Week 25, lesson 1 Phonemes "air, ear,are" - Phonics Phase 5, unit 3 - Lesson plan

In the first lesson of Week 25, young learners are introduced to the versatile phoneme /air/ and its various spellings within the Phonics Phase 5, Unit 3 curriculum. The objective of the lesson is clear: to understand and learn the different graphemes that can represent the /air/ sound in words. The session begins with a lively 'Quickdash' activity, where children review previously learned graphemes, including digraphs and trigraphs, by shouting out the corresponding phonemes as flashcards are displayed at increasing speeds.

The teaching segment of the lesson involves presenting the 'Aircraft pictophone', a visual aid that stimulates the recognition of the /air/ phoneme. The educator then illustrates the different graphemes that can denote this sound: , , . Together with the class, the teacher writes and underlines the /air/ phoneme in example words such as 'fair', 'stare', and 'bear'. During the practice phase, the class engages in 'Rhyme Time', a collaborative activity where they identify rhyming words and underline the common phonemic sounds, highlighting the variety of graphemes that can produce the /air/ sound. To apply their learning, students use mini whiteboards to write dictated words and sentences that include the /air/ phoneme, such as 'stare', 'unfair', 'wear', 'aware', and sentences like 'I don't care for cold air' or 'The bear is in his lair'. This hands-on approach reinforces their understanding and ability to use the /air/ phoneme in different contexts.