# Lesson Plan: English Comprehension – Speech Work: Introduction to Stress
**Grade Level:** Senior Secondary 1
**Subject:** English Comprehension
**Duration:** 60 minutes
## Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the concept of stress in speech.
2. Identify stressed and unstressed syllables in words.
3. Apply correct stress patterns to words in sentences.
4. Appreciate the role of stress in effective communication.
## Materials Needed:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Audio recordings of words and sentences
- Handouts with exercises on stress patterns
- Projector and slides for visual examples
- Flashcards with words
## Lesson Outline:
### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Greeting and Warm-up:**
- Start with a brief greeting and ask students how they are feeling.
- Share an interesting fact or quote about the importance of effective communication.
2. **Objective Introduction:**
- Explain the lesson's objectives: Understanding and applying stress in English speech.
3. **Initial Question:**
- Pose a question to the class: "Who knows what stress in speech means?"
- Allow a few volunteers to share their thoughts.
### Direct Instruction (15 minutes)
1. **Definition and Importance:**
- Define stress in speech: Explain that stress refers to the emphasis placed on certain syllables in words.
- Discuss why stress is important: It can change the meaning of words and sentences, and improve clarity and understanding in communication.
2. **Examples of Stress:**
- Write examples on the board (e.g., 'record as a noun vs. 'record as a verb).
- Demonstrate the stressed syllables by saying the words aloud and marking the stressed parts.
3. **Listening Activity:**
- Play audio recordings of words with clearly stressed syllables.
- Ask students to listen and identify the stressed syllable.
### Guided Practice (15 minutes)
1. **Class Exercise:**
- Distribute handouts with a list of words and sentences.
- Work through a few examples together, identifying stressed and unstressed syllables.
- Mark the stressed syllables with an accent mark (').
2. **Group Work:**
- Divide the class into small groups.
- Assign each group a set of words from the handout.
- Groups will discuss and mark the stressed syllables.
- Each group will present their findings to the class.
### Independent Practice (10 minutes)
1. **Worksheet:**
- Provide students with individual worksheets containing a mix of new words and sentences.
- Students will independently identify and mark the stressed syllables.
2. **Reading Aloud Activity:**
- Ask students to read sentences from the worksheet aloud, focusing on correct stress.
- Provide feedback and corrections as needed.
### Application and Review (10 minutes)
1. **Class Discussion:**
- Discuss how stress can affect meaning in sentences.
- Example: “I can’t believe he didn’t show up.” vs. “I can’t believe he didn’t show up.”
2. **Interactive Activity:**
- Use flashcards with words and have students come up to the front to demonstrate the correct stress.
- Include peer feedback as an interactive element.
### Conclusion (5 minutes)
1. **Recap:**
- Briefly review the key points covered in the lesson: Definition of stress, importance, and practical application.
2. **Questions:**
- Open the floor for any questions from the students.
3. **Homework Assignment:**
- Assign students to find 10 new words, mark the stressed syllables, and bring them for the next class.
### Assessment:
1. **Formative:**
- Monitor group discussions and provide immediate feedback during activities.
- Evaluate participation in reading aloud activities.
2. **Summative:**
- Review and grade the individual worksheets for accuracy.
## Reflective Notes:
After the lesson, take some time to reflect on its effectiveness:
- Which activities were most engaging for the students?
- Were there any challenges or areas where students struggled?
- How can the lesson be improved for future classes?
**End of Lesson Plan**