English Resource Description
In Week 5, Day 2 of the phonics curriculum, the lesson plan is centred around the phoneme /ar/ and the corresponding grapheme . The objective for the day is for children to learn and recognise the /ar/ sound, introduced through an engaging character known as the Ark in the Park. The lesson begins with a revisit to the alphabet through the singing of the alphabet song, ensuring children are comfortable with letter identification. This is followed by the 'Word Breaker' activity, where children are encouraged to break down words into their individual sounds and then say them as a whole, reinforcing their phonemic awareness.
The teaching phase incorporates a story that features the /ar/ sound prominently, helping children to connect the phoneme with the grapheme as they listen to the tale of animals in the park. Teachers emphasise the /ar/ sound, especially when describing the creaky ramp of the ark, and accompany this with a physical action to strengthen the association. During the practice phase, children learn how to form the grapheme by finger writing in the air or on a friend's back. The 'Spot The Fake' game involves sorting real and nonsense words, helping children to apply their phonics knowledge in a fun way. Finally, children get to apply what they've learned by decoding and drawing a phrase on their whiteboards, such as "A jar of fish," with additional sorting and drawing activities available for extension.
