Foreman's Guide Teacher Notes
Foreman's Guide
Lesson: Word Workshop Contractions
Teacher Copy
Learning Objective
"Students will distinguish between contraction sets (pronoun + verb vs. verb + not) and understand the linguistic efficiency of the apostrophe."
Schedule
05m
Warm-up: Shrink List
Brainstorm words that can be shrunk (is, are, will, would, not).
05m
Video: Contraction Lab
Khan Academy: "Introduction to Contractions." Watch for the "Principle of Least Effort."
20m
Activity: Memory Match
Pairs match full phrases to contractions and read them aloud.
10m
Reflection: The Helper
Journal prompt on why the apostrophe is helpful for readers.
Key Vocabulary
- Contraction Two words combined into one with letters missing.
- Principle of Least Effort The tendency to make speaking easier and faster ("being lazy").
- Apostrophe The placeholder for the "eaten" letters.
Workshop Discussion Points
The "Why" (Video 0:37)
Ask: "What are other things people do to save effort?" (e.g., shorthand, abbreviations, remote controls). Discuss how contractions make language sound natural.
The Prediction (Video 1:40)
Before the reveal of "She'd", ask students to guess which letters will be removed. Does the apostrophe always replace only one letter?
The Bermuda Triangle (Video 2:35)
Pause at "Will not." Try to say "Willn't." Explain that "Won't" is an irregular form we just have to memorize in our workshop toolkit.
Activity Reference
Memory Match Pairs
Category A: Pronoun + Verb
- I will → I'll
- She would → She'd
- He is → He's
- They are → They're
Category B: Verb + Not
- Will not → Won't
- Do not → Don't
- Cannot → Can't
- Should not → Shouldn't
Common Misconceptions
Mistake: Putting the apostrophe where the space was, rather than where the letters are missing.
Mistake: Confusing "They're" (contraction) with "Their" (possession) or "There" (place).
Tool Extension
The "Robot" Challenge: Have students try to speak for 60 seconds without using a single contraction. Then have them speak normally.
Teacher Tip: Point out that robots like Data (Star Trek) sound "robotic" specifically because they don't use the Principle of Least Effort!
Formal vs. Informal: Discuss why we might avoid contractions in a letter to the President or a very formal essay, even if it takes more effort.
Word Workshop Slides
The Word Workshop
Shrinking
Words
Mastering the Art of Contractions with the Principle of Least Effort
Warm-Up: Shrink List
Before we open the workshop, let's look at our toolbox. Which of these words can we shrink when we talk?
IS
ARE
WILL
WOULD
NOT
AM
Write your list in your Workshop Journal!
The Contraction Lab
Embedded media
Watch for the "Bermuda Triangle" of punctuation!
Principle of
Least Effort
"That's kind of a fancy way of saying people like to be lazy."
I WILL
I'LL
Which sounds easier to say?
Workshop Categories
Pronoun + Verb
She would She'd
He is He's
They are They're
Verb + Not
Do not Don't
Can not Can't
Will not Won't
Contraction
Memory Match
1
Lay all workshop cards face down in a grid.
2
Take turns flipping two cards to find a match.
3
If they match, say the full sentence aloud!
4
Win by collecting the most shrink-pairs!
Working in pairs? Let's get building!
Shrink Lab Journal Handout
Workshop Journal
Module: Shrinking Words
Worker:
Date:
Warm-Up: The Shrink List
Listen to the workshop brainstorm. List 6 words that can be shrunk into contractions.
Lab Observations
During the video, we learned about the Principle of Least Effort. Write a sentence using a contraction from the video (like she'd or won't).
Tool Reflection
Question: Why is the apostrophe helpful for readers?
Capital Letters
Punctuation
Correct Contraction
Contraction Memory Match Cards
Workshop Memory Cards
Activity: Contraction Match-Up
Objective
Match the Full Tool to its Shrunk Form!
FULL TOOL
I will
SHRUNK FORM
I'll
FULL TOOL
She would
SHRUNK FORM
She'd
FULL TOOL
He is
SHRUNK FORM
He's
FULL TOOL
They are
SHRUNK FORM
They're
Page 1 of 2: Pronoun + Verb Category
Workshop Memory Cards
Activity: Contraction Match-Up
FULL TOOL
Will not
IRREGULAR SHRUNK FORM
Won't
FULL TOOL
Do not
SHRUNK FORM
Don't
FULL TOOL
Cannot
SHRUNK FORM
Can't
FULL TOOL
Should not
SHRUNK FORM
Shouldn't
Page 2 of 2: Verb + Not Category