Adventures with 'A': Exploring the Alphabet!

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 5:10 Video
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Lesson Description

A fun and engaging lesson to introduce Pre-K students to the letter 'A,' its sounds, and how to write it, using the Jack Hartmann alphabet song.

Video Resource

Letter A Alphabet Song for Kids Let's Learn About The Alphabet Phonics Song Jack Hartmann

Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

Duration: 5:10
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Letter recognition (uppercase and lowercase A)
  • Phonetic awareness (short and long 'A' sounds)
  • Letter formation (writing A)
  • Vocabulary development

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the uppercase and lowercase letter 'A'.
  • Students will be able to produce the short and long 'A' sounds.
  • Students will be able to trace and attempt to write the uppercase and lowercase letter 'A'.
  • Students will be able to identify words that start with the letter A.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know the alphabet song. Introduce the letter 'A' as the star of today's lesson. Show a large printed uppercase 'A' and lowercase 'a'.
  • Video Time! (5 mins)
    Play the Jack Hartmann 'Letter A' Alphabet Song video. Encourage students to sing along, focusing on identifying the letter 'A' and its sounds.
  • Sound Exploration (5 mins)
    After the video, review the short and long 'A' sounds. Say words from the video (apple, alligator, ape, apron) and have students repeat and identify the sound. Use hand gestures to represent each sound (e.g., a chomping alligator for short 'A').
  • Writing Practice (5 mins)
    Guide students in writing the uppercase and lowercase 'A' in the air with their fingers, as demonstrated in the video. Then, provide worksheets with dotted lines for tracing 'A' and 'a'. Encourage them to try writing it on their own.
  • Word Association Game (5 mins)
    Show picture cards of words that start with 'A' (ant, airplane, ambulance). Have students name the pictures and emphasize the 'A' sound at the beginning of each word.

Interactive Exercises

  • 'A' Sound Scavenger Hunt
    Have students look around the classroom for objects that start with the 'A' sound. If there are none, ask them to think of objects that start with 'A' at home.
  • 'A' is for...
    Provide art supplies (crayons, markers, paper) and have students draw a picture of something that starts with the letter 'A'. Assist them in labeling their drawings.

Discussion Questions

  • Can you point to the uppercase 'A'? Can you point to the lowercase 'a'?
  • What sound does the letter 'A' make? Can you say it?
  • Can you think of other words that start with the letter 'A'?
  • What was your favorite word that started with the letter A?

Skills Developed

  • Letter recognition
  • Phonological awareness
  • Fine motor skills (writing)
  • Vocabulary building

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which one is the big 'A'?

Correct Answer: A

Question 2:

Which one is the little 'a'?

Correct Answer: a

Question 3:

What sound does 'A' make like in 'apple'?

Correct Answer: /a/

Question 4:

An apple starts with which letter?

Correct Answer: A

Question 5:

What is a fruit that starts with the letter 'A'?

Correct Answer: Apple

Question 6:

Which animal starts with the letter 'A'?

Correct Answer: Alligator

Question 7:

If you wear this in the kitchen so you dont mess up your clothes, it starts with 'A'

Correct Answer: An Apron

Question 8:

What does the alligator want to eat?

Correct Answer: Apples

Question 9:

Apes Like to eat:

Correct Answer: Acorns

Question 10:

Which word starts with the long sound of the letter A?

Correct Answer: April

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

'___' is for apple.

Correct Answer: A

Question 2:

Big 'A' is also called ________.

Correct Answer: uppercase

Question 3:

Little 'a' is also called ________.

Correct Answer: lowercase

Question 4:

The letter 'A' is a ________.

Correct Answer: vowel

Question 5:

An ________ is a green reptile that starts with A.

Correct Answer: alligator

Question 6:

An ________ is a large brown monkey that starts with A.

Correct Answer: ape

Question 7:

I wear an ________ to bake a cake.

Correct Answer: apron

Question 8:

I eat ________ in the fall.

Correct Answer: apples

Question 9:

________ is a month that starts with the letter 'A'.

Correct Answer: April

Question 10:

Apes love to eat ________.

Correct Answer: acorns

Educational Standards

PK.2.PWS.2:Students will name a majority of uppercase and lowercase letters. PK.2.PWS.3:Students will produce some sounds represented by letters. PK.2.PC.6:Students will begin to write some uppercase and lowercase letters including the majority of the letters in their first name with prompting. PK.2.PA.4:Students will isolate the common initial sound when given a set of alliterative spoken words (e.g., the puppy pounces). PK.2.F.2:Students will chorally recite familiar texts (e.g., rhymes, songs, poetry, etc.).

Teaching Materials

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