## Lesson Plan: Phonics (Sound Patterns: Long and Short 'ea' Sound)
**Grade Level:** Primary 6
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Topic:** Sound Patterns: Long and Short 'ea' Sound
### Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Identify the long 'ea' sound (e.g., 'beach') and the short 'ea' sound (e.g., 'bread').
2. Differentiate words with long 'ea' sounds from words with short 'ea' sounds.
3. Apply their understanding to read, write, and use words with both sounds in sentences.
### Materials:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Flashcards with words containing 'ea' (both long and short sounds)
- Word sorting activity sheets
- Audio examples of words with long and short 'ea' sounds
- Worksheet for independent practice
- Phonics storybook or reading passage containing 'ea' words
### Lesson Plan:
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Greeting and Setup:**
- Greet students and briefly review the concept of vowel sounds.
- Introduce the topic of long and short 'ea' sounds. Write "ea" on the board and explain that it can make different sounds.
2. **Hook:**
- Play audio examples or read aloud two lists of words: one with long 'ea' sounds (e.g., 'beach', 'team', 'mean') and one with short 'ea' sounds (e.g., 'bread', 'head', 'meant').
- Ask students if they can hear the difference between the words in the two lists.
**Direct Instruction (15 minutes):**
3. **Explanation:**
- Define and explain the difference between the long 'ea' sound (sounds like the letter 'e', as in 'tea') and the short 'ea' sound (sounds like a short 'e', as in 'bed').
- Write examples on the board and practice saying them together as a class.
4. **Word Lists:**
- Create two columns on the board. Label one "Long 'ea'" and the other "Short 'ea'".
- Provide more examples of words and ask students to help sort them into the correct column.
**Guided Practice (15 minutes):**
5. **Flashcards:**
- Show flashcards with 'ea' words one at a time. Ask students to say the word out loud and identify if the 'ea' makes a long or short sound.
- Place the flashcard in the appropriate column on the board.
6. **Sorting Activity:**
- Hand out sorting activity sheets where students cut out and sort words into long 'ea' and short 'ea' categories.
- Walk around to assist and correct as necessary.
**Independent Practice (10 minutes):**
7. **Worksheet:**
- Provide a worksheet with sentences that have blanks for 'ea' words. Students fill in the blanks with the correct 'ea' word.
- Include an exercise where students write their own sentences using both long and short 'ea' words.
**Assessment (10 minutes):**
8. **Reading Passage:**
- Distribute a short reading passage or story that contains both long and short 'ea' words.
- Ask students to read the passage aloud in pairs, focusing on correctly pronouncing the 'ea' sounds.
- After reading, have students underline or highlight the words with 'ea' sounds and label them as long or short.
**Closing (5 minutes):**
9. **Recap:**
- Review the key points of the lesson.
- Ask a few students to share a sentence they wrote using long or short 'ea' words.
- Answer any remaining questions.
10. **Extension:**
- Encourage students to look for more 'ea' words in their reading at home and to bring examples to the next class.
**Homework:**
- Assign students to write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) using at least three words with long 'ea' sounds and three words with short 'ea' sounds.
- Encourage students to read the paragraph to a family member or friend and practice pronouncing the 'ea' words correctly.
### Evaluation:
- Monitor student participation during guided practice and sorting activity.
- Review the worksheet and reading passage for accurate identification of long and short 'ea' sounds.
- Assess homework paragraphs for correct usage of 'ea' words.
**Differentiation:**
- Provide additional support for students who struggle with phonics by using more visual aids and one-on-one practice.
- Challenge advanced students to find and bring in words with 'ea' sounds that are less common.
This lesson plan provides a balanced approach to teaching the long and short 'ea' sounds, ensuring that all students can engage with the material and develop their phonics skills effectively.