Lesson Plan Title:
Grade 3 Additional Language (English) Lesson Plan: Phonics – The ‘a-e’ Sound
Materials Needed:
– Flashcards with ‘a-e’ words (cake, snake, bake, lake, gate)
– Whiteboard and markers
– Copies of a worksheet for each student featuring ‘a-e’ sound activities
– Word cards for a matching game
– Interactive Phonics App or online game (if technology is available)
Learning Objectives:
– Students will be able to identify the long ‘a’ sound spelled ‘a-e’ in words.
– Students will be able to read and pronounce ‘a-e’ words correctly.
– Students will be able to write sentences using ‘a-e’ words.
Vocabulary:
1. Cake – A sweet baked dessert.
2. Snake – A long, legless reptile.
3. Bake – To cook in an oven.
4. Lake – A large body of water surrounded by land.
5. Gate – A hinged barrier for closing an opening in a fence or wall.
Previous Learning:
Students have previously learned about short vowel sounds and basic consonant blends. They are familiar with CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words and are beginning to explore long vowel sounds.
Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:
– Challenge: Students may confuse the ‘a-e’ sound with other vowel sounds.
Solution: Provide clear, repetitive practice with visual aids and auditory reinforcement.
– Challenge: Some may struggle with reading the words fluently.
Solution: Pair students for peer reading practice and utilise phonics games for engagement.
Beginning Activities (4 minutes):
– Introduction: Greet the students and briefly explain the learning objectives.
– Warm-up: Review previous vowel sounds with a quick verbal exercise.
– Introductory Activity: Show a short video clip about the ‘a-e’ sound (interactive if possible).
Middle Activities (32 minutes):
1. Direct Instruction (10 minutes):
– Explain how the magic ‘e’ changes the sound of the vowel ‘a’ from short to long.
– Write examples on the whiteboard (e.g., cap → cape, man → mane) and have students repeat after you.
- Guided Practice (15 minutes):
- Hand out flashcards with ‘a-e’ words and ask students to match them with pictures.
Play a matching game where students find pairs of word cards and picture cards that match ‘a-e’ words.
Independent Practice (7 minutes):
- Distribute the worksheet with ‘a-e’ sound activities. Students should complete the activities individually.
- Circulate the room to offer assistance and check for understanding.
End Activities (4 minutes):
– Closure: Review key points of the lesson. Ask students to share one ‘a-e’ word they learned.
– Exit Ticket: Each student writes a sentence using at least one ‘a-e’ word. Collect these as they leave the classroom to assess understanding.
Assessment and Checks for Understanding:
– Observation during guided and independent practice.
– Completed worksheets.
– Sentences from the exit ticket activity.
Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners:
– Scaffolding: Provide word banks or picture cues for students who need extra help.
– Extension: For advanced students, ask them to create a short story using multiple ‘a-e’ words or find additional ‘a-e’ words independently.
Teaching Notes:
– Ensure that all materials are accessible for students with disabilities.
– Consider using a microphone or sound amplification system if needed for auditory clarity.
– Emphasise the “magic e” concept consistently, as visual and auditory repetition helps reinforce the learning.
– Be patient and provide plenty of positive reinforcement to encourage hesitant readers.
This lesson plan aims to build students’ phonemic awareness and reading fluency with the long ‘a’ sound, setting a strong foundation for future phonics work.