Choooo! Choooo! Here Comes the
Train

Rationale: Sometimes one phoneme is represented with more than one letter. The lesson aids in the students understanding of the letters ch and their sound /ch/ in their spoken and written language by having them make the sound and spell words that contain the /ch/ sound. The students will also learn to recognize these words in written language.
Materials: Primary paper, pencil, chart with “Charlie checked with Charles about the cherry pie,” set of cards with ch on one side and a question mark on the other, a book “The Little Engine that Could” by Watty Piper
Procedure:
1.) Introduce lesson by explaining that when certain letters are
combined they make a special sound. Today we are going to
work on watching our ch as they go by. The /ch/ sound is a very demanding
sound that says look out here I come.
2.) When a train goes by, what sound does it make? Let’s see if
we can figure it out? Chooo! Chooo! Let’s say it
again. “Ch” there it is. Let’s see if we can make
that sound. /ch/. Let me show you how to spot that sound in
a word. I’ll try chain. ch-ch-ch-ai-ai-ai-n-n-n.
ch-ch-ch- there it is, right at the beginning.
3.) Let’s try a tongue twister. It is written right here on the chart.
“Charlie checked with Charles about the cherry pie,” Let’s get
everybody to say it together. This time let’s stretch out the
/ch/. “Chhhhhharlie chhhhhhhecked with Chhhhhharles about the chhhhhhery
pie.” Try it again and let’s break it off. “/ch/ arlie
/ch/ ecked with /ch/arles about the /ch/ erry pie.”
4.) Today we are going to read a few words that have the “ch” sounds
in them. Let’s look at this word, chalk. What is the first
sound that our mouth makes? “CH” is how we start off saying
this word. Let’s continue. Do the same with the words church,
chain, child, chick, touch, and punch.
5.) Now we are going to try and pick the /ch/ sound out of words.
Do you hear /ch/ in chain or cub? Chair or table?
Chalk or pencil? Now we are going to spot the words in a different
way. When you hear the/ch/ sound show me the card showing
the /ch/, if you do not, show me the question mark. Charlie
checked with Charles about the cherry pie.
6.) Show the students the pictures in the book. Have the students
read the book. Then have the students write a message inside of a
chain.
7.) For assessment, have students individually show you words
that do and do not have the /ch/ sound on the index card.
When they show you the words, make sure that they can read the words to
ensure not just letter recognition, but also to ensure their
ability to read the new correspondence.
Reference: www.auburn.edu/rdggenie/breakthroughs/obrienbr.html