Guided LessonsLearning ResourcesTeaching Tools
Lesson Plan:

The Extraordinary Letter E

4.5 based on 2 ratings
October 9, 2015
by Taryn Boullear
Download lesson plan
Click to find similar content by grade, subject, or standard.
Grade
First Grade
Subject
Reading & Writing
Standards
RF.1.2.c, RF.1.2.d
October 9, 2015
by Taryn Boullear

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to verbalize the short E sound. Students will be able to identify words with the initial and medial short 'e' sound.

Lesson

Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Begin the lesson by activating your students' prior knowledge about the alphabet, specifically vowels and consonants. Ask questions like: What are consonants? What are vowels? How many vowels are in the alphabet?
  • After some discussion, explain to the class that vowels are the letters a, e, i, o, and u.
  • Tell your class that today, they will be learning about the vowel E.
  • Demonstrate the short e sound (/e/) to your class. Ask them to repeat the sound back to you.
  • Using an interactive whiteboard or computer, play the Short E Dot-to-Dot for your class.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling (10 minutes)

  • Divide your whiteboard in half using a dry erase marker.
  • On one side, hang an image of a word that begins with the short E sound, such as egg or elephant.
  • On the opposite side, hang an image of a word that has a medial short E sound, such as bed or web.
  • Explain to your students that the /e/ sound can be found at the beginning of words, such as egg. Point to the picture on the board and say the word aloud, emphasizing the short E sound.
  • Explain that the /e/ sound can also be found in the middle of words, such as bed. Point to the picture on the board and say the word aloud, emphasizing the short E sound.
  • Tape the word cards for egg and bed (or whatever your examples are) under each picture.
  • Together with your class, say and spell each word.

Guided Practice/Interactive Modeling (20 minutes)

  • Stick the rest of the short E image cards on one side of the whiteboard.
  • Stick the rest of the short E word cards on the opposite side of the whiteboard.
  • Go through the images one by one, calling on student volunteers to say the name of each object.
  • Point to each word card and pronounce the words one by one. Ask your class to repeat each word after you.
  • Choose student volunteers to help you match each image to its word card. Have each student place the word card under its corresponding image.
  • Repeat the words as a class, one by one. Once you've finished, ask your class some comprehension questions. Great examples include: Which words have the short E sound at the beginning? Which words have the short E sound in the middle?

Independent Working Time (10 minutes)

  • Pass out a copy of the Short E Sound worksheet to each student.
  • Instruct the class to sound out each picture on the worksheet to determine if they have the short E sound. Tell them to circle pictures with the short E sound.
  • As your students work, walk around the classroom to answer questions and assist in helping students sound out words.

Extend

Differentiation

  • Enrichment: Introduce students who have successfully grasped the short E sound to the long E sound. Ask them to tell you the difference between the two, and to give you some examples of long E words. Alternatively, have these students compare the /e/ sound to other short vowels, such as the /a/ or /i/ sounds.
  • Support: Assist students who are struggling by giving them a list of short E words. Visually distinguish the "e" in each word by highlighting it in another color. Discuss how the /e/ sound is different than other vowel sounds.

Review

Assessment (5 minutes)

  • Once the class has finished, ask some comprehension questions to assess their retention of information about the /e/ sound. Great questions include: What sound does the short E make? What are some words that begin with the /e/ sound? What are some words that have the /e/ sound in the middle?

Review and Closing (15 minutes)

  • Divide the class into two groups.
  • Give each group three sentence strips.
  • Instruct your students to read each sentence. As a group, they must identify all of the words with the /e/ sound and circle them.
  • Guide your students as they read their sentences.
  • To close the lesson, hand out the Short E Words worksheet as homework.
Guided Lesson: Silent E 2
Guided Lessons are a sequence of interactive digital games, worksheets, and other activities that guide learners through different concepts and skills. They keep track of your progress and help you study smarter, step by step.
Guided Lessons are digital games and exercises that keep track of your progress and help you study smarter, step by step.
The silent E makes a vowel says its name! Help your child remember this spelling pattern with these learning resources.
The silent E makes a vowel says its name! Help your child remember this spelling pattern with these learning resources.
This lesson includes printable activities:
Song: Super E Song
Game: Long and Short Vowel Sort
Game: Silent E Bus Stop Spelling
Game: Sight Words Match: Set 3
Story: Kate the Brave
Game: Silent E Sentence Match
Related Learning Resources

How likely are you to recommend Education.com to your friends and colleagues?

Not at all likely
Extremely likely