English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Ending sounds
Phonics & Sight Words
CCSS RF.K.2.DEngland: Reception Phonics
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Ending 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: Beginning sounds and letters
Leads to: Spell the missing sound: first, middle or last
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 (Beginning sounds and letters). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word begins with the same sound as "goat"? (jelly / yard / worm / game) → gamePrompt: Say "goat" slowly. What is the first sound you hear?
- Which letter makes the first sound in "pen"? (j / p / w / m) → pPrompt: Stretch the word out like a rubber band.
- Which word begins with the same sound as "rat"? (fox / web / robot / yard) → robotPrompt: Say "rat" slowly. What is the first sound you hear?
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: Ending 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 ends with the same sound as "tub"?
- Step 1: "tub" ends with /b/.
- Step 2: So the answer is: cub
- Answer: cub
- 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 ends with the same sound as "can"? (tub / fed / dip / bun) → bunPrompt: Say "can" slowly. Listen to the very last sound.
- Which word ends with the same sound as "pad"? (sat / led / fog / lip) → ledPrompt: Say "pad" slowly. Listen to the very last 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.
- Which word ends with the same sound as "sad"? (lap / rag / rub / fed) → fedPrompt: Say "sad" slowly. Listen to the very last sound.
- Which word ends with the same sound as "wet"? (bag / cat / bed / rub) → catPrompt: Say "wet" slowly. Listen to the very 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: Beginning sounds and letters.
- 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: Spell the missing sound: first, middle or last.
- 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