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DODO Learning
Think Once. In Both Languages.
Lesson 28
Little DODO · Phase 3

Contractions in Amelia's Business Deal

Amelia Bedelia Means Business · pp. 5-16 · Format B · Disposition: Observing & Describing · 25 min
Amelia Bedelia Means Business
Pages this lesson: 5-16
Grammar · Contractions
Students learn contractions are shortened forms of two words joined with an apostrophe.
Contractions · Apostrophe Use · Word Combining · Contractions With Not
Introduce

Vocabulary Exploration· 5 min

Sound focus: contractions with apostrophe
Target words
  1. don't 8: “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIKE IN THE WORLD”
  2. didn't 9: “She didn't have to, because it wasn't worth stealing.”
  3. wasn't 9: “She didn't have to, because it wasn't worth stealing.”
  4. can't 14: “"We can't afford to buy a fancy bike like that," he said.”
  5. shouldn't 15: “"Your hand shouldn't feel like a dead fish or a wet noodle."”
Today we're hunting for special short words called contractions. They're made when two words squeeze together and an apostrophe takes the place of missing letters. Let's find them in Amelia's story.
Exploration steps
  1. Show each contraction word card and point to the apostrophe
  2. Say the two words that make each contraction together
  3. Students chorus the contraction after you
  4. Hunt for contractions on the pages together
Expected responses
  • do not makes don't
  • was not makes wasn't
  • I see the little mark in the middle
Differentiation

Fast finishers hunt three more contractions on their own pages; quiet kids chorus with a partner.

Transition cue

Tap the apostrophe in the air three times

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't skip showing where the apostrophe sits or kids miss the pattern.

Why this matters: Point to the apostrophe each time so kids see where the missing letters were.

Reading in Class· 10 min

Required reading pages: 5-16
Opening move: Point to Amelia's old bike in the illustration and ask what makes a bike special.
Amelia wants a new bike so badly. Let's read how she makes a deal with her parents. Listen for the short words with apostrophes as we go.
Read-aloud steps
  1. Picture-walk pages 5-16 showing Amelia's old bike versus Suzanne's new emerald bike
  2. Read aloud once at storytelling pace
  3. Read again with students chorusing the contraction lines
Call-and-response refrains
  1. What does Amelia say about gears? 8: “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIKE IN THE WORLD”
  2. What does Dad say about the fancy bike? 14: “"We can't afford to buy a fancy bike like that," he said.”
Expected responses
  • She doesn't like her old bike anymore
  • The new bike is so shiny and green
Differentiation

Struggling readers point to each contraction as the group choruses; fast finishers count contractions on each page.

Transition cue

Close the book and hold up two fingers pressed together

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't rush the picture-walk or kids miss the bike comparison that drives the story.

Why this matters: Chorus the contraction lines so kids hear the apostrophe pattern in rhythm.

Questions Time· 7 min

Comprehension questions
  1. Which contraction on page 8 means 'do not'? 8: “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIKE IN THE WORLD”
  2. Find the contraction on page 9 that means 'was not'. 9: “She didn't have to, because it wasn't worth stealing.”
Extension

Make a sentence using can't or don't.

14: “"We can't afford to buy a fancy bike like that," he said.”

What students produce: One sentence with a contraction about something they want or need

Now let's hunt for contractions together. Remember, they're two words squeezed into one with an apostrophe. Point to the ones you find.
Expected responses
  • don't is do not
  • wasn't is was not
  • I can't ride without training wheels
Differentiation

Quiet kids draw their sentence first then tell it; fast finishers write two sentences with different contractions.

Transition cue

Squeeze hands together like two words becoming one

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't accept sentences without apostrophes or kids miss the contraction requirement.

Why this matters: Picture prompt first so kids who can't write independently still build sentences.

Conclusion· 3 min

Routine: I Noticed · Disposition: Observing & Describing
Student-facing prompts
Recap: I noticed contractions have...
Take-home: Find three contractions at home tonight.
Today we noticed contractions everywhere in Amelia's story. They're short words made from two words with an apostrophe. Let's share what we noticed.
Expected responses
  • apostrophes in the middle
  • they're shorter than two words
  • don't is easier to say than do not
Differentiation

Quiet kids point to one contraction on their page; fast finishers name the two words that made it.

Anticipated pitfalls

Don't let kids say 'I noticed the bike' without naming a contraction pattern.

Why this matters: Same noticing frame every day builds the observation habit.