Picture, letter, word

A lesson designed to engage pre-emergent readers in an activity which will enable them to identify pictures, letters, and words in books. It will provide an opportunity for them to work in a small group setting to develop a product and enhance their learning

A lesson plan for grade K English Language Arts

By Linda Kinnamon

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Related topics

• Learn more about language arts, print awareness, read-alouds, and reading.

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Learning outcomes

The learners will be able to:

• identify a picture
• identify a letter
• identify a word
• participate in a small group task working toward a common goal

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1.25 hours

Materials/resources

• a pre-emergent big book with labels (My favorite for this activity is Things I Like by Anthony Brown.}
• Small pictures, letters and words cut, backed and laminated (Approximately 2×2″)
• a three-column chart, headed: Picture, Letter, Word. Use 18×24″construction paper or poster board, laminated
• Masking tape or velcro
• Magazines
• Scissors
• Glue
• Charts made for each small group as above, but not laminated

Pre-activities

Show the students the big book and let them make predictions about the story. Ask them how they can tell you about the story.(Pre-emergent readers will usually tell you they used the picture.) Tell them that the writing at the bottom of the page also tells you about the story and that the symbols are called letters and words. Describe the difference.

Activities

1. Use the laminated chart, picture/letter/word cards, and tape or velcro. Place the cards into the brown paper bag.
2. Explain the chart to the children and tell them you are going to fill the chart with pictures, letters, and words.
3. Draw a card from the bag and place it in the appropriate column explaining why you place it there. Draw a second card and allow the children to tell you where you should place it. You may wish to continue until you have one in each column. Then allow each child the opportunity to draw a card from the bag and place it in the appropriate column.
4. Upon completion, divide the children into small groups. Give each group a prepared chart, magazines, scissors and glue. Challenge each group to find letters, pictures and words to complete their chart. Each column should have the same number of items, and the children decide into which column each should go.

Assessment

• Teacher observation and interaction with the students
• Completed charts

Supplemental information

Comments

The laminated chart with the picture/letter/word cards may be placed in a center for further exploration.

For students who are having difficulty with the concept, you may wish to have them make individual books, one for each: picture,letter and word. They could cut the appropriate items and place them in their book.