Bossy R: Taming R-Controlled Vowels!

English Language Arts Grades 1st Grade 7:11 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Learn how the letter 'R' changes the sounds of vowels in words! Discover the 'bossy R' and practice reading words like 'car,' 'bird,' and 'her.'

Video Resource

How to Read R Controlled Vowel Words

Miacademy Learning Channel

Duration: 7:11
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • R-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, or, ur)
  • The letter 'R' changes the sound of the vowel before it
  • Context clues can help determine the correct pronunciation

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify r-controlled vowels in words.
  • Students will be able to pronounce words with r-controlled vowels correctly.
  • Students will be able to use context clues to determine the correct pronunciation of words with r-controlled vowels.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they know about the letter 'R'. Explain that today, they'll learn how 'R' can be a 'bossy' letter and change the sounds of vowels.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Miacademy Learning Channel video: 'How to Read R Controlled Vowel Words'. Instruct students to pay close attention to how the 'R' changes the vowel sounds.
  • Discussion (8 mins)
    After the video, discuss the different r-controlled vowel sounds (ar, er, ir, or, ur). Write examples on the board. Ask students to provide more examples they heard in the video or can think of.
  • Practice Activity (10 mins)
    Give students a worksheet with a list of words. Have them circle the words with r-controlled vowels and then read the words aloud.
  • Reading in Context (5 mins)
    Write simple sentences on the board, each containing a word with an r-controlled vowel. Have students read the sentences and discuss how the context helps them understand the meaning of the word.

Interactive Exercises

  • 'Bossy R' Word Sort
    Prepare cards with words containing different r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, or, ur). Have students sort the cards into groups based on the vowel sound.
  • Sentence Building
    Provide students with word cards (including words with r-controlled vowels). Have them work in pairs to build simple sentences using the cards.

Discussion Questions

  • What happens to the vowel sound when the letter 'R' is next to it?
  • Can you think of other words with the 'ar,' 'er,' 'ir,' 'or,' and 'ur' sounds?
  • How does reading the whole sentence help you understand a word with a 'bossy R'?

Skills Developed

  • Phonological Awareness
  • Decoding Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Vocabulary

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which letter makes the vowel 'bossy'?

Correct Answer: R

Question 2:

What sound does 'ar' make in 'car'?

Correct Answer: /ar/

Question 3:

What sound does 'er' make in 'her'?

Correct Answer: /ûr/

Question 4:

Which word has the 'ir' sound like in 'bird'?

Correct Answer: First

Question 5:

Which word has the 'or' sound like in 'fork'?

Correct Answer: Corn

Question 6:

Which word has the 'ur' sound like in 'hurt'?

Correct Answer: Fur

Question 7:

What vowel combination does 'earth' have?

Correct Answer: EA

Question 8:

Which word contains an R-controlled vowel?

Correct Answer: Star

Question 9:

Which word does NOT contain an R-controlled vowel?

Correct Answer: Bed

Question 10:

What is the name for a letter that changes the sound of a vowel?

Correct Answer: Bossy Letter

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The letter 'R' can be very ______.

Correct Answer: bossy

Question 2:

The 'ar' in 'star' sounds like ______.

Correct Answer: /ar/

Question 3:

The 'er' in 'sister' sounds like ______.

Correct Answer: /er/

Question 4:

In 'shirt', the letters 'ir' make the ______ sound.

Correct Answer: /er/

Question 5:

The 'or' in 'corn' sounds like ______.

Correct Answer: /or/

Question 6:

In 'turn', the letters 'ur' make the ______ sound.

Correct Answer: /er/

Question 7:

If you're unsure of the sound, you can look it up in a ______.

Correct Answer: dictionary

Question 8:

The letters E-A-R in Earth makes the _____ sound.

Correct Answer: /er/

Question 9:

E-A-R can sometimes make the _____ sound, like in bear.

Correct Answer: /air/

Question 10:

Knowing ______ clues can help you read better.

Correct Answer: context

Educational Standards

1.2.PWS.1:Students will blend and decode two-phoneme and three-phoneme words. 1.2.PWS.2:Students will decode long and short vowels, including initial, medial, and final sounds in common CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words (e.g., cat, bed, pen). 1.2.F.1:Students will read grade-level text with purpose and understanding. 1.4.R.5:Students will acquire new grade-level vocabulary, relate new words to prior knowledge, and apply vocabulary in new situations.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans