Cats, Dogs and Boxes: The Three Sounds of the S Ending

About This Resource

A complete Grade 5 ESL pronunciation pack on the three sounds of -s endings in plurals and verbs: /s/ as in cats, /z/ as in dogs and /iz/ as in boxes. Students use the throat test to hear voiced and voiceless sounds, sort words by their ending, count syllables, learn the three rules and practice saying sentences clearly. Includes slides, a lesson plan, worksheet, quiz, homework, flashcards, a rubric and answer keys.

Overview

We add -s or -es to make plurals (cats, boxes) and to verbs with he, she and it (she plays, he watches), but the ending does not always sound the same. After voiceless sounds such as p, t, k and f, it sounds like /s/ (cats, books, stops). After voiced sounds and vowels, it sounds like /z/ (dogs, bags, plays). After hissing and buzzing sounds such as s, z, sh, ch, x and the j sound in orange, we add an extra syllable, /iz/ (buses, watches, boxes, oranges). Students feel the difference with a hand on the throat, sort words, count syllables and practice reading sentences aloud.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Pronouncing -s Endings
Category: Pronunciation
File Type: PDF
File Size: 322.1 KB
Published: 12 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 5 ESL (ages 10–11), A2 45 minutes Pronunciation listening speaking phonics grammar awareness

Learning Objectives

Hear and say the three sounds of -s endings: /s/, /z/ and /iz/.
Use the rules to predict how an -s ending sounds.
Say plurals and verbs with -s endings clearly in sentences.

How to Use This Resource

Show the slides. Say cats, dogs and boxes. Ask: "Do the endings sound the same?"
Teach the throat test, then do worksheet activities 1 and 2 together, saying every word aloud.
Students complete activities 3 to 6, then use the quiz and send the homework page home.

Classroom Activity Ideas

Throat test: students put a hand on their throat and say sss, then zzz, to feel the buzz of a voiced sound.
Clap the syllables: students clap box (one) and boxes (two), then try other /iz/ words.
Sound corners: label three corners /s/, /z/ and /iz/; call out a word and students walk to the right corner.

Differentiation

Support: focus on /iz/ first, because the extra syllable is easiest to hear, and use picture cards. Challenge: students find the same three sounds in possessives (Kate's, Tom's, Rose's) and explain the rule.

Assessment

Use the worksheet and quiz to check that students can classify endings. Use the rubric while students read the sentences in activity 6 or the homework aloud.

Teacher Tips

Many learners either drop the ending or always say a strong /s/. The ending carries meaning (one cat, two cats), so praise clear endings over perfect /s/ or /z/ sounds. The rule depends on the last sound, not the last letter: laughs ends in an f sound, so it takes /s/.

What's Included

10-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (7 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
Homework practice page
Printable flashcards: 7 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
Assessment rubric (4 levels)
Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
Editable Word version of all student pages
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

Lesson Slides (PPTX)
Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
A5 Flashcards (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)

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