Year 6 · SPaG · Spring: Apostrophes and speech
Year 6 apostrophes: putting it all together worksheet and PowerPoint
To use apostrophes correctly for both missing letters and possession, and to choose between look-alike words such as its and it’s.
Apostrophes: mixed practice
Ask yourself: do the apostrophes show missing letters or belonging? Words like its and it’s look alike, so check by expanding them.
| it’s / its | it’s = it is / it has; its = belonging to it (the dog wagged its tail) |
|---|---|
| they’re / their / there | they’re = they are; their = belonging to them; there = a place |
| you’re / your | you’re = you are; your = belonging to you |
| who’s / whose | who’s = who is / who has; whose = belonging to whom |
Examples
- It’s time to put its lead on.
- They’re putting their coats over there.
Key words
- contraction
- two words joined with letters missing
- possessive
- shows belonging
- homophone
- a word that sounds the same as another
- expand
- write the full words to check a contraction
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write a short story that uses it’s, its, they’re, their and there correctly at least twice each. Swap with a friend to check each other’s work.
Pupil target: I can choose and place the right apostrophe.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the apostrophes: putting it all together PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 39 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Spring term, block “Apostrophes and speech”. It is taught before the SATs grammar test in May.
Other lessons in this block
- Apostrophes for missing letters
- Apostrophes for possession
- Punctuating direct speech
- Direct and reported speech
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