English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes
The long e sound: ee or ea?
Phonics & Sight Words
CCSS RF.1.3.CEngland: Y1 Phonics (ee, ea)England: Y2 Spelling
Objective and success criteria
Students will: The long e sound: ee or ea?.
- 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: no earlier skill in the map; start from what students know.
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: three short questions students should already manage. Answers on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Clue: the number after two. Which letters fill the gap? t h r _ _ (ee / ea) → eePrompt: Work out the word from the clue.
- Which spelling is correct? (clene / cleen / clean) → cleanPrompt: Say the word and find the long vowel sound.
- Clue: a woolly farm animal. Which letters fill the gap? s h _ _ p (ee / ea) → eePrompt: Work out the word from the clue.
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: The long e sound: ee or ea?. 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: Clue: the number after two. Which letters fill the gap? t h r _ _
- Step 1: The long /ee/ sound is often spelled ee or ea. You have to learn which words use which.
- Step 2: The word is "three".
- Step 3: So the answer is: ee
- Answer: ee
- 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.
- Clue: a plant grows from it. Which letters fill the gap? s _ _ d (ee / ea) → eePrompt: Work out the word from the clue.
- Which spelling is correct? (sheep / shepe / sheap) → sheepPrompt: Say the word and find the long vowel sound.
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.
- Clue: you do it in bed. Which letters fill the gap? s l _ _ p (ee / ea) → eePrompt: Work out the word from the clue.
- Which spelling is correct? (dreem / dreme / dream) → dreamPrompt: Say the word and find the long 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
- 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