Lesson 6
Soft c:
ce, ci, cy Most children know that c sometimes sounds like s. However, to read new words, they also need to know exactly when this is so. In fact, the ‘soft’ sound is entirely predictable. The next letter in the word always provides the clue. The Letterland story which explains the soft c before e, i and y is similar in each case: that the e, i or y shoots back blue magic sparks to change Clever Cat into a little hissing snake. In picture coding, the children confirm the second letter’s signalling power by drawing a wand (and top hat) on the e i, or y going right between the c and subsequent letter, and drawing blue sparks shooting into c’s open side (Blue Magic can only affect the letter just behind it.) The only other letter affected by Blue Magic is g, see pages 72-75.
Lesson 6a
Demonstration: introducing soft c in ce Show the card and tell the story:
Advanced Picture Code Cards: ce (17). Materials
Picture Code Cards. Advanced Copymaster: (5a).
Preparations Cat or snake? Game
Have ready some different coloured white board markers or coloured chalks.
Objectives
To know that the letter c changes from its hard sound to its soft sound beside e (as in nice) To recognise and spell words containing ce.
Clever Cat turns into a hissing snake beside e Cats and snakes don’t usually like each other – but Harry Hat Man has both a cat and a snake for pets (ch and sh) and they don’t always get on with each other. How can he help them to get on better? Mr E has a bright idea. “It’s eeeasy,” he says. “If I turn Clever Cat into a snake they can both enjoy playing together!” So he makes a new kind of silent Magic e.
ce
The e’s sparks are blue. They aren’t powerful enough to jump back over one letter to make a Vowel Man appear, like the jumping yellow sparks. The blue sparks are only strong enough to change Clever Cat into a snake if she is right next to Blue Magic e. Then hey presto! Beside the e, she becomes a little blue snake and Clever Cat and Sammy Snake can have a fine time both hissing in words – until the magic wears off. Then Clever Cat becomes a cat again and goes back to making her little ‘c…’ sound in words, as usual.
Activity ideas Whole class word work
Write these sentences on the board and ask the children to help with picture coding hard c, s and soft c in ce.
Can you spot the sparks once or twice? Carly wrote a sentence about a race in a spaceship.
Live spelling
Live spell or dictate: ace face dance cancel price.
Can you spot the sparks on
or twi
?
Section 3: Lesson Plans
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