English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
- 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?
- Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the roar of the lion → the ___ roar → lion'sPrompt: Who owns it? Write that word.
- Type the owner word with its apostrophe. the shell of the snail → the ___ shell → snail'sPrompt: Who owns it? Write that word.
Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 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.
- 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 · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 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.
- 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