📖

Contractions with Am, Is, Are

Contractions: Shortened Words

Day 149of 180
Week 30of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify and form contractions with 'be' verbs

2

Understand how apostrophes create contractions

3

Practice matching full words to their contraction form

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 16:24

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

— Proverbs 16:24 (WEB)

Just like contractions make words shorter and sweeter, God's words are sweet and bring healing

📦 Materials Needed

  • Contraction matching cards
  • Pencils
  • Colorful stickers
  • Apostrophe practice sheet
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and explain how we can make words shorter and friendlier using contractions.

💭 Review Question: Can you think of any words that sound like two words squeezed together?
2Teaching (8 min)

Explain how 'I am' becomes 'I'm', 'he is' becomes 'he's', and demonstrate with visual examples.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • The apostrophe shows where letters are missing
  • Contractions make speaking and writing faster
  • Each contraction has a special shape
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What letters disappeared in 'I'm'?
  • Can you make a contraction with 'we are'?
3Activity: Contraction Matching Game (8 min)
hands-on

Students match full words to their contraction forms using colorful cards

📝 Instructions:
  1. Spread out word and contraction cards
  2. Match 'I am' to 'I'm'
  3. Place a sticker on correctly matched pairs
  4. Take turns finding matches
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use fewer cards with clear contractions

Challenge: Add time limit to matching game

4Closing (4 min)

Review today's contraction learning and celebrate their new language skills

📝 Review Questions:
  • What does the apostrophe do?
  • Can you share one contraction you learned today?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us learn and grow in understanding words.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll practice writing sentences with our new contractions!

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”

— Psalm 119:105 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Trace words with a flashlight as you recite

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

First graders are learning how words can change shape while keeping their meaning

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Practice contractions during daily conversation
  • Use playful, patient tone
  • Celebrate every small discovery
🤔 Common Struggles:

Remembering where the apostrophe goes

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Confident attempts at forming contractions

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a contraction poster
  • Play 'Contraction Charades'
  • Write a short story using contractions

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 150 →Back to Language Arts