Short 'a' Sounds: Let's Read!

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 1:46 Video
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Lesson Description

This lesson helps Pre-K students learn about the short 'a' sound and practice reading simple CVC words like 'cat,' 'hat,' and 'man.'

Video Resource

Learning Video for Kids & Toddlers: Phonics & Reading

School My Kid

Duration: 1:46
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Short 'a' sound
  • CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words
  • Phonics

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the short 'a' sound in spoken words.
  • Students will be able to blend sounds to read simple CVC words with the short 'a' sound.
  • Students will be able to recognize and repeat the CVC words presented in the video.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what sound the letter 'a' makes. Discuss words they already know that contain the 'a' sound. Introduce the idea that 'a' can make different sounds, and today they'll learn the short 'a' sound.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Watch the "Learning Video for Kids & Toddlers: Phonics & Reading" video from School My Kid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIrn7DLuIzs). Encourage students to repeat the words and sounds along with the video. Pause the video occasionally to check for understanding.
  • Word Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, write the words from the video on a whiteboard or large paper (e.g., cat, hat, bat, man, pan, ran). Say each word slowly, emphasizing the short 'a' sound. Have students repeat each word after you. Point to each letter as you say the word.
  • Activity: Word Building (10 mins)
    Use letter blocks or flashcards to build the short 'a' words. Have students take turns choosing letters and forming words. Emphasize the sound each letter makes as they build the word. For example, 'c' says /k/, 'a' says /ă/, 't' says /t/, and together they make 'cat'.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the words learned during the lesson. Ask students to name other words they know that have the short 'a' sound. Sing a simple song that incorporates the learned words.

Interactive Exercises

  • Rhyme Time
    Say a short 'a' word (e.g., cat) and have the students come up with words that rhyme (e.g., hat, bat). You can also show pictures and have the students identify rhyming words.
  • Sound It Out
    Show a picture of a short 'a' word (e.g., a picture of a pan). Have the students sound out the word slowly, identifying each letter sound.

Discussion Questions

  • What sound does the letter 'a' make in the words we learned today?
  • Can you think of other words that have the short 'a' sound?
  • What was your favorite word from the video?

Skills Developed

  • Phonological awareness
  • Letter-sound correspondence
  • Reading readiness

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which picture shows a cat?

Correct Answer: A picture of a cat

Question 2:

What sound does the letter 'a' make in 'cat'?

Correct Answer: /ă/

Question 3:

Which word rhymes with 'hat'?

Correct Answer: Bat

Question 4:

Which word has a short 'a' sound?

Correct Answer: Apple

Question 5:

Look at the picture of a pan. What is it?

Correct Answer: Pan

Question 6:

Which of these is a word?

Correct Answer: Cat

Question 7:

A _____ is a person.

Correct Answer: Man

Question 8:

I ___ very fast.

Correct Answer: Run

Question 9:

What is something you might wear?

Correct Answer: Hat

Question 10:

What animals does the video teach us about?

Correct Answer: Cat

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A _ _ t meows.

Correct Answer: cat

Question 2:

I wear a ____ on my head.

Correct Answer: hat

Question 3:

A ______ flies and can hit a ball

Correct Answer: bat

Question 4:

You can cook using a _____.

Correct Answer: pan

Question 5:

He is a ______.

Correct Answer: man

Question 6:

I ____ fast.

Correct Answer: ran

Question 7:

Can you fill the ____ with water?

Correct Answer: can

Question 8:

A ______ can fly.

Correct Answer: bat

Question 9:

A ___ likes to drink milk.

Correct Answer: cat

Question 10:

Put your ___ on before you go to play outside!

Correct Answer: hat

Educational Standards

PK.2.PA.2:Students will recognize spoken words that rhyme (e.g., wall & fall). PK.2.PWS.3:Students will produce some sounds represented by letters. PK.2.F.1:Students will read their first name in print. PK.8.R:Students will listen and respond to read-alouds, participate in shared reading, and interact independently with texts.

Teaching Materials

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