Squeeze It In! Contractions with an Apostrophe

About This Resource

A free Grade 3 ESL worksheet on contractions: how two words join into one with an apostrophe replacing missing letters, contractions with not (isn't, don't, can't, won't), with am, is and are (I'm, she's, they're), with will (I'll) and have (we've), writing the long form, and using contractions in a short dialogue. Includes a timed lesson plan, a six-activity worksheet, an editable Word version and answer key.

Overview

Students learn that a contraction is a short way of writing two words, and that the apostrophe shows where letters are missing. They match long forms to contractions, write contractions with not, am, is, are, will and have, learn the tricky ones (can't, won't), change contractions back into two words, read a short dialogue and find the contractions, and rewrite sentences to sound more natural in speech.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Contractions
Category: Grammar
File Type: PDF
File Size: 249.8 KB
Published: 04 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 3 (ages 8–9), elementary ESL 40 minutes Grammar spelling punctuation reading a dialogue writing

Student Task

Write do not on the board, cover the o in not with a sticky note in the shape of an apostrophe and write don't.
Teach the apostrophe rule and the tricky contractions, then do activities 1 and 2 together.
Students complete activities 3 to 6. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Use

Contraction surgery: students cut word cards apart, remove the missing letters and glue in a paper apostrophe.
Partner swap: one partner says the long form (I will) and the other says the contraction (I'll) as fast as possible.
Dialogue hunt: students find all the contractions in a comic strip or picture book.

Differentiation

Support: give a chart of long forms and contractions and focus on contractions with not. Challenge: explain the difference between it's (it is) and its (belonging to it) and use both in sentences.

Answer Key & Assessment

Activities 1 to 5 check forming and expanding contractions (answer key included). Activity 6 checks using contractions in writing.

Learning Objectives

Explain that a contraction joins two words and that the apostrophe replaces missing letters.
Write common contractions with not, am, is, are, will and have.
Change contractions into their long forms and use them in sentences.

Teacher Tips

Remind students that the apostrophe goes exactly where the letters are missing, not in the gap between the two words: in don't, it replaces the o of not. Point out that won't is special: it comes from will not.

What's Included

7-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (6 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Editable Word version of the worksheet
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)