These contractions flash cards help kindergarten to 4th grade students see how two words join to make a contraction, with 24 fold-over cards and a practice page. Answer key included.
The Is Contractions Worksheet gives 2nd graders two-part practice building and using “is” contractions like he’s, she’s, and it’s. Includes a complete answer key — a quick, low-prep way to strengthen grammar skills at home or in class.
Practice contractions with will on this Butterfly Will Contractions Worksheet. Second graders build he'll, I'll, it'll, she'll, they'll and we'll, then expand two more. Answer key included.
This Contractions Word Bank Worksheet asks 2nd grade students to write six contractions from a word bank and unpack two more from sentences, with an answer key that makes checking quick.
Play this snowman contractions activity as a memory game: 1st to 3rd grade students match two-word Mitten Cards to Snowman contraction cards and record each pair. Answer key included.
This butterfly not contractions worksheet gives 2nd Grade students six word pairs and a Word Box, plus two reverse items and an answer key, so contractions with not finally click.
This Writing Contractions Worksheet gives 2nd grade students eight sentences to practice building contractions and splitting them back into two words, with an answer key included, so the apostrophe rule finally sticks.
This Contractions Practice Worksheet helps 2nd graders join two words into one and break contractions back apart, with clear examples to guide them. Answer key included—perfect for quick, no-prep grammar practice at home or school.
This Bumblebee Is/Are Contractions Worksheet gives 2nd grade students six word pairs and three garden sentences to rewrite with apostrophes. An answer key is included, so contraction practice is ready to hand out in minutes.
This Bumblebee Have Contractions Worksheet lets 2nd grade students form contractions with have and has, then use them in sentences. An answer key is included, so practice is quick to check and easy to build on.
Materials available in this Contractions Lesson Plan include Contraction Activities, Contraction Worksheets, and a Contractions Flash Card Set. We also
This do you want to build a snowman contractions activity has 1st to 3rd grade students match two-word body cards to contraction head cards, then practice on a worksheet. Answer key included.
Practice contractions with would on this Butterfly Would Contractions Worksheet. Second graders form I'd, she'd, they'd and more, then expand two contractions. Answer key included.
Using Earth Day Contractions Activity, students match two word phrase cards (I cannot) to contractions cards (I can't) in order to use contractions in their writing.
Using Contractions Activity, students match two word phrase cards (I cannot) to contractions cards (I can't) in order to use contractions in their writing.
Squish two words, add an apostrophe
Second graders learn that a contraction is two words squished into one, with an apostrophe standing in for the missing letters: do + not = don't, I + will = I'll. They work through families like not (can't, isn't), will (we'll), is (he's), are (they're) and have (I've). The hardest part is putting the apostrophe exactly where letters left, not just anywhere. The click moment is when a child realizes the apostrophe is like a little "missing letters" flag.
Contractions click when kids literally see letters disappear. These moves show it.
Flash a card with "is not" on the front and "isn't" on the back. Kids say both, then name the letter that left. Do five a day and group them by family so the patterns jump out.
Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withContractions Flash CardsFlash CardsOpen it →Write "do not" on a paper strip, have kids snip out the o, slide the words together and glue an apostrophe in the gap. Physically removing the letter makes apostrophe placement obvious. Then they write it on a word bank page.
Why it works: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.
Try it withContractions Word Bank WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Teach the not family first, since kids already say those words all day. Model "is not, isn't" and "can not, can't," then let kids try. Add will, is and have families one week at a time.
Why it works: handing over the work step by step, from teacher to student, is one of the most widely used teaching frameworks (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withContractions Lesson PlanLesson PlansOpen it →Contraction practice that feels like a winter game or a craft.
ActivitiesStack snowball pieces so each word pair meets its contraction. Wrong match? The snowman topples!
Open Snowman Contractions Activity →
WorksheetsKids fold "will" words into contractions on butterfly wings: I'll, you'll, we'll.
Open Butterfly Will Contractions Worksheet →
ActivitiesTurn Earth Day sentences into shorter ones by finding word pairs to contract.
Open Earth Day Contractions Activity →Teacher favorites right now: Contractions Flash Cards, Is Contractions Worksheet and Butterfly Will Contractions Worksheet.
Common ones built with not, will, is, are, have and am, such as don't, can't, I'll, he's, they're, I've and I'm. Kids learn to write them and to say which two words they stand for.
Tell them it's two words squished together to make a shorter word. Some letters fall out, and the apostrophe marks the spot where they used to be.
Many kids put it between the two words instead of where letters were removed, like "do'nt." Have them write both words, cross out the missing letter, and put the apostrophe right on top of it.
Point out contractions in books and ask "What two words make this?" Or say two words, like "we are," and have your child say and spell the contraction.
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