Snow: A Phonics Lesson Plan

Subject: Reading/Phonics Instruction

Concept: Phonics, onsets/rimes and consonant chunks

Standard: A.4.1

Materials:

* Blank outline of a cut out snowman
* Markers (1 pack per 3 students)
* The book "Snow" by Roy McKie and P.D. Eastman
*Use of a chalkboard/chalk or dry erase board/marker

Outcomes/Objectives:

*The student will listen and identify by name, rhyming words in the story "Snow".
* The class will contribute pairs of rhyming words to be written on the board as a large group
* The student will be able to generate their own rhyming words by adding different onsets to rimes while working on a creative project (the snowman).

Steps in Presentation:

1. (Motivation): The students will be asked if they can remember a time that they had a snow day. What did they do that day? Call on 1 to 2 students to share a story about their favorite fun way to play in snow. Explain that the characters in the book "Snow" will be playing also.
2. (Outline of steps): Ask the students in the class to listen for rhyming words when the book is being read, they can also write down any words they hear that rhyme. Read the book "Snow" aloud to the students.
3. Ask the students to share some word pairs as a large group. Write the words on the chalkboard in the following manner:

slide deep last ball
ride sleep fast wall

4. Ask the students if they see a pattern. Underline the rimes to show patterns with the paired words.

slide deep last ball
ride sleep fast wall

5. Hand out the blank snowman worksheet. Explain that the students should pick one pattern/rime and write it in the snowman's hat, see figure 1.2. Show an example.
6. Explain that the students should write new words (using the markers) inside the body of the snowman that rhyme with the "hat" word. Show the students the attached example, figure 1.3.
7. After several minutes of work time, the students will be encouraged to share their words to the class as a whole. Write the words on the board under the word pairs that correspond.

Accommodation for Special Needs:

* Physical needs: students with physical needs will be paired up with a partner, para professional or Marian clinical student present in the classroom.
* Remedial needs: writing the words on the board at the end of the lesson will help those students who are stuck with trying to come up with their own new words. These children will have the opportunity to add words to their snowman at this time.
* Gifted needs: these students are encouraged to write a poem or short story with their own rhyming words from the word pairs given on the board.
* Cultural/ELL students: if students are having a hard time understanding the story, comprehension questions will be asked during and after the reading. This will continue if these students do not understand the concept of a snowman.

Closure:

* Students will be asked about the title of the book. Is it appropriate to the story? What words could the class come up with that rhyme with snow?
* Words that rhyme with snow will be added to the word wall.

Extension Activity:

* If the students wish, they may cut out their snowman project. These should be hung up in the hallway or on the wall in the classroom.

Assessment of Learning:

* Did the class listen to and identify rhymes/patterns in the story?
* Did the class have the ability to share the word pairs to be put on the board?
* Do the snowman words match and rhyme with the word they wrote in the hat of the snowman?
* Write out any anecdotal records on any behaviors that might demonstrate (or not demonstrate) the above.