Week 6, Guided Reading "A Shark in the Pool" - Phonics Phase 3 - worksheet

The "A Shark in the Pool" guided reading session is a captivating lesson, designed to engage Year 1 students in comprehension and phonics practice. The session begins by asking children to identify the title of the story, setting the stage for a discussion about their predictions regarding the book's content. As they delve into the story, students explore the emotions of the protagonist at the beginning and ponder what he fears might occur. Further comprehension questions encourage children to reflect on the boy's reaction upon discovering his sister's playful deception and to share their personal reactions to the story, including their favourite parts and how they would react to a similar scenario involving a shark in a swimming pool.

To deepen understanding and empathy, the session includes bonus questions that challenge the children to consider the fairness of revenge and relate their own experiences with playing tricks. The activities accompanying the reading are designed to reinforce phonics skills and creative expression. Children practice writing graphemes with water and a paintbrush, complete worksheets, engage in quiet reading, and participate in role-play interviews as the characters from the story. An imaginative 'What's in the bag?' game adds an element of tactile mystery, encouraging descriptive language as they guess the concealed object. This comprehensive approach to learning ensures that children not only improve their reading comprehension and phonics skills but also develop their critical thinking and creativity.