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English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes

When y is a vowel: sky or happy?

Phonics & Sight Words

CCSS RF.1.3.CEngland: Y1 Phonics (y as /igh/ and /ee/)England: Y2 Spelling (-y)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: When y is a vowel: sky or happy?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: The long a sound: ai or ay?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sound cards and picture cards, Magnetic letters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The long a sound: ai or ay?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Clue: metal rings joined together. Which letters fill the gap? c h _ _ n (ai / ay) → aiPrompt: Is the long /ai/ sound in the middle or at the end of the word?
  2. Which spelling is correct? (plae / plai / play) → playPrompt: Say the word and find the long vowel sound.
  3. Clue: not here; far ___. Which letters fill the gap? a w _ _ (ai / ay) → ayPrompt: Is the long /ai/ sound in the middle or at the end of the word?

Hook · 3 min

  • Hide picture cards in a bag and ask children to say the first sound of each one they pull out.
  • Share the objective: When y is a vowel: sky or happy?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: In the word "fly", what sound does the y at the end make?
  • Step 1: "fly" has one syllable.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: like the "igh" in "night"
  • Answer: like the "igh" in "night"
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. In the word "candy", what sound does the y at the end make? (like the "igh" in "night" / like the "ee" in "see" / like the "y" in "yes") → like the "ee" in "see"Prompt: Count the syllables (beats) in the word.
  2. Which word ends with a y that sounds like "igh" (as in "night")? (jelly / baby / puppy / dry) → dryPrompt: Say each word aloud and listen to the last sound.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. In the word "baby", what sound does the y at the end make? (like the "igh" in "night" / like the "ee" in "see" / like the "y" in "yes") → like the "ee" in "see"Prompt: Count the syllables (beats) in the word.
  2. Which word ends with a y that sounds like "igh" (as in "night")? (sunny / candy / fly / puppy) → flyPrompt: Say each word aloud and listen to the last sound.

Watch out for

  • Adding an extra "uh" to sounds ("buh" instead of a clean b).
  • Reading the letters one by one but not blending them into a word.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: The long a sound: ai or ay?.
  • Use concrete materials: sound cards and picture cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-1.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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When y is a vowel: sky or happy?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which word ends with a y that sounds like "igh" (as in "night")?

    • A. baby
    • B. puppy
    • C. party
    • D. cry

  2. Question 2

    In the word "teddy", what sound does the y at the end make?

    • A. like the "igh" in "night"
    • B. like the "ee" in "see"
    • C. like the "y" in "yes"

  3. Question 3

    In the word "pony", what sound does the y at the end make?

    • A. like the "igh" in "night"
    • B. like the "ee" in "see"
    • C. like the "y" in "yes"

  4. Question 4

    Which word ends with a y that sounds like "ee"?

    • A. why
    • B. story
    • C. dry
    • D. shy

  5. Question 5

    In the word "by", what sound does the y at the end make?

    • A. like the "igh" in "night"
    • B. like the "ee" in "see"
    • C. like the "y" in "yes"

  6. Question 6

    In the word "fry", what sound does the y at the end make?

    • A. like the "igh" in "night"
    • B. like the "ee" in "see"
    • C. like the "y" in "yes"

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Answer key: When y is a vowel: sky or happy?

  1. 1. D. cry

  2. 2. B. like the "ee" in "see"

  3. 3. B. like the "ee" in "see"

  4. 4. B. story

  5. 5. A. like the "igh" in "night"

  6. 6. A. like the "igh" in "night"