teaching resource

Contraction Match!

  • Updated

    Updated:  08 Sep 2021

Practice matching contractions to their origin words with this set of 18 contraction game match-up cards.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Non-Editable

    Non-Editable:  PDF

  • Pages

    Pages:  9 Pages

  • Curriculum
  • Grades

    Grades:  2 - 3

Tag #TeachStarter on Instagram for a chance to be featured!

teaching resource

Contraction Match!

  • Updated

    Updated:  08 Sep 2021

Practice matching contractions to their origin words with this set of 18 contraction game match-up cards.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Non-Editable

    Non-Editable:  PDF

  • Pages

    Pages:  9 Pages

  • Curriculum
  • Grades

    Grades:  2 - 3

Practice matching contractions to their origin words with this set of 18 contraction game match-up cards.

Without contractions, our everyday language would sound rather formal.

And because we frequently spend our time talking to people we know, most of the time there’s very little use for formality.

In writing, however, we typically use a mix of contractions and their expanded form to get our message across. Therefore, teaching your students the origin of common contractions builds their understanding of the flexibility of language within the conventions of writing.

With this contractions matching game, students will practice reading and writing contractions while matching them with their root words.

Make Contraction Practice Fun with our Matching Game! 

This resource is best used for an individual or small group of students to practice identifying which words make up common contractions. It can also be used as a writing center activity.

There are multiple ways to play, which we’ve included below.

Expand This Contraction Practice Activity with More Ways to Play

This contraction activity is more than just 1 game! Check out these variations of game-play we’ve thought of for your students.

Memory 

Shuffle the cards and place them face down in the middle of the playing area. Players take turns flipping two cards over to see if they are a match. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.

Go Fish 

Shuffle the cards and deal 5 to each player.  Place the remaining cards in a stack face down in the middle of the playing area. Players take turns asking one another for a specific card, e.g., “Do you have ‘are not’?” or “Do you have ‘won’t’?” If the player does not have the card, the player asking draws a card from the pile in the middle of the playing area. Play continues until there are no more cards left. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.

Which Does Not Belong?

Turn this game into task cards and use them as a scoot activity with your whole class or writing group. Place 3 cards at each station, making sure two are a match. Students will rotate through the stations and decide which card does not belong.

Change the Difficulty Level if Needed

If you’ve got students who are struggling with their contractions practice, break the cards up by categories. For example, focus on matching only the contractions that use “is”, then “are”, and “not”. You can also give students a smaller group of mixed cards to match.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Print the contraction game cards on cardstock for added durability and longevity.

To print ONLY the task cards:

Place 8 sheets of cardstock in your printer paper tray

  1. Select “File” from the navigation bar, and click “Print” from the drop-down menu
  2. From the dialog box that pops up, click “All” next to Pages and select “Custom” from the dropdown menu
  3. In the space provided enter “1, 3-9” to print only those pages
  4. Click “More Settings”
  5. Pages per sheet should be set to “1”
  6. Leave the box empty next to “Print on both sides”
  7. Click the “Print” button

Print the recording sheet on regular paper as usual:

  1. Select “File” from the navigation bar, and click “Print” from the drop-down menu
  2. From the dialog box that pops up, click “All” next to Pages and select “Custom” from the dropdown menu
  3. In the space provided enter “2”
  4. Click “More Settings”
  5. Pages per sheet should be set to “1”
  6. Leave the box empty next to “Print on both sides”
  7. Click the “Print” button

Print extra copies of the recording sheet and place everything in a folder or large envelope. To make this game more sustainable, print a few recording sheets on cardstock and place them in dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a dry-erase marker, then erase and reuse.

Before You Download

Please use the dropdown menu on the Download button to select the file as either Google Slides or as a PDF. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download.


This resource was created by Allie Kleijnjans, a teacher in Pennsylvania and a Teach Starter Collaborator.


Check out our English Language Arts and Reading area for more writing and composition practice activities like…

Image of Contractions – Interactive PowerPoint

teaching resource

Contractions – Interactive PowerPoint

An interactive 24-slide PowerPoint introducing contractions.

Teach Starter Publishing24 pagesGrades: 1 - 3
Image of BUMP! Contractions - Board Game

teaching resource

BUMP! Contractions - Board Game

A board game to practice making contractions using apostrophes.

Teach Starter Publishing7 pagesGrades: 2 - 3
Image of Punctuation Bookmarks – Lower Grades

teaching resource

Punctuation Bookmarks – Lower Grades

A quick reference punctuation guide for students on a bookmark.

Teach Starter Publishing1 pageGrades: 1 - 2

0 Comments

Write a review to help other teachers and parents like yourself. If you'd like to request a change to this resource, or report an error, select the corresponding tab above.

Log in to comment

You may also like