English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Short vowel sounds
Phonics & Sight Words
CCSS RF.K.3.BEngland: Reception Phonics
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Short vowel sounds.
- 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: Blending CVC words
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Blending CVC words). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which vowel finishes the word? b _ x (clue: you can put things in it) (a / e / i / o / u) → oPrompt: Think of the word from the clue and say it slowly.
- Change the first sound in "pen" to /m/. What new word do you make? → menPrompt: Take away /p/. What is left?
- Which vowel finishes the word? t _ n (clue: the number after nine) (a / e / i / o / u) → ePrompt: Think of the word from the clue and say it slowly.
Hook · 5 min
- Hide picture cards in a bag and ask children to say the first sound of each one they pull out.
- Share the objective: Short vowel sounds. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which word has the same middle sound as "bed"?
- Step 1: The middle sound of "bed" is short /e/.
- Step 2: So the answer is: let
- Answer: let
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which word has the same middle sound as "cat"? (den / zip / hut / bat) → batPrompt: Say "cat" slowly. What sound is in the middle?
- Which vowel do you hear in "set"? (a / e / i / o / u) → ePrompt: Vowels are a, e, i, o, u.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which vowel do you hear in "kit"? (a / e / i / o / u) → iPrompt: Vowels are a, e, i, o, u.
- Which word has the same middle sound as "bed"? (dot / set / pit / hut) → setPrompt: Say "bed" slowly. What sound is in the middle?
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: Blending CVC words.
- 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/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder