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

Soft c and soft g (city, giant)

Phonics & Sight Words

CCSS RF.2.3CCSS RF.3.3England: Y2 Spelling (soft c and g)England: Y3 Spelling

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Soft c and soft g (city, giant).

  • 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: Count the sounds (phonemes) in a word

Leads to: The /j/ sound at the end: -dge or -ge?; y in the middle that sounds like i: gym, myth, pyramid; ch that says /k/ (school) or /sh/ (chef)

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 (Count the sounds (phonemes) in a word). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. How many sounds (phonemes) can you hear in "pig"? → 3Prompt: Say the word very slowly, stretching it out like a rubber band.
  2. How many sounds (phonemes) can you hear in "night"? Remember: two or three letters can work together to make ONE sound. → 3Prompt: Say the word very slowly, stretching it out like a rubber band.
  3. How many sounds (phonemes) can you hear in "milk"? Remember: two or three letters can work together to make ONE sound. → 4Prompt: Say the word very slowly, stretching it out like a rubber band.

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: Soft c and soft g (city, giant). 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: What sound does the g make in "gum"?
  • Step 1: In "gum" the g is hard.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: /g/ as in "goat"
  • Answer: /g/ as in "goat"
  • 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. What sound does the c make in "cut"? (/s/ as in "sun" / /k/ as in "kite") → /k/ as in "kite"Prompt: Look at the letter just after the c.
  2. Which word has a soft c (it sounds like /s/, as in "city")? (cat / cycle / actor / cot) → cyclePrompt: Say each word aloud.

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. Which word has a soft g (it sounds like /j/, as in "giant")? (goat / magic / game / gate) → magicPrompt: Say each word aloud.
  2. What sound does the c make in "cave"? (/s/ as in "sun" / /k/ as in "kite") → /k/ as in "kite"Prompt: Look at the letter just after the c.

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: Count the sounds (phonemes) in a word.
  • 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

  • Move on to: The /j/ sound at the end: -dge or -ge?; y in the middle that sounds like i: gym, myth, pyramid; ch that says /k/ (school) or /sh/ (chef).
  • 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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Soft c and soft g (city, giant)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which word has a soft g (it sounds like /j/, as in "giant")?

    • A. goat
    • B. wagon
    • C. gift
    • D. page

  2. Question 2

    What sound does the c make in "cat"?

    • A. /s/ as in "sun"
    • B. /k/ as in "kite"

  3. Question 3

    What sound does the g make in "give"?

    • A. /j/ as in "jam"
    • B. /g/ as in "goat"

  4. Question 4

    Which word has a soft c (it sounds like /s/, as in "city")?

    • A. cat
    • B. cub
    • C. cycle
    • D. crab

  5. Question 5

    What sound does the c make in "ice"?

    • A. /s/ as in "sun"
    • B. /k/ as in "kite"

  6. Question 6

    What sound does the c make in "pencil"?

    • A. /s/ as in "sun"
    • B. /k/ as in "kite"

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Answer key: Soft c and soft g (city, giant)

  1. 1. D. page

  2. 2. B. /k/ as in "kite"

  3. 3. B. /g/ as in "goat"

  4. 4. C. cycle

  5. 5. A. /s/ as in "sun"

  6. 6. A. /s/ as in "sun"