Alphabet Sounds, Future Expressions, Story Reading and Informal Letter Writing for Primary 4

Class: Primary 4 (Pry 4)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 6
Age: 9 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: English Language Studies
Previous Lesson: Poem Recitation, Future Tense, Poetry Analysis and Descriptive Writing.
Topic: Fundamentals of English: Sounds, Future Tense, Reading, and Informal Writing
Subject Matter: Speech: Identifying vowels and consonants; Grammatical Accuracy: Using shall and will for future actions; Reading: Independent story reading; Writing: Informal letter writing.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Define vowels and consonants.
• State the difference between ‘shall’ and ‘will’.
• Identify the main idea in a short story.
• List the parts of an informal letter.

Affective Domain:

• Participate actively in identifying vowels and consonants.
• Show interest in using ‘shall’ and ‘will’ correctly in sentences.
• Appreciate the importance of reading independently.
• Develop a positive attitude towards writing informal letters.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Pronounce vowels and consonants correctly.
• Construct simple sentences using ‘shall’ and ‘will’.
• Read a short story independently.
• Write a simple informal letter following the correct structure.

Social Domain:

• Communicate effectively with peers and the teacher during discussions.
• Collaborate in group activities related to language use.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Primary Schools.
• State Unified Scheme of Work for Primary 4 English Language.
• MacMillan English for Primary Schools Book 4.
• https://www.education.gov.ng
• https://www.nerdc.gov.ng

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Alphabet charts
• Flash cards showing vowels and consonants
• Storybooks suitable for Primary 4
• Sample informal letters
• Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand basic English sounds, which is important for clear speech and spelling. It also enables them to express future actions and communicate personally through letters, skills useful in their daily interactions and personal correspondence.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are familiar with the English alphabet, can read simple words, and understand basic sentence structures.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Fundamentals of English: Sounds, Future Tense, Reading, and Informal Writing

Identifying Vowels and Consonants

The English alphabet has 26 letters. These letters are divided into two main groups: vowels and consonants.

Vowels: These are letters whose sounds are produced without any obstruction of air flow from the mouth. There are five vowels in the English alphabet.

The following are the vowels:

• A
• E
• I
• O
• U

Consonants: These are letters whose sounds are produced with some obstruction of air flow in the mouth by the tongue, teeth, or lips. There are 21 consonants in the English alphabet.

The following are the consonants:

• B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z

Using ‘Shall’ and ‘Will’ for Future Actions

‘Shall’ and ‘will’ are auxiliary verbs used to talk about actions that will happen in the future. They are often followed by the base form of a verb.

‘Will’: This is commonly used with all persons (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) to express future actions, predictions, or promises. It is the more common choice in modern English.

Examples:

• I will go to the market tomorrow.
• She will visit her grandmother next week.
• They will play football after school.

‘Shall’: This is traditionally used with ‘I’ and ‘we’ to express simple future actions, often in formal contexts, or to make offers and suggestions. It can also express strong determination.

Examples:

• I shall finish my homework before dinner.
• We shall overcome this challenge.
• Shall I open the door for you?

Independent Story Reading

Independent story reading means reading a story by oneself to understand its content, characters, and plot without direct help from a teacher or another person.

The following are benefits of independent reading:

• It improves reading comprehension.
• It helps to build vocabulary.
• It encourages imagination and critical thinking.
• It develops a love for reading.

Informal Letter Writing

An informal letter is a personal letter written to friends, family members, or close acquaintances. It is usually written in a friendly and conversational tone.

The following are the main parts of an informal letter:

• Sender’s Address: The address of the person writing the letter, usually placed at the top right corner.
• Date: The date the letter is written, placed below the sender’s address.
• Salutation: A friendly greeting, such as “Dear [Name],” placed on the left side.
• Body: The main message of the letter, where the writer shares news, asks questions, or expresses feelings.
• Closing: A friendly closing remark, such as “Yours sincerely,” “Your friend,” or “Love from,” placed at the right side below the body.
• Sender’s Name/Signature: The name of the person writing the letter, placed below the closing.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recite the English alphabet. The teacher then briefly introduces the lesson by stating that they will be learning about different aspects of the English language, including sounds, future actions, reading, and writing letters.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings and recite the alphabet. They listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge of the alphabet and are prepared for the new lesson.

Step 2: Identifying Vowels and Consonants

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses alphabet charts and flash cards to explain what vowels and consonants are, giving examples for each. The teacher guides pupils in pronouncing the sounds of vowels and some consonants.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the charts, identify vowels and consonants, and practice pronouncing their sounds.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can identify vowels and consonants.

Step 3: Using ‘Shall’ and ‘Will’ for Future Actions

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning and usage of ‘shall’ and ‘will’ to express future actions. The teacher provides clear examples on the board and highlights when each is typically used.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarity, and practice forming simple sentences orally using ‘shall’ and ‘will’.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to correctly use ‘shall’ and ‘will’ to describe future events.

Step 4: Independent Story Reading

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes short storybooks to the pupils. The teacher gives instructions on how to read independently, encouraging them to focus on understanding the story, characters, and main events.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read their storybooks silently and independently. After reading, some pupils briefly share what their stories were about.
Learning Point: Pupils develop their independent reading skills and comprehension.

Step 5: Informal Letter Writing

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what an informal letter is and why we write them. The teacher then uses a sample letter on the board to demonstrate and explain each part of an informal letter: sender’s address, date, salutation, body, closing, and sender’s name.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the sample letter, and take notes on the parts of an informal letter. They ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the purpose and structure of an informal letter.

Step 6: Practice and Application

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives a short task to the pupils, such as writing a sentence using ‘will’ and another using ‘shall’, or writing the address and date for an informal letter.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils attempt the given task in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils apply the concepts learned during the lesson.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Define vowels and consonants.
2. Mention three vowels and three consonants.
3. Give two sentences, one using ‘shall’ and one using ‘will’.
4. State any two benefits of independent story reading.
5. List three parts of an informal letter.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarisation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the key points of the lesson, reinforcing the importance of understanding English sounds, using future tense correctly, reading, and writing. The teacher assigns homework: “Write a short informal letter to your friend telling them about your holiday plans, using ‘shall’ or ‘will’ at least twice.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary, ask any final questions, and copy the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and know what to do for homework.

Home Task: Write four correct English sentences that demonstrate the main language skill in Fundamentals of English: Sounds, Future Tense, Reading, and Informal Writing.

Lesson Keywords

• Vowels – Letters A, E, I, O, U, whose sounds are made with an open mouth.
• Consonants – Letters other than vowels, whose sounds are made with some obstruction of air.
• Shall – An auxiliary verb used with ‘I’ and ‘we’ to indicate future actions, offers, or suggestions.
• Will – An auxiliary verb used with all persons to indicate future actions, predictions, or promises.
• Independent Reading – Reading a text alone to understand its content.
• Informal Letter – A personal letter written to friends or family.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can ask them to identify words with long and short vowel sounds or write more complex sentences using ‘shall’ and ‘will’. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide additional flash cards, give simpler sentences to complete, or offer one-on-one guidance during the independent reading and letter writing activities.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that the instructional materials, especially the storybooks, are age-appropriate and engaging for Primary 4 pupils. Encourage active participation throughout the lesson. Pay close attention to pupils’ pronunciation of vowels and consonants and provide corrective feedback. When teaching ‘shall’ and ‘will’, emphasize that ‘will’ is more commonly used in everyday speech, while ‘shall’ is often found in more formal contexts or for specific purposes like offers. Provide a clear example of an informal letter structure on the board for pupils to follow during the writing activity.