Teaching the Letter Sound

Teaching Letter „Aa‟ Aim To ensure that children master alphabet recognition.

Objective Students will hear, say and write letter Aa‟.

Resources       

Bible Phonics: A-B-C Workbook Whiteboard marker/chalk Whiteboard/chalkboard Alphabet poster Children‟s Bible The Amazing Ant (Non-fiction ), or The Ant and the Grasshopper

Key Lesson Hear it (Phonemic Awareness)  

Read the alliterative sentence. Place special oral emphasis on the words that begin with the /a/ sound. Say, “Be as wise as an ant.” Proverbs 6.6 Ask the children to say the sound they heard the most often when you read the sentence. Repeat the sentence.

Say it (Letter Sound-out)   

Invite children to examine your mouth formation as you say the sound /a/. Then have them say the sound /a/ at least thrice. Sing the „A‟ song. Then invite the children to sing it with you.

Ask the children to name the letter that says the sound /a/. Tell them that letter „Aa‟ is the first letter in the alphabet (Point to the alphabet poster).

Inform them that letter „Aa‟ says /a/ as in ant. (Advice children that letter ‘Aa’ can make other sounds, but they will be learning all about the short ‘a’ sound, first.) Discuss names of children or objects in the class that begin with the /a/ sound.

Write it (Letter Formation)  

Ask children to look on the board, or screen, as you write the letter in its upperand lowercase forms.

Point out the sequence in which each letter is formed and the proper pencil grip (Students in pre-K should be taught the uppercase first).

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Have children use the Bible Phonics: A-B-C practice pages to write the letter in its upper– and lowercase forms.

Remember it (Letter Knowledge) Audio-visual Discrimination - Show the children three objects or pictures. Two of these should begin with the /a/ sound. For example, an apple, an arrow and a book. Invite them to say the names of the pictures or objects. Ask them which picture or object has a name that begins with the /a/ sound. They should then do the Bible Phonics: A-B -C activity in which they circle the picture that has a name which begins with /a/.

Visual Discrimination - Ask the children to look carefully at the letters then circle the letter „Aa‟ in its upper- and lowercase forms.

Reading Folklore)  

Connection

(Thematic

Integration-Religion,

Science

and

Read Aloud Read the non-fiction piece about the ant which supports Proverbs 6:6-8, or you can read the story, The Ant and the Grasshopper (Inform children that it is not in the Bible, but it relates to the Bible verses about ants).

Story Elements Discuss the story using “wh” elements (who, what, why, when, where) and how. Tell children that even though they are young God wants them to be hardworking, kind and wise, when he says, “Be as wise as an ant.” Proverbs 6.6

Home-School Connection 1. Have the children identify objects at home, or persons and pets who have names that begin with the /a/ sound. Discuss when they return to class.

2. Ask the children to cut and paste pictures of objects that have names that begin with the /a/ sound. They should place them in their scrap books. Ask parents to help children to write the picture names below each picture.

Additional Practice Ant Craft – Visual Arts Connection Have the children make an ant craft using two teaspoons, glue, plastic eyes and pipe cleaners.

Ant Song – Math Connection Sing the song, The Ants Go Marching Ant Movie - Character Development Watch the movie, The Ant Bully.

Ant Song – Phonemic Awareness Sing the „Aa‟ song as reinforcement The „Aa‟ Song (Tune: Bits of Paper) A says /a/, A says /a/ A says /a/, A says /a/ A is for ant, A is for ant A says /a/, A says /a/

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