Beginning Sound d Words, Pictures, Poems and Stories for Pre-School Level 4

Class: Pre-School Level 4
Term: Second Term
Week: 4
Age: 5 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Literacy
Curriculum Theme: Letter Work
Previous Lesson: Introduction to letter sounds and simple word recognition.
Topic: Beginning Sound d: Words, Pictures, Poems and Stories
Subject Matter: Speech Writing. Weekly focus: Beginning Sound d: Words, Pictures, Poems and Stories.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the letter ‘d’ (uppercase D and lowercase d).
• Recognise the beginning sound /d/ in words.
• Pronounce words that start with the /d/ sound correctly.
• Match pictures of objects to words beginning with /d/.

Affective Domain

• Listen attentively to poems and stories.
• Participate actively in class discussions about the poems and stories.
• Enjoy learning new words and sounds.

Psychomotor Domain

• Copy words with the beginning sound /d/.
• Attempt to write words with the beginning sound /d/ independently.
• Recite a simple rhyme involving the /d/ sound.

Social Domain

• Share ideas during class discussions.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 4
• Relevant Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Early years literacy workbooks

Instructional Materials

• Flashcards showing uppercase D and lowercase d
• Picture cards of objects starting with /d/ (e.g., dog, dad, duck, door, doll, drum, desk)
• Charts displaying ‘d’ words and pictures
• MP3 player or MP4 player for sound pronunciation
• Television or projector for video (optional)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Pencils and exercise books

Rationale for the Lesson

Learning the beginning sound /d/ is crucial for developing early literacy skills in 5-year-olds. It helps them understand the relationship between letters and sounds (phonics), which is a fundamental step towards reading and writing. Recognising and producing this sound improves their pronunciation and expands their vocabulary, enabling better communication and comprehension.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have been introduced to some letters of the alphabet and their sounds. They can listen to and follow simple instructions, and enjoy looking at pictures and listening to stories.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Beginning Sound d: Words, Pictures, Poems and Stories

The letter ‘d’ makes the sound /d/. It is a short, crisp sound. You can feel your tongue touch the roof of your mouth behind your teeth when you make the /d/ sound.

What the Teacher Should Show or Draw

• Write the uppercase letter D and the lowercase letter d on the board.
• Show picture cards of objects that start with the /d/ sound.

Words with Beginning Sound /d/

• Dog
• Dad
• Duck
• Door
• Doll
• Drum
• Desk
• Dive
• Dance

Sound Rhyme: The /d/ Sound

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Lyrics:

D, D, D, the sound of /d/,
Like a dog that digs and digs.
D, D, D, the sound of /d/,
Danny plays a big, big drum.
D, D, D, the sound of /d/,
Let’s all dance and have some fun!

Actions: Point to mouth for sound, pretend to dig with hands, pretend to play a drum, and gently sway or dance.

How to use the rhyme: Recite the rhyme together, encouraging pupils to make the /d/ sound clearly and perform the actions. Repeat several times to reinforce the sound and words.

Watch and Practise

Let’s watch a short video to hear the /d/ sound and see more words!

Key Words

• Dog – a common pet animal.
• Dad – another word for father.
• Duck – a bird that can swim and fly.
• Drum – a musical instrument you hit to make sound.
• Door – an opening into a building or room.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Repetition, Storytelling, Question and Answer, Play-based Learning, Manipulation of Objects.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Recall

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and leads them in a short “Good Morning” song. The teacher then asks pupils to recall some letter sounds they have learned before.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, sing along, and try to recall previous letter sounds.

Learning Point: Pupils are settled and ready for the lesson, recalling prior knowledge.

Step 2: Presentation of Letter and Sound

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Pronunciation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the letter ‘d’ (uppercase D and lowercase d) using flashcards. The teacher demonstrates how to make the /d/ sound clearly, using the MP3/MP4 player to play the sound. The teacher guides pupils to repeat the sound several times.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the letter ‘d’, listen to the sound, and repeat the /d/ sound after the teacher.

Learning Point: Pupils recognise the letter ‘d’ and can produce its sound.

Step 3: Word and Picture Association

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Association/Vocabulary Building

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows picture cards of objects starting with /d/ (e.g., dog, dad, duck, door, doll, drum). For each picture, the teacher says the word and asks pupils to repeat it, emphasizing the beginning /d/ sound.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the pictures, listen to the words, and repeat the words, focusing on the /d/ sound.

Learning Point: Pupils associate the /d/ sound with familiar words and objects.

Step 4: Rhyme and Story Reinforcement

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Rhyme/Storytelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces and leads the pupils in singing the “The /d/ Sound” rhyme. The teacher then tells a very short, simple story that includes several ‘d’ words (e.g., “Danny the dog went to the door to see his dad. His dad had a big drum!”). The teacher encourages pupils to listen for the ‘d’ words.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions and listen attentively to the story, trying to identify ‘d’ words.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of the /d/ sound through fun and engaging activities.

Step 5: Guided Writing/Copying

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Handwriting/Fine Motor

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to write uppercase D and lowercase d on the board. The teacher then writes a few simple ‘d’ words (e.g., “dog”, “dad”) and guides pupils to copy them into their exercise books. The teacher provides individual support as needed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice writing the letter ‘d’ and copying the ‘d’ words in their books.

Learning Point: Pupils develop pre-writing and fine motor skills by copying the letter and words.

Step 6: Matching Activity

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Matching/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes picture cards and word cards (e.g., picture of a dog, word “dog”). Pupils are guided to match the pictures to the correct words with beginning sound /d/. The teacher monitors and assists.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively match the picture cards to the corresponding word cards.

Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge of the /d/ sound to match words and pictures.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4–5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. “What sound does the letter ‘d’ make?”
2. “Can you point to a picture that starts with the /d/ sound?”
3. “Say a word that begins with /d/.”
4. “Show me the letter ‘d’ on your flashcard.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summary/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and summarises that they learned about the letter ‘d’ and its sound. The teacher encourages them to look for ‘d’ words around them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and respond to the teacher’s praise.

Learning Point: Pupils feel encouraged and motivated to continue learning.

Lesson Keywords

• D – the letter ‘d’, both uppercase and lowercase.
• Sound – the noise a letter makes, like /d/.
• Dog – an animal that barks.
• Dad – your father.
• Duck – a bird that swims.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who are struggling, provide larger flashcards, more one-on-one repetition of the sound, hand-over-hand guidance for writing the letter ‘d’, and fewer words to copy or match. Use peer support where a stronger pupil can help a weaker one.
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, encourage them to identify more ‘d’ words, draw pictures of ‘d’ words, or try to form a very simple sentence using a ‘d’ word (e.g., “Dad has a dog.”).

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Before the lesson, ensure all instructional materials like flashcards, picture cards, and charts are prepared and easily accessible. Test the MP3/MP4 player to ensure sound quality. When introducing the /d/ sound, model it clearly and repeatedly, ensuring pupils articulate it correctly (a short, sharp sound, not ‘duh’). Encourage active participation from all pupils, especially during the rhyme and story time. For the writing activity, demonstrate correct pencil grip and letter formation. Observe pupils closely during the matching activity to identify those needing extra help. Remember that understanding at this level is best assessed through observable actions like pointing, repeating, and matching, rather than complex verbal explanations. Make the lesson fun and engaging to maintain their interest.