**Lesson Plan: Vowel Sounds 'u'**
**Grade Level:** Primary 4
**Subject:** Phonics
**Duration:** 45 minutes
### **Objective:**
Students will be able to identify and pronounce the vowel sound 'u' in various words and use it accurately in sentences.
### **Materials:**
- Flashcards with words containing the vowel sound 'u'
- Chart paper and markers
- Workbooks
- Audio clips of words with the vowel sound 'u'
- Whiteboard and markers
- Worksheet with fill-in-the-blanks and matching exercises
### **Common Core Standards:**
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
### **Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Greeting and Warm-up (2 minutes):**
- Begin with a brief greeting and ask students how they are doing.
- Start with a light warm-up: "Let's say the alphabet and clap our hands."
2. **Introduction to Vowel Sound 'u' (8 minutes):**
- Write the letter 'u' on the whiteboard.
- Discuss that today we will learn about the sound that the vowel 'u' makes.
- Pronounce the short vowel sound 'u' (as in "cup") and the long vowel sound 'u' (as in "flute"). Have students repeat after you.
- Write examples on the board for both sounds: "cup," "rub," "fun" (short sound) and "flute," "use," "mule" (long sound).
### **Direct Instruction (15 minutes):**
1. **Listening Activity (5 minutes):**
- Play audio clips with words containing the vowel sound 'u' (both short and long).
- Ask students to listen carefully and identify whether the 'u' sound is short or long.
2. **Flashcard Activity (10 minutes):**
- Show flashcards with words containing the vowel sound 'u.'
- For each card, students will determine if it has a short or long 'u' sound.
- Have students say the words out loud after identifying the vowel sounds.
### **Guided Practice (10 minutes):**
1. **Word Sorting (5 minutes):**
- Write a list of words on chart paper or the board: "bathtub," "music," "bug," "June," "jump," "cube."
- On chart paper, create two columns: "Short 'u'" and "Long 'u'."
- Ask students to come up to the board and write each word under the appropriate column.
2. **Sentence Creation (5 minutes):**
- Divide students into pairs and hand out a set of flashcards to each pair.
- Instruct them to create sentences using words from the flashcards, making sure they pronounce the vowel sound 'u' correctly.
- Have each pair share their sentences with the class.
### **Independent Practice (5 minutes):**
1. **Worksheet Activity:**
- Distribute a worksheet with fill-in-the-blanks and matching exercises, focusing on the vowel sound 'u.'
- Students will complete the worksheet independently, matching words to pictures or filling in the blanks with the correct words.
### **Closing (5 minutes):**
1. **Review & Recap:**
- Ask a few students to share their answers from the worksheet.
- Recap the lesson by asking key questions:
- "What sound does the short 'u' make?"
- "What sound does the long 'u' make?"
- "Can you give me an example of a word with a short 'u'? And a word with a long 'u'?"
2. **Preview of Next Lesson:**
- Briefly introduce what they will learn in the next class, perhaps another vowel sound or different phonetic rule.
**Assessment:**
- Observe students during the guided practice activities.
- Review student responses from the independent practice worksheet.
- Note participation and pronunciation accuracy during oral activities.
**Homework:**
- Assign a list of 10 words with the vowel sound 'u' (5 short and 5 long) for students to write in sentences.
By the end of this lesson, students should be more confident in identifying and using words with the vowel sound 'u,' improving both their reading and pronunciation skills.