### Lesson Plan: Basic Reading Skills for Reception Students
**Class Time:** 60 minutes
**Age Group:** Reception (4-5 years old)
**Topic:** Basic Reading Skills
#### Learning Objectives:
- Recognise and identify lower and upper case letters.
- Match letters to their corresponding sounds.
- Begin to read simple CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words.
- Develop a love for reading through engaging activities.
#### Materials Needed:
- Alphabet flashcards
- Whiteboard and markers
- Picture books with simple text
- Phonics chart
- Phonics songs (accessible via a music player)
- CVC word cards
- Reading corner setup (with carpet, cushions, and picture books)
#### Lesson Breakdown:
**1. Introduction (10 minutes)**
- **Welcome and Warm-up:** Begin with a cheerful greeting and a short song about the alphabet to get the children excited for the lesson.
- **Objective Sharing:** Briefly explain what the students will learn today - recognising letters, matching them with sounds, and starting to read simple words.
**2. Alphabet Recognition (10 minutes)**
- **Flashcard Show and Tell:** Go through alphabet flashcards in both lower and upper case. Ask students to say the letter names together.
- **Interactive Activity:** Show a flashcard and have individual students come up and say the letter. Praise correct answers to build confidence.
**3. Phonics and Letter Sounds (15 minutes)**
- **Phonics Song:** Sing a phonics song that includes the sounds of each letter. Engage students in following the song with actions that represent each letter sound.
- **Sound Matching Activity:** Use the phonics chart to illustrate the sound each letter makes. Invite students to mimic the sounds.
- **Whiteboard Exercise:** Write a letter on the board and ask students to call out its sound.
**4. Introduction to CVC Words (10 minutes)**
- **Visual and Oral Activity:** Display CVC word cards and sound out each letter with the class (e.g., c-a-t, cat).
- **Matching Game:** Place CVC words and corresponding pictures around the room. Have students match the words with the correct pictures.
**5. Reading Corner (10 minutes)**
- **Guided Reading:** Bring the students to the reading corner. Select a picture book and read it aloud, showing pictures and emphasising simple words.
- **Interactive Reading:** Ask questions about the pictures and story to keep children engaged and to check comprehension.
**6. Reflection and Closure (5 minutes)**
- **Recap:** Quickly review the letters and sounds covered.
- **Open Discussion:** Invite students to share their favourite part of the lesson.
- **Closing Song:** End with the same alphabet song from the introduction to reinforce learning and signal the end of the session.
#### Differentiation:
- **For Advanced Learners:** Provide more challenging CVC words and have them attempt to read simple sentences.
- **For Struggling Learners:** Offer additional one-on-one practice with alphabet and sound flashcards.
#### Extensions:
- **Home Activity:** Encourage students to practise letter sounds and CVC words with their parents at home using a provided handout.
- **Library Visit:** Plan a visit to the school library to allow students to explore books of interest, reinforcing their new reading skills.
By following this lesson plan, Reception students will get a foundational understanding of basic reading skills in an engaging and supporti