Rationale:  As a beginning reader, children need to learn ways to spell words.  One way in teaching children how to spell correctly is to focus on digraphs.  Digraphs are when two or more letters are combined together to form a mouth move.  The digraph of focus for this lesson is /ch/.  This lesson will teach children to identify /ch/ in words, and how to recognize /ch/ in spoken words.  This teaches children a meaningful representation of letter symbols, and then it will give them some practice on finding /ch/ in different words.

Materials:  primary writing paper, pencil, chart (blank), marker, Sticky Cheese Man book, worksheet, Can a Chick Swim book.

Procedures:  1.  Introduce lesson by explaining that some words, such as church, change, cheese, contain a certain two letters that make one single mouth move together.  Ask students, “Can anyone notice some common letters in church, change, cheese?”  (have these words written on board).  “Today, we are going to work on spotting the mouth move of /ch/ and working with this.”  Generally, children at this age have only worked with one-letter mouth moves, and this is a beginning point to begin teaching digraphs.  “/ch/ is used in many words, such as the ones written on the board, and we are going to be able to spot /ch/ in many different words.”
2. Ask students, “Ok, who in here likes cheese?  Please raise your hands.  Well, boys and girls, cheese has the mouth move /ch/ in it.  Can anyone tell me some of the different kinds of cheese you like?”  List the children’ responses on the board.
3. Have students think of words with /ch/ in them, and let them write out at least 5 words with /ch/ on their paper, and allow children to use inventive spelling.
4. “Now class, I want everyone to stand up and read aloud the /ch/ words you came up with.”
5. “Boys and girls, let’s now come to the center of the room, and sit in our group circle.  (have chart and marker handy)  We are going to learn how to spell some words with /ch/.  Is everyone ready?  Our first word is cheese (write out on chart).  Can someone come and point to the /ch/ in cheese?  Our second word is church (write out on chart).  Ok, now we can spell cheese and church as c-h-e-e-s-e and c-h-u-r-c-h.  Now, repeat these words with me.”  After this, teach students how to spell change, chance, much, touch, chip).
6. Pass out worksheet to students.  On this worksheet are words that contain /ch/.  A blank space will be in place of /ch/ and also at the beginning and end of the words.  Have students try to determine where the ch goes in each word.
7. Have each student read silently Can a Chick Swim? at their desk.  When done with reading the story, have students write out any words with /ch/ in them from the book.  Then can create drawings to go along with words if they want.
8. For assessment, have students read aloud 10 words we learned how to spell in step 5.
For an extra activity, have children read Sticky Cheese Man to themselves.

Reference:  Ames, Jennifer (gave idea on worksheet in step 6).

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