Week 3, lesson 4 Voiced and Unvoiced "th" - Phonics Phase 3 - Lesson plan

In the fourth lesson of Week 3 during Phonics Phase 3, young learners will discover the nuanced difference between the voiced and unvoiced "th" sounds. The lesson's objective is to introduce these similar phonemes with the help of two character flashcards: the Thief with a Beef and That in a Hat, alongside the grapheme flashcard for . The session begins with a rapid review of previously learned tricky words, where children excitedly shout out the words as they appear on flashcards.

The teaching segment of the lesson utilises an engaging story to highlight the distinct "th" sounds, featuring the Thief with a Beef and the That in a Hat. Children are divided into two groups to perform actions that correspond with the characters, reinforcing the phonemes. Practise involves students finger writing the digraph in the air and on each other's backs, as well as decoding and blending words like 'them', 'then', 'this', 'with', 'thin', 'thick', and 'that' using relevant flashcards. The lesson progresses to writing exercises on mini whiteboards and is complemented by extension activities such as letter circling and using shaving foam. Teaching notes emphasise the importance of visual aids like mirrors to help children observe the correct tongue placement between the teeth for producing the /th/ sound, which is often confused with /v/ and /f/ sounds.