Beacon Lesson Plan Library
Constructing Contractions
Beverly Iacobellis
Bay District Schools
Description
This game was developed to reinforce the skill of making contractions and the use of the apostrophe in contractions.
Standards
Florida Sunshine State Standards
LA.B.1.2.3.3.1
The student uses a variety of spelling strategies (for example, knowing root words, prefixes, and suffixes; using word families, syllabication).
Florida Process Standards
Information Managers
01 Florida students locate, comprehend, interpret, evaluate, maintain, and apply information, concepts, and ideas found in literature, the arts, symbols, recordings, video and other graphic displays, and computer files in order to perform tasks and/or for enjoyment.
Effective Communicators
02 Florida students communicate in English and other languages using information, concepts, prose, symbols, reports, audio and video recordings, speeches, graphic displays, and computer-based programs.
Cooperative Workers
08 Florida students work cooperatively to successfully complete a project or activity.
Materials
-Teacher made letter cards (8.5 x 11)
-One apostrophe card (8.5 x 11)
-Chart with markers
-Contraction review sheet (See Attached File)
Preparations
1. Make the letter cards and an apostrophe card. (You can make them out of construction paper. I prefer white construction. I would laminate them for future use.)
2. Have a chart ready with markers in front of the classroom.
3. Duplicate enough copies of the contraction worksheet.
Procedures
1. Introduce the concept of contractions in a previous lesson.
2. Have the children sitting at their desks or sitting on the floor.
3. Review contractions and their construction.
4. Inform the children that they're going to play an exciting, new game about contractions.
5. Every child receives two cards.
6. The teacher writes two words on the chart.
7. The students look at their cards.
8. If the student has a letter card needed to make the contraction, s/he stands up.
9. One student also has the apostrophe card. (This is a good role for your more timid students.)
10. The teacher says, "Please come to the front of the classroom and construct your contraction."
11. If the students don't construct it right, ask them to try again.
12. After they correctly construct their contraction, let one of the students write it on the chart next to the two words.
13. The game can continue until you've sufficiently reinforced the concept.
14. After the students have had a chance to thoroughly practice constructing contractions, provide them with a contraction worksheet to complete at their desk (see Attached File.)
15. After the students have completed the worksheet, have the students write sentences using the contractions on the chart. This is a good activity to do the next day to reinforce the previous day's activities.
Assessments
Formatively evaluate the class based on their participation in the game. The attached worksheet can be used as a formal evaluation after students have had substantial practice in making contractions. The formal evaluation can be done based on their answers on the contraction worksheet. You can give a numeric grade based on the number of contractions correctly constructed. Another evaluation will be if the child can use the contractions properly in sentences.
Extensions
You can also practice your spelling words this way. I would call out the spelling word, and let the students stand up when they realize they have a letter used in that word.
Have the students write stories using a given list of contractions.
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