Lesson 1: Beginning Consonants

Lesson Introduction
This lesson provides practice with beginning consonant sounds, including identifying initial consonants and matching letter sounds to their corresponding letters.

Grade Level: PreK–1

Duration
2 days

Student Objectives
Students will:

• Practice reading words with the same letter sound to connect those letters and sounds
• Recognize beginning consonant sounds by reading and listening to a story that highlights select words
• Construct a story by actively choosing words
• Use picture clues to aid comprehension
• Match beginning consonant sounds

Materials

• Chalkboard or similar display
• Clifford Interactive Storybook Where is Emily
• Clifford Storybook activity Sound Match
• Computer(s) with Internet access
• Optional: LCD or overhead projector to display storybook activities
• Optional: headphones

Preparation

• Bookmark the Interactive Clifford Storybooks on the computers students will use.
• NOTE: If students have limited access to computers, print activity screens and make transparency copies to post on an overhead projector.

Directions
Day 1
Step 1: Take students through the Interactive Clifford Storybook Where is Emily? using these steps:

• Read the title of the story to the class.
• Click to the first page and have a student read the first sentence.
• Model for the students how to click the speaker icon next to the sentence to hear it read aloud. If the reader makes any mistakes, see if he or she realizes it.
• Reread the sentence with the entire class at once.

Step 2: Point to the word “play” at the end of the first sentence. Read it aloud, emphasizing the beginning consonant sound /p/ while pointing to the letter p. Ask students what letter the sound /p/ stands for. Ask students what other words begin with the /p/ sound. Write their responses on the chalkboard.
Step 3: For the second sentence, have another student read the phrase without providing a word for the blank. Click the speaker icon to hear the second sentence and again read the phrase together. Explain to students that they need to complete the sentence by choosing one of the words in the circles. Have students click the first word and repeat it (did they notice the picture appear on screen?). After students click and repeat the second and third words, point out the /t/ sound in each. Ask what letter the sound /t/ stands for and what other words they know that begin with the /t/ sound. Record their responses on the chalkboard. Now have students select one of the three choices to complete the second sentence.
Step 5: Again read, listen to, and reread the third sentence. Point to the word “But,” and read it aloud. Ask students what sound “But” begins with. What letter makes that sound? What other words begin with the /b/ sound? Record the responses on the chalkboard.

Day 2
Step 1: Working in pairs, have students start at page one of Where is Emily? Have them click the speaker icons to hear the words read aloud.
Step 2: Have students go through the entire storybook with their partner, following the read-listen-and-reread pattern with each sentence. They should click a word to complete the sentence on every page. Point out that the three words always begin with the same sound. Can they identify the letter the sound stands for? What other words do they know that begin with the same sound? Have them share their words with each other and encourage them to correct each other if they identify the wrong sound or letter.
Step 3: When students finish the story, take them to the Sound Match, and click the speaker icon to hear the instructions. Have students click the picture box to hear the name of the object aloud. What is the beginning consonant sound? Before they place any objects in the box, students should click on each of the other objects shown and review their names. Which have the same beginning sound as the object at the top? Students should click on the correct objects and drag them to the box. (If necessary, model how to click and drag the objects into the box.)
Step 4: After they’ve gotten all the correct objects, have students share other words that begin with the same sound. Review the remaining objects and ask what the beginning sounds are for each one.

Assessment & Evaluation
Where students able to recognize the initial sounds for all letters?
Did students confuse any consonant sound-spellings such as /p/ and /b/?
Were students able to identify additional words with the same beginning consonant sound?
For further assessment:

• Create a set of letter/spelling cards (e.g., s, t, m).
• Display one card at a time as students chorally say the sound of the letter/spelling.
• Note students who do not respond or who have delayed responses. Test these students individually. Provide additional instruction on the consonant sound-spellings they struggle with.

Lesson Extensions

1. Select a Clifford book to read to the class. Read the book the first time in its entirety, without pauses, so children can enjoy the language and illustrations. Reread the book on a later day and discuss items of interest, such as finding objects in the illustrations that begin with a specific sound. Create word charts using the words and pictures in the book. Students may also enjoy creating their own Clifford books based on the pattern of the original book.
2. Print out the pages of Where is Emily? and distribute to pairs or small groups of students. Have them write in one more word choice for each page that begins with the same letter as the other three choices. For example on the first page, students might add “tub” to the /t/ word list. Have groups share what they came up with.
3. Select a classroom object and give students a clue to what it is by telling them what sound it begins with. For example, you might say, “This object begins with a /p/ sound" (pen). Write students’ guesses on the chalkboard. Then give other clues, such as, “This is something you write with.” After you give each new clue, allow students to modify their guesses.