Let's Sing About Vowels! Long and Short Sounds

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 1:56 Video
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Lesson Description

A fun lesson to learn about long and short vowel sounds using a catchy song and interactive activities!

Video Resource

The Vowel Song: Long and Short Vowel Sounds | English Songs | Scratch Garden

Scratch Garden

Duration: 1:56
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Vowels (A, E, I, O, U)
  • Short vowel sounds
  • Long vowel sounds (saying the letter's name)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the five vowels (A, E, I, O, U).
  • Students will be able to distinguish between the short and long sounds of vowels.
  • Students will be able to provide examples of words with short and long vowel sounds.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Greet the students and introduce the topic: vowels! Ask if anyone knows what a vowel is. Explain that vowels are special letters that make different sounds.
  • Watch the Vowel Song Video (3 mins)
    Play the "The Vowel Song: Long and Short Vowel Sounds | English Songs | Scratch Garden" video. Encourage students to sing along and dance!
  • Vowel Sound Exploration (10 mins)
    After the video, review each vowel individually. For each vowel (A, E, I, O, U), say the short and long sound. Then, ask students to give examples of words that start with that vowel and have either the short or long sound. Use gestures or pictures to illustrate each word. (e.g., Short A: apple, Long A: acorn).
  • Vowel Sound Sorting (7 mins)
    Show pictures of various objects. Ask the students to identify the object and then say whether the first vowel sound in the object's name is long or short. Have them sort the pictures into two piles: "Long Vowel Sounds" and "Short Vowel Sounds".

Interactive Exercises

  • Vowel Charades
    Write down words with long and short vowel sounds on separate pieces of paper. Have students act out the words without speaking. The other students guess the word and then identify whether it has a long or short vowel sound.
  • Vowel Hopscotch
    Create a hopscotch grid with the vowels A, E, I, O, U in the squares. Call out a word (e.g., 'ant'). Students hop to the vowel that makes the first sound in the word ('a').

Discussion Questions

  • What are the five vowels?
  • Can you name a word that starts with the letter A?
  • Does 'apple' have a long or short 'a' sound?
  • What sound does the letter 'E' make?

Skills Developed

  • Phonological Awareness
  • Letter Recognition
  • Vocabulary Building
  • Active Listening

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of these is a vowel?

Correct Answer: A

Question 2:

Which word has a short 'a' sound?

Correct Answer: ant

Question 3:

Which word has a long 'e' sound?

Correct Answer: eel

Question 4:

What letter is in the word 'igloo'?

Correct Answer: I

Question 5:

Which of these has a long 'o' sound?

Correct Answer: oatmeal

Question 6:

Is 'umbrella' short or long?

Correct Answer: Short

Question 7:

Which is a vowel?

Correct Answer: E

Question 8:

Is 'egg' short or long?

Correct Answer: Short

Question 9:

What is the last letter in 'aeiou'?

Correct Answer: U

Question 10:

Which has a short 'i' sound?

Correct Answer: ink

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A, E, __, O, U

Correct Answer: I

Question 2:

'_____' starts with a short 'a' sound.

Correct Answer: Apple

Question 3:

'Eagle' starts with a long '____' sound.

Correct Answer: E

Question 4:

The vowels are a, e, i, o, and _____.

Correct Answer: u

Question 5:

A short 'o' sound can be found in the word _________.

Correct Answer: Octopus

Question 6:

A short 'a' sounds like in ____ .

Correct Answer: Ant

Question 7:

A long 'u' is in ___________.

Correct Answer: Unicorn

Question 8:

A long 'i' sounds like in ____ .

Correct Answer: Island

Question 9:

A short 'e' sounds like in ____ .

Correct Answer: Egg

Question 10:

A long 'o' sounds like in ____ .

Correct Answer: Oatmeal

Educational Standards

PK.2.PWS.3:Students will produce some sounds represented by letters. PK.2.F.2:Students will chorally recite familiar texts (e.g., rhymes, songs, poetry, etc.). PK.4.R.3:Students will begin to acquire new vocabulary and relate new words to prior knowledge.

Teaching Materials

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