English Resource Description
In Week 20's second lesson of Phonics Phase 5, Unit 3, children delve into alternative spellings for the /oa/ phoneme, specifically focusing on the and graphemes. The objective is clear: to learn more ways to spell the /oa/ sound. The lesson begins with a 'High Frequency Word (HFW) Race', where the children review ten high-frequency words using flashcards. This activity not only reinforces their reading skills but also adds a competitive edge as they work in teams to read the words as quickly as possible.
During the teaching phase, the instructor introduces the Ogre pictophone, a visual aid that helps students associate the phoneme with its representation. The class then explores how to spell words like "grow" and "toe", using sound buttons to highlight the graphemes and , respectively. Children get hands-on practice by writing these graphemes on whiteboards, finger writing in the air, or tracing them on their peers' backs. The lesson emphasises that and are typically used when /oa/ is the final phoneme in a word. In the practise section, children engage in the 'Sound Spotter' activity, identifying the phoneme in sentences and listing the various graphemes representing it. Finally, the application of their learning is tested through mini whiteboard work, where they write dictated words and sentences that incorporate the day's phoneme and graphemes.
