📖

Meet Short A

Short A Adventures

Day 41of 180
Week 9of 36
20Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Recognize and produce the short a sound (/a/)

2

Identify short a in the middle of words

3

Connect letter sounds to God's creative language

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 16:24

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

— Proverbs 16:24 (WEB)

Words are powerful, just like learning letter sounds!

📦 Materials Needed

  • Letter tiles
  • Pictures of 'a' words (apple, ant, cat)
  • Whiteboard and marker
  • Small hand mirror
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather children and show pictures of words with short a. Make the /a/ sound dramatically, have children repeat.

💭 Review Question: What sound does your mouth make when you say 'apple'?
2Teaching (7 min)

Demonstrate short a sound using mirror to show mouth shape. Compare to other vowel sounds.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Short a sounds like 'ah' in apple
  • Mouth opens wide when making sound
  • Middle of words often have short a
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Can you think of any words with 'a' in the middle?
  • What does your mouth do when you make the /a/ sound?
3Activity: Short A Sound Hunt (5 min)
hands-on

Children find and sort short a words using letter tiles

📝 Instructions:
  1. Spread out letter tiles
  2. Find words with short a in middle
  3. Say each word out loud
  4. Sort words by ending sound
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps identify short a words

Challenge: Children create their own short a words

4Closing (3 min)

Review short a sound and words discovered

📝 Review Questions:
  • What sound does short a make?
  • Can you tell me a word with short a?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving us words to speak and learn. Help us use our words to be kind and loving.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about the -at word family!

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”

— Psalm 119:105 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Flashlight Word Walk

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Short vowel sounds are foundational for reading

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Practice short a sound at home
  • Point out short a words during daily activities
  • Make sound learning playful
🤔 Common Struggles:

Distinguishing short a from other vowel sounds

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to hear and reproduce /a/ sound

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create short a word collage
  • Play 'I Spy' with short a words
  • Draw pictures of short a objects

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 42 →Back to Phonics & Reading