompt: Write the owner word first: one or more than one?
  2. Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the wheels of the two bikes → the two ___ wheels → bikes'Prompt: Is there 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 for one owner (the dog's bone).
  • 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

  • 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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Plural or possessive? (cats, the cat's, the cats')

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the toys that belong to the children → the ___ toys

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    The robot's arm swung round. What does "robot's" show?

    • A. plural: more than one, nothing owned
    • B. one owner ('s)
    • C. more than one owner

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct form. The clue in brackets tells you how many owners. The ___ tails were long and thin. (lots of mice)

    • A. mices
    • B. mice's
    • C. mouse's
    • D. mices'

  4. Question 4

    Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the den that belongs to the foxes → the ___ den

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    The teachers' meeting was long. What does "teachers'" show?

    • A. plural: more than one, nothing owned
    • B. one owner ('s)
    • C. more than one owner

  6. Question 6

    Choose the correct form. The clue in brackets tells you how many owners. The ___ nest was high in the tree. (one bird)

    • A. birds's
    • B. birds'
    • C. bird's
    • D. birds

  7. Question 7

    The children's paintings were on the wall. What does "children's" show?

    • A. plural: more than one, nothing owned
    • B. one owner ('s)
    • C. more than one owner

  8. Question 8

    Choose the correct form. The clue in brackets tells you how many owners. We heard the ___ engine roar. (one bus)

    • A. bus's
    • B. buses
    • C. buss'
    • D. buses'

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Answer key: Plural or possessive? (cats, the cat's, the cats')

  1. 1. children's

  2. 2. B. one owner ('s)

  3. 3. B. mice's

  4. 4. foxes'

  5. 5. C. more than one owner

  6. 6. C. bird's

  7. 7. C. more than one owner

  8. 8. A. bus's