In this phonics lesson tailored for early learners, the focus is on the letter formation of 'k' and the introduction of the grapheme as another representation of the phoneme /k/. The objective is to familiarise students with the sound and its new grapheme, enhancing their understanding that different letters can produce the same sound. The lesson begins with a Quickdash activity, where children review previously learned graphemes and pictophones, shouting out the corresponding sounds and names at an increasing pace. This helps to reinforce their phonemic awareness and recall.
The teaching segment incorporates storytelling, where students are reminded that although no new characters are joining the phonics ship, an old friend, represented by Kangaroos, will help them learn the new grapheme . The teacher demonstrates how this grapheme represents the /k/ sound, just like the grapheme, using words like "kid" and "can" as examples. The lesson continues with CVC/s words, where children learn to decode words such as "cat" and "cats," focusing on blending sounds together. During the practice phase, students are shown how to write the grapheme , first by finger writing in the air or on a peer's back, and then by sorting real and nonsense words into a treasure chest or bin, respectively. The application of the lesson involves writing the grapheme on mini whiteboards and engaging in extension activities like Letter Circling and Shaving Foam. Teaching notes suggest that if students struggle with CVC/s blends, early intervention with additional support materials is recommended to address potential reading difficulties.
