Contractions - Meaning, formation, and usage

Grade 4 · English

Semester 1 | Period 2 | Week 9

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Subject: English

Semester: 1

Period: 2

Week: 9


School Name:

Teacher’s Name:

Subject: English Language

Grade Level: Grade 4

Date: Week 9

Lesson Duration: 45 minutes

Week & Period: Week 9, Period 2

Topic: Contractions – Meaning, Formation, and Usage

Sub-topic: Spelling and Pronunciation of Contractions

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

Define contractions and state their purpose.

Form contractions using pronouns and verbs correctly.

Spell, read, and pronounce contractions accurately in sentences.

 

Previous Knowledge

Students have learned verb tenses and simple sentence construction.

 

Instructional Materials

English Language textbook for Grade 4, flashcards, word cards with pronouns and verbs, chart showing examples of contractions.

 

Lesson Development – ABC Model

A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)

Time: 5–10 minutes

The teacher writes: “He is my friend” and “He’s my friend.” Students identify the difference. The teacher explains that “He’s” is a shorter form of “He is” called a contraction.

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

This lesson helps learners understand, form, use, and identify contractions in speech and writing through engaging, interactive activities.

👩‍🏫 Learners’ Activities (Expanded)

  1. 🔤 Flashcard Matching Activity (Pairs or Small Groups)

Learners are given a set of flashcards with:

Full words (e.g., he is, they have)

Contractions (e.g., he’s, they’ve)

Learners work in pairs to match the full word combinations with their correct contractions.

Once matched, they take turns spelling and saying the contractions aloud.

 

Sample Matches:

he is → he’s

you will → you’ll

would not → wouldn’t

we are → we’re

 

  1. ✍️ Contraction Table Completion

Learners fill in a contraction chart by:

Writing the two full words in one column.

Writing the corresponding contraction in another.

Sample Table:

Full Words Contraction

he is  he’s

they have  they’ve

would not   wouldn’t

you will       you’ll

it is    it’s

 

  1. 📖 Contraction Hunt in a Passage

Learners are given a short passage or dialogue containing various contractions.

They are asked to:

Underline or highlight all contractions.

Rewrite each contraction in its full form beside or below the passage.

 

Example Passage:

She’s going to the market. They’ve been there before. It’s not far from here, but we’re taking a taxi.

 

Learner Task:

She’s → She is

They’ve → They have

It’s → It is

We’re → We are

  1. 🎭 Contraction Speaking Practice (Class or Pairs)

Learners take turns speaking full sentences using both the full form and the contracted form.

This helps them hear the difference in tone and flow between formal and informal speech.

 

Example:

Full: He is my brother.

Contracted: He’s my brother.

 

📘 Notes (Expanded & Detailed)

✍️ What is a Contraction?

A contraction is a shortened form of two words.

An apostrophe (’) is used to replace one or more letters that are removed when combining the words.

Contractions are commonly used in speech and informal writing.

They help us sound natural, friendly, and fluent.

 

🔤 Examples of Contractions

Full Words Contraction

he is  he’s

she had / she would     she’d

they have  they’ve

it is    it’s

we are        we’re

you will       you’ll

I am  I’m

do not         don’t

cannot       can’t

would not   wouldn’t

will not        won’t

is not isn’t

 

🔔 Note: Some contractions are irregular:

will not → won’t (not willn’t)

cannot → can’t (spelling changes)

shall not → shan’t (rare, but worth mentioning)

 

✅ Assessment Checks (Expanded)

The teacher assesses understanding by using oral questioning, group observation, and written checks.

 

📣 Oral Questions:

“What is a contraction?”

“What two words make up can’t?”

“How do you form won’t?”

“Say the full form of they’ve.”

“What’s the contraction for we are?”

 

📝 Written Checks:

Learners are given 5 contractions and asked to write their full forms.

Learners are given 5 full forms and asked to form the contractions.

 

📝 Assignments (Expanded)

✍️ Classwork

Contraction Chart Activity

Complete a chart with 10 full word combinations and their contractions.

 

Sentence Practice

Write 5 sentences using contractions.

Then, rewrite those sentences using the full forms.

 

Example:

Contracted: I’m going home now.

Full: I am going home now.

 

🏠 Homework

Contraction List

Learners create a personal mini-dictionary of 10 common contractions, writing:

The contraction

The full form

 

A sentence using the contraction

 

Example:

Contraction: she’s

Full form: she is

Sentence: She’s coming to my house.

 

Dialogue Writing

Write a short conversation between two friends using at least 5 contractions.

Example:

“I’m so tired today!”

“Me too. We’re not getting enough sleep.”

 

🎯 Optional Enrichment Activities

🧩 Contraction Puzzle Game

Learners match puzzle pieces that pair contractions with their full forms.

 

🎯 Contraction Bingo

Bingo cards have contractions. The teacher calls out the full forms, and learners cover the matching contraction.

 

🎭 Drama Practice

In pairs, learners act out a short skit or dialogue using contractions naturally in their lines.

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)

Time: 5–10 minutes

Summary: Contractions combine words and replace missing letters with an apostrophe.

Evaluation Method (Expanded):

Exit quiz: Write the contractions for—

I am

You have

She is

Teacher will collect slips and provide oral feedback.

Assignment (Expanded): Write 10 sentences using different contractions.

Follow-up Activity: Students create short dialogues using contractions.

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies: Teacher uses repetition for learners needing more support and encourages peer tutoring.

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)

What worked well? ___________________________________________

What needs improvement? ____________________________________

Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low