English Language Arts — Grade 1

Phonics fun

Kid Pix Deluxe software is needed for this lesson. Using this program, students will decode and blend one syllable short vowel words and words ending with silent "e" to match pictures with words as well as spell names of pictures.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

By Jo Voigt.

Magic E: Decoding/encoding with CVC & CVCE

Students will participate in two activities involving the consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e (CVCE) pattern: a decoding activity involving attaching a clothes pin with the letter e printed on it to consonant-vowel-consonant words (CVC) and sounding the new CVCE words; and an encoding activity involving dictation of CVC and CVCE words from the first activity which students are to write using auditory and tactile strategies. These activities require that students have prior knowledge of consonant and long and short vowel sounds as well as blending of these sounds in CVC pattern words.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

By Julia Huff Jerome.

The long and short of it!

This lesson will assist children in recognizing and discriminating short and long vowel sounds.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

Fishing For vowels

This is an excellent hands-on activity in which the students actively participate in imagining a fishing trip. This lesson is designed to help students learn to recognize grade appropriate sight words. Students are expected to listen to a word and identify the short vowel sound heard.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

By Shannon Bradley.

Butterfly metamorphosis

This is an integrated lesson which is introduced using the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Butterfly metamorphosis is explored through art, math, and writing.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Laura Byers.

Resources on the web

Word wizards: Students making words

This ReadWriteThink lesson uses an active, hands-on activity in which students learn how to look for patterns in words and how to make new words by adding or changing the sequence of letters. Authentic literature provides an excellent framework for teaching... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Word sorts for beginning and struggling readers

In this lesson that introduces short vowel word families, the teacher begins the lesson by reading The Magic Hat and modeling strategies for making predictions using illustrations and rhyming words. The teacher then explains... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Word recognition strategies using nursery rhymes

This lesson from ReadWriteThink uses familiar nursery rhymes to draw attention to words that end with the same letters. Kindergarten and first-grade students are encouraged to create word family lists and compare them to words in different word families. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Whole-to-parts phonics instruction: Teaching letter-sound correspondences

This lesson from ReadWriteThink uses whole-to-parts phonics instruction as an approach to beginning reading. Letter-sound correspondences are taught within a meaningful context, and in an explicit, systematic, and extensive manner. This lesson uses onset-rime... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

What's in a Name? Teaching Concepts of Letter and Word

The purpose of this lesson from ReadWriteThink is to help kindergarten children understand the concepts of letter and word by using their names as a starting point. Ideas will also be given to help assess student progress in becoming readers and writers.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using songwriting to build awareness of beginning letter sounds

In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students begin by singing a song to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Kindergartners identify and learn letter names and beginning consonant sounds. First graders extend the activity by creating new verses... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Teaching short vowel discrimination using Dr. Seuss rhymes

The study of common rimes, or word families, is vital to students' early reading and writing skills. Through the contrast of short vowel patterns, this ReadWriteThink lesson supports first- and second-grade students' use of analogy to apply their knowledge... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Stop signs, McDonald's, and Cheerios: Writing with environmental print

Students read words found on everyday objects and use them to identify individual letters in this lesson that teaches alphabet recognition and initial reading skills. First, the teacher uses packaging and logos from common products to encourage students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Shared poetry reading: Teaching print concepts, rhyme, and vocabulary

Students study vocabulary, one-to-one matching, left-to-right directionality, and awareness of rhyme in reading using a shared exploration of a poem that includes peer interaction, hands-on experience with print, and a collaborative examination of new and... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Reading everywhere with Dr. Seuss

The purpose of this ReadWriteThink lesson is to help students see places where they can read and enjoy books, such as on a trip to Grandma's, at the pool, or at the doctor's office. As they create a book modeled on the rhythm and rhyme of Green Eggs... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Poetry portfolios: Using poetry to teach reading and writing

Students learn to read and write when they have an active interest in what they are reading and writing about. This ReadWriteThink lesson supports students' exploration of language and writing skills as they read and dissect poetry. Through a weekly poem,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Play with words: Rhyme & verse

Children of all ages enjoy listening to bouncy rhythms and reciting catchy rhymes. In this lesson, students will use their senses to experience poetry. Students will listen to poems and rhymes, clap out syllables, and sing along with familiar tunes. They... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ESITEment

Phonic Generalizations in "Chrysanthemum"

This ReadWriteThink lesson uses an active, hands-on activity to teach students how to determine the common and alternative sounds for specific vowel combinations. Authentic literature provides an excellent framework for teaching decoding and spelling. The... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Phoneme isolation: Building phonemic awareness

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students engage in games and chants to identify beginning and ending phonemes. Students will match objects with the same beginning or ending sound, identify whether a given sound occurs at the beginning or ending of a... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Name talk: Exploring letter-sound knowledge in the primary classroom

This lesson from ReadWriteThink invites primary students to share their letter/sound knowledge in a small group and gives teachers an opportunity to assess knowledge in a meaningful context. Working with name cards, students share observations about their... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink