Doctor, do you hear the heartbeat?
Jana Bell

Rationale: Students will learn in this lesson how to recognize little b in spoken language. They will learn a letter symbol, a picture, a sound, and a gesture to go along with the picture. They will also learn what your mouth and tongue does as you say the sound of little b. All of these things will help them remember and learn the little b. This is important to learn because many children get little b and little d mixed up. It is needed that they learn things that will help them remember the difference. They will also practice finding /b/ in words.  We will practice at the end by reading a book.

Materials: For this lesson, the children will all need primary paper, and a pencil. For the teacher, a picture of a doctor with a stethoscope taking someone's heartbeat, he/she will also need a piece of primary paper and a pencil, a tongue  twister for little b, he/she will also need to have in mind how to do the gesture of a heartbeat. It will also be helpful to have an overhead projector, so that writing the letter b can be modeled. The teacher will also need pictures of things that start with b, and other pictures that do not, for the assessment. Each student should have a copy of several pictures for the assessment.

Procedures: 1. Today, we are going to learn about the little b. Can everyone say bu? Great! The little letter b makes the sound bu. What does your mouth do when you say bu? B-u, bu. Your mouth comes together, and then out, sort of like you are spitting something out of your mouth. Great! Once more, bu!

 2. Raise your hand if you have ever been to the doctor before? What are some of the things the doctor does when he first comes into the room to see you? He takes out what is called a stethoscope, and listens to your heart. A stethoscope helps the doctor hear your heartbeat. At this time the picture will be brought out, and put under the projector.

3. Who can tell me what your heart might sound like to the doctor? Bu-bu. Bu-bu. Bu-bu. At this time, I would do the gesture of my hand beating over my heart to the rhythm of Bu-bu. Bu-bu. Ok, who can do it with me? Bu-bu. Bu-bu. That is what sound the little b makes right? Bu-bu. Bu-bu.

4. Great! Now that we know what little b sounds like, let's look at this tongue twister! I want you to pretend that you are the doctor now! At this time I would display my tongue twister on the projector for them to see. I am going to read it first. "Bill and Betty baked brown bread for Barbara's baby. Wow, that was pretty tough. Know I am going to say it using our new sound! Bu-Bill and Bu-Betty Bu-baked Bu-brown Bu-bread for Bu-Barbera's  bu-baby. As I am saying this slowly, I am also doing my hand gesture.  Ok, doctors I need your help! Let's all try it together, remember find the heartbeat sound! Bu-Bill and Bu-Betty Bu-baked Bu-brown Bu-bread for Bu-Barbara's   bu-baby. Great job everyone! Did anyone see an extra b in Bu-barbara? Bu-Bar-Bu ara's. Good!

5. Now we are going to learn how to write the letter b too! Everyone get out a pencil, and I will come around and give you piece of writing paper. I will now get them the primary paper. I am going to show you how to write the little b on your paper. Start at the roof , go down, bu-bu-bounce up and around. I would do this several times to demonstrate for them on the projector. Now you try it! Get your pencil ready! Let's say our poem. Start at the roof, go down, bu-bu-bounce up and around! Ok now let's say it as we write it! We would do this all together several times going down the line.

6. Let's see if you can hear the heartbeat in barn. Buuu-arrr-nn. Did you hear it?  I think I heard it, bu-bu arrrnn. Great!

7. Great job! Now let's play a game. I want to see if you can help me with some words. I want to see if you can hear the letter b in some words that I have. Ready doctors? Do you hear /b/ in car or bus? Do you hear /b/ in fall or ball? Do you hear /b/ in bride or hide? Do you hear /b/ in big or twig? Do you hear /b/ in hike or bike? Great!

8. Now, we are going to read a story. You are expert doctors now! When you hear the little b sound, I want you to make the heartbeat sign. Remember how we did it? I will model it again. We will now read together "My "b" sound box" by Jane Belk Moncure.  Little "b"s adventure with words includes playing ball with a bear, discovering a bird in a birdbath, a bee, a baby baboon with a banana, and many other animal friends. Little "b" has an exciting ride on a bicycle and sails away on big boat.

9. For the assessment, I will have them circle pictures that have the little b sound. Example: One picture will be of a bear, and one picture will be of a dog. Another might be a banana and a picture of a telephone. They will have to circle which picture has the sound of the little b. Each student will receive one, so that each student is individually assessed.

References

        Wallach, M. A., & Wallach, L. (1976).  Teaching all children to read.  Chicago:  University of Chicago Press. http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/twisters.html This is where I received my idea for my tongue twister. 

       Devised by faculty and students at Auburn University http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/gestures.htmlThis is where I got the idea for the hand gesture.

      http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1555R-316226