The CRAB GRABBED a
STACK of GLASS!
Phoneme Awareness
Lesson
Rationale: This lesson will help children learn the sound of the short a or /a/.
Students will learn to recognize the /a/ sound by identifying words that contain
this sound and by reading books that also contain this sound. The students will
practice finding /a/ in words, and apply phoneme awareness with /a/ in phonetic
cue reading by distinguishing words from beginning letters.
Materials: The Cat in the Hat book, paper, pencils, dry erase board, dry
erase markers, notecards, and markers
Procedure:
1.
"Today we are going to be practicing the sound the letter /a/ makes. It is
important to understand the sound that this letter makes because you will come
across it often in your reading and writing. The letter a makes the aaa… sound.
"Can anyone give me an example of words that have this sound in it?" Give the
children the opportunity to raise their hands to answer the question. "During
this lesson we will practice with words that have the /a/ sound in them."
2.
"Has anyone ever been on a rollercoaster?" Allow the children to answer. "What
rollercoasters have you been on? Do people usually scream on rollercoasters?
When people scream they usually make a really loud noise! It sometimes sounds
like a lot of "a's" put together!" Demonstrate the noise for the kids by showing
them how a scream could make the sound of the "a" (open mouth wide). Have the
children practice making this sound themselves. Make the screaming "a" noise
with the children.
3.
"We are now going to practice the /a/ sound with a fun tongue twister! I will
say it first and then you will say it back to me. Listen carefully so you know
exactly what to repeat. The crab grabbed a stack of glass. Now repeat that back
to me." Allow the children enough time to say the entire sentences. "Now we are
going to say the "aaa…" sound in each word. I will say it with you. The craaab
graaabbed a staaack of glaaass. Excellent work class!
4.
"Now I am going to give you two words and you are going to tell me which one has
the /a/ sound in it. I am going to do an example for you first and then you will
have your turn to tell me which word has the /a/ sound in it. The two words are
Crab and Crib. I hear the /a/ sound in the word crab. Does everyone understand
what we are doing?" Give children enough time to raise their hands and ask
questions if they are confused. "Now it is your turn. Do you hear the /a/ sound
in the word plant or pint?" Give the children time to think about their answers
and enough time to share them. "Does anyone have any questions about why the
answer is plant?" Give the children time to raise their hands. "Okay, do you
hear the /a/ sound in the word blend or bland?" Have the children give their
answers and ask for questions or concerns about why the answer is bland. "Do you
hear the /a/ sound in the grand or ground? The answer is grand. Good job
everybody!"
5.
"We are going to read The Cat in the Hat, next. I want to see if we can
hear the /a/ or "aaaa" sound in any of the words in the book. As I am reading
the book aloud to the class, if I make the rollercoaster /a/ sound I want you to
raise your hand. This will help us practice recognizing words with this sound in
books."
6.
"For this next activity I want you to take out a sheet of paper. I want you to
make a list of at least ten words that have the /a/ or "aaaa" sound in it. Put
on your thinking caps and come up with some really good words! After everyone is
finished I will take volunteers to come to the front of the class and
demonstrate their understanding of the sound /a/. (This is assessment, to test
understanding.)
7.
For this activity I will have words written on index cards (2 words on each
card). I will give the children their own cards and have them decide which one
has the /a/ sound in it. "We are going to do another activity to practice making
the /a/ sound. I am going to give you some cards and you are going to circle the
word that has the /a/ sound in it. I will demonstrate it first and then you will
have some practice with it."
|
Clang
Climb |
I
hear the /a/ sound in the word clang.
"Now it is your turn. Remember that I will show you these two words and you will
tell me which word has the /a/ sound in it."
Show the children this card:
|
Flick
Frank |
"Which word do you hear the /a/ sound in?"
Allow the children to answer and ask for questions.
|
Musk
Mask |
"Which word do you hear the /a/ sound in?"
Allow the children to answer and ask for questions.
|
Slam
Slim |
"Which word do you hear the /a/ sound in?"
Allow the children to answer and ask for questions.
References:
Internet: Letterbox Example Words with 4, 5, or 6 Phonemes.
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/phonwords.html
Book: Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat, New York, New York, Random House,
1957, all pages.