three deep sea fish with large teeth
Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures (viperfish, anglerfish, fangtooth fish)
Grammar,

Grammar’s Monsters of the Deep

The deep ocean is filled with monstrous wonders.

From the March 2020 Issue

Learning Objective: to correctly use the commonly confused words its and it’s.

 

Featured Skill: Commonly Confused Words,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    L.3
  • Grade 6
    L.6.3
  • Grade 7
    L.7.3
  • Grade 8
    L.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    2b, 10c, 10d (ix)

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Directions

Read the blurbs below. Determine which word is correct in each bolded word pair.

Hint

Its or It’s?

Its shows that something belongs to someone:
“The team celebrated its win.”

It’s is a contraction of it is or it has: “It’s nice to see you” or ”It’s been a busy day.”

The Midnight Zone

Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures
The viperfish is so-named for its teeth, which are so long they don’t fit in its mouth.

These three unusual-looking fish can all be found in the deep ocean, more than 3,000 feet below the surface. This region is called the midnight zone because its/it’s dark as midnight there. No sunlight reaches that far down.

 

Its/It’s impossible for humans to survive in the midnight zone without special equipment. But many creatures thrive in this dark, cold underworld.

Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures
This is the fangtooth fish. It’s only about 6 inches long.

Fascinating Finds

Scientists and adventurers have been exploring the deep sea since the late 1800s, yet much of it remains unexplored. Thanks to technology, however, its/it’s become increasingly possible to study the creatures that live far below the surface.

Recently, scientists have made many fascinating finds. They’ve discovered a sea worm that shoots sparks from its/it’s body when threatened. They’ve spotted the fangtooth—one of the deepest-dwelling fish ever found. And they’ve studied the viperfish, which spears its/it’s prey with its/it’s long teeth. What monstrous wonders will scientists find next?

Chomp!

Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures
Where did the anglerfish get its name? Angler is a fancy word for “fisherman.”

The deep-sea anglerfish, pictured at left, is one the largest fish that inhabits the midnight zone. It can grow up to 40 inches long. With pale eyes, wrinkled skin, and spiky teeth, the anglerfish is the stuff of nightmares. Its/It’s secret weapon is a bony rod that sticks out from its/it’s head like a fishing pole. At the tip of this bony rod is a small, glowing light. Nearby fish are dazzled by this light. When they swim up to get a closer look—CHOMP!—the anglerfish gulps them down.

This activity was originally published in the March 2020 issue.

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Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. INTRODUCE AND PRACTICE GRAMMAR SKILL

  • As a class, read Grammar’s HINT (found in the upper right corner of the second page) to introduce or review the commonly confused words addressed in the feature. Then read the annotations, which model the correct usage.
  • Have students practice the grammar skill by completing the activity as a class, in groups, or individually. In the activity, students choose which of the commonly confused words to use at several points within three short boxes of text.

2. REINFORCE SKILL

  • Use the “Its vs. It’s” activity.
  • Have students observe the commonly confused words in context by searching for examples of their use in the magazine or in other reading material.

EDITOR’S TIP

Challenge students to come up with their own “its vs. it’s” sentences. Have them trade their sentences with a partner. What words do your students confuse? We’d love your suggestions for future grammar activities.

E-mail us at [email protected].

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