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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 birds nest / the bird's nest / the bird nest's) → the bird's nestPrompt: Who is the owner?
  2. Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the roar of the lion → the ___ roar → lion'sPrompt: Who owns it? Write that word.
  3. Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the shell of the snail → the ___ shell → snail'sPrompt: Who owns it? Write that word.

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 teachers' meeting was long. What does "teachers'" 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. We heard the ___ engine roar. (one bus) (buses / buss' / buses' / bus's) → bus'sPrompt: 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. The cats slept on the sofa. What does "cats" show? (plural: more than one, nothing owned / one owner ('s) / more than one owner) → plural: more than one, nothing ownedPrompt: Is there an apostrophe? No apostrophe → just a plural.
  2. Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the toys that belong to the children → the ___ toys → children'sPrompt: 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 cats slept on the sofa. What does "cats" 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 ___ coats are on the pegs. (lots of girls)

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

  4. Question 4

    Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the books that belong to the girls → the ___ books

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    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

  6. Question 6

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

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

  7. Question 7

    Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the hat that belongs to the clown → the ___ hat

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Choose the correct form. The clue in brackets tells you how many owners. The ___ bike has a loud bell. (one boy)

    • A. boys
    • B. boys'
    • C. boy's
    • D. boys's

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

  1. 1. children's

  2. 2. A. plural: more than one, nothing owned

  3. 3. C. girls'

  4. 4. girls'

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

  6. 6. C. mice's

  7. 7. clown's

  8. 8. C. boy's