English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
R-controlled vowels: ar or or?
Phonics & Sight Words
CCSS RF.2.3.BCCSS RF.1.3.CEngland: Y1 Phonics (ar, or)England: Y2 Spelling
Objective and success criteria
Students will: R-controlled vowels: ar or or?.
- 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: R-controlled vowels (ar, or, er, ir, ur)
Leads to: One sound, three spellings: er, ir, ur; aw or au? (paw, launch)
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 (R-controlled vowels (ar, or, er, ir, ur)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which letters complete the word? st _ _ (it twinkles at night) (or / ar / ee / oo) → arPrompt: Use the clue to think of the word.
- Which letters complete the word? p _ _ ple (a mix of red and blue) (ur / ar / oo / or) → urPrompt: Use the clue to think of the word.
- Which letters complete the word? sp _ _ t (a game like football) (or / ar / oo / ee) → orPrompt: Use the clue to think of the word.
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: R-controlled vowels: ar or or?. 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: you ride in it on the road. Which letters fill the gap? c _ _
- Step 1: ar says the sound in 'car'; or says the sound in 'fork'.
- Step 2: The word is "car".
- Step 3: So the answer is: ar
- Answer: ar
- 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 strong building to keep people safe. Which letters fill the gap? f _ _ t (ar / or) → orPrompt: Work out the word from the clue.
- Which spelling is correct? (shark / shork / sharke) → sharkPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky 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 spelling is correct? (sharke / shork / shark) → sharkPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky sound.
- Clue: a place with swings and grass. Which letters fill the gap? p _ _ k (ar / or) → arPrompt: Work out the word from the clue.
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: R-controlled vowels (ar, or, er, ir, ur).
- 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: One sound, three spellings: er, ir, ur; aw or au? (paw, launch).
- 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