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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Split two-syllable words (rab|bit, ro|bot)

Phonics & Sight Words

CCSS RF.2.3.CCCSS RF.1.3.EEngland: Y2 Reading (decoding two-syllable words)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Split two-syllable words (rab|bit, ro|bot).

  • 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: Counting syllables; Short vowel or long vowel? (cap or cape)

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 (Counting syllables; Short vowel or long vowel? (cap or cape)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Clap the word "potato". How many syllables (beats) does it have? (1 / 2 / 3 / 4) → 3Prompt: Say the word slowly and clap each beat.
  2. Which word has a LONG vowel sound (the vowel says its name)? (tub / tube / hop / slid) → tubePrompt: Look for a vowel, then a consonant, then an e at the end.
  3. Which word has exactly 3 syllables? (cake / watermelon / rainbow / kangaroo) → kangarooPrompt: Clap each 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: Split two-syllable words (rab|bit, ro|bot). 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: Where does "helmet" split into two syllables (beats)?
  • Step 1: Clap it: hel – met
  • Step 2: So the answer is: hel|met
  • Answer: hel|met
  • 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. Where does "sunset" split into two syllables (beats)? (suns|et / sunse|t / sun|set / su|nset) → sun|setPrompt: Clap the word. Each clap is a syllable, and each syllable has a vowel sound.
  2. "bacon" splits as ba|con. Is the first syllable "ba" open or closed? (open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long / closed: it ends with a consonant, so the vowel is short) → open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is longPrompt: Look at the last letter of "ba".

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. "music" splits as mu|sic. Is the first syllable "mu" open or closed? (open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long / closed: it ends with a consonant, so the vowel is short) → open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is longPrompt: Look at the last letter of "mu".
  2. Where does "lemon" split into two syllables (beats)? (le|mon / lem|on / l|emon / lemo|n) → lem|onPrompt: Clap the word. Each clap is a syllable, and each syllable has a vowel 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: Counting syllables.
  • 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-2.

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

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Split two-syllable words (rab|bit, ro|bot)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    "winter" splits as win|ter. Is the first syllable "win" open or closed?

    • A. open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long
    • B. closed: it ends with a consonant, so the vowel is short

  2. Question 2

    Where does "lemon" split into two syllables (beats)?

    • A. le|mon
    • B. lemo|n
    • C. l|emon
    • D. lem|on

  3. Question 3

    "spider" splits as spi|der. Is the first syllable "spi" open or closed?

    • A. open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long
    • B. closed: it ends with a consonant, so the vowel is short

  4. Question 4

    Where does "hazel" split into two syllables (beats)?

    • A. haze|l
    • B. haz|el
    • C. h|azel
    • D. ha|zel

  5. Question 5

    "fever" splits as fe|ver. Is the first syllable "fe" open or closed?

    • A. open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long
    • B. closed: it ends with a consonant, so the vowel is short

  6. Question 6

    Where does "rabbit" split into two syllables (beats)?

    • A. ra|bbit
    • B. rab|bit
    • C. rabb|it
    • D. rabbi|t

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Answer key: Split two-syllable words (rab|bit, ro|bot)

  1. 1. B. closed: it ends with a consonant, so the vowel is short

  2. 2. D. lem|on

  3. 3. A. open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long

  4. 4. D. ha|zel

  5. 5. A. open: it ends with a vowel, so the vowel is long

  6. 6. B. rab|bit