Language and Grammar: Give and Follow Directions

Pair Share Work with a partner. Talk about how activities, like dancing, can help the heart. Then show and tell your partner how to do your favorite activity. Give the steps in order. Use possessive adjectives as you give directions. Trade roles.

How do I start? Do I take two steps to my right?

No, I go right. First, you take two steps to your left! Here. Follow along. It’s easy.

Writing and Grammar: Write Directions to a Place

Study the Models When you write directions to a place, you may need to use possessive words. Be sure to use words that show the relationship clearly so your reader can understand you.

Not Ok

It is easy to get to the Recreation Center from our school. As you leave school, turn right. Then turn right again at Elm Street. Go three blocks until you get to Main Street. You will see a hospital on their right. Turn right on Main Street and walk two more blocks to First Avenue. You will see the library on your left. Turn left on First Avenue. The Recreation Center is on First Avenue on his left. You can’t miss it.

The reader thinks:
“Whose right? I can’t tell where the hospital is.”

Ok

It is easy to get to the Recreation Center from our school. As you leave school, turn right. Then turn right again at Elm Street. Go three blocks until you get to Main Street. You will see a hospital on your right. Turn right on Main Street and walk two more blocks to First Avenue. You will see the library on your left. Turn left on First Avenue. The Recreation Center is on First Avenue on your left. You can’t miss it!

This writer uses correct possessive words to make the meaning clear.

Add Sentences Think of two sentences to add to the OK model above. Use at least one possessive word. Be sure that it goes with the noun or pronoun you are talking about.

Illustration of the pen icon WRITE ON YOUR OWN Write directions to the library or another place in your community. Check your possessive words. Make sure they match the noun or pronoun.

Remember

  • • Use possessive words to show who owns or has something.

  • • Use the form that matches the noun or pronoun.

  • • Use an apostrophe in a possessive noun:

    • the boy’s heart(one boy)
    • the boys’ hearts(more than one boy)
Subject PronounIyouhesheitwethey
Possessive Adjectivemyyourhisheritsourtheir
Possessive Pronounmineyourshishersourstheirs