Learn to teach contractions in second grade easily and effectively with these great, no-prep activities.
Ways to Teach Contractions in Second Grade
By the end of second grade, students should be able to form most contractions correctly, so contractions are an important concept to cover during the school year.
With the following activities, you’ll be able to teach contractions in second grade easily and effectively with very little prep work.
Contractions Interactive PowerPoints
One way to introduce and teach contractions in second grade is to start with an interactive PowerPoint to introduce the skill. Include interactive slides with moveable pieces to model and practice as a whole group.
Allow students opportunities to work with partners to review and practice together. When they confer with others during their learning, students will be able to help each other build their understanding of contractions.
Contractions Reading Passages
Help students reinforce their understanding of contractions by having them find examples in a reading passage. This allows students to see how contractions are used in context.
One of my students favorite grammar activity it to read a short pretend news story that contains that week’s grammar skill. We call it our Grammar Gazette. Students love seeing the week’s grammar skill in action as they read the news story that is reported by kid reporters!
Task Cards to Teach Contractions in Second Grade
Task cards are a super versatile activity to use in the classroom. There are so many ways to incorporate task cards and make them work for your needs. Try using them as a center activity, or post the task cards around the classroom for students to do a Roam the Room activity. You can also use them for a whole group activity by projecting them on your board or using them to play Scoot.
Your task cards should allow students to practice combining two words to make a contraction and breaking apart a contraction into the two words that make it up. In my classroom, I also give students an opportunity to identify contractions in example sentences in my task cards.
Contractions Read Alouds
Great read aloud books help students learn by keeping their attention and allowing them to see skills in context. Here are a few of the best read aloud books to teach contractions in second grade:
The following book links are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate I earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.
I’m and Won’t, They’re and Don’t by Brian P. Cleary
I’m and Won’t, They’re and Don’t teaches students what contractions are and how they are formed using apostrophes. The rhyming text and fun illustrations make this book great for introducing contractions in an engaging way.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is usually a crowd favorite in most classrooms, and it can also be an excellent mentor text to demonstrate how contractions are used in context. Read this story aloud and pause to have students find contractions on the pages.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is an awesome story to use to teach contractions in second grade. It’s also a super fun read aloud that my students always love. Challenge students to find the contractions on each page and tell what two words make up each contraction.
If You Were a Contraction by Trisha Shaskan
If You Were a Contraction defines contractions and tells how they are formed. This book is a good option for introducing contractions to your students.
Contractions Practice Worksheets
Give students plenty of opportunities to practice forming contractions. Practice worksheets are a great option for helping students with this task.
Check out this post for some new, fun, and different ideas for using worksheets in your classroom.
Online Games to Teach Contractions in Second Grade
Offer one of these online games as a center activity or as an early finisher task. Students will stay engaged while they get some great practice with contractions.
In this ABCya game, students will choose the correct spelling for the contractions given. Then, they aim the slingshot to hit the pinata.
This game asks students to choose which letter is missing from the contraction given on the screen.
In this game, students have to click the bugs to get the correct letters, then they spell the contraction given.
Students tap the moles that have correct contractions on them.
Contractions Assessments
I prefer short, simple assessments that are easy to grade. This way, you can quickly evaluate students’ understanding and determine if reteaching or further practice is needed.
No-Prep Activities to Teach Contractions in Second Grade
These contractions activities are effective and fun for your students, and easy for you to implement! If you’re looking for more resources to teach contractions in second grade, I’ve created a Contractions grammar unit that is no-prep for you and engaging for your students.
By the end of this weeklong unit, students will be able to identify contractions, tell what two words make different contractions, and correctly use an apostrophe to form and use contractions in their own writing.
Click HERE for the complete Contractions resource.
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Visit these posts for more tips on teaching grammar:
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How to Teach Second Grade Grammar Lessons in 15 Minutes a Day
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