Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, prepare flashcards of uppercase ‘A’ and lowercase ‘a’, pictures of an apple, axe, and ant, and individual worksheets with large outlines of ‘A’ and ‘a’ for tracing and colouring. The central idea for pupils is to recognise the letter ‘A’, say its short sound /a/, and identify words starting with this sound. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can point to ‘A’, say /a/, and name at least one object like an apple when shown its picture.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Literacy
Curriculum Theme: Literacy
Previous Lesson: Talking about familiar objects and daily routines.
Topic: LETTER A: SOUND RECOGNITION, PICTURE READING AND WRITING
Subject Matter: Listening and Speaking: Talking about news and happenings at home and in the community. Reading: Picture reading, recognising familiar objects and relating the sound of Aa to Apple, Axe, Ant. Writing: Tracing, colouring and writing Aa. Songs, Rhymes and Poems: Singing traditional rhymes, songs and poems and acting out characters.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain
- Identify the uppercase ‘A’ and lowercase ‘a’ from flashcards.
- Say the short sound of letter ‘A’ (/a/) clearly.
- Name familiar objects that start with the /a/ sound, such as apple, axe, and ant.
Affective Domain
- Participate actively in talking about news and happenings at home.
- Show enthusiasm while singing the letter ‘A’ rhyme.
- Listen attentively when the teacher introduces the letter ‘A’ and its sound.
Psychomotor Domain
- Point to the letter ‘A’ when it is shown.
- Trace the outline of uppercase ‘A’ and lowercase ‘a’ on a worksheet.
- Colour within the lines of the letter ‘A’ outlines.
Social Domain
- Take turns to share news during discussion time.
- Engage in guided play by acting out characters from a song.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Early Childhood Care and Education resources
- Suitable early-years literacy workbook
Instructional Materials
- Flashcards of uppercase ‘A’ and lowercase ‘a’
- Picture cards of an apple, axe, and ant
- Large chart poster showing ‘A’, ‘a’, apple, axe, ant
- Crayons and pencils
- Worksheets with large outlines of ‘A’ and ‘a’ for tracing and colouring
- Storybook with pictures of ‘A’ words
- Sandpaper letters ‘A’ and ‘a’ (optional)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is crucial for Pre-School Level 2 pupils as it introduces them to the foundational letter ‘A’ and its sound, which is a building block for early literacy. Learning to recognise letters and their sounds helps children develop phonological awareness, a key skill for reading and writing. It also encourages oral communication as pupils share their experiences and associate sounds with familiar objects around them.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can already recognise and name some common objects in their environment. They can also engage in simple conversations about their daily activities and listen to short stories or songs.Lesson Content/Board Summary
LETTER A: SOUND RECOGNITION, PICTURE READING AND WRITING
Listening and Speaking: Talking about News
We share exciting things that happened at home or in our community. This helps us talk and listen to each other.
Reading: Letter A and its Sound
- The first letter of the alphabet is A.
- A has two forms:
- Uppercase A (Big A)
- Lowercase a (Small a)
- The sound of letter A is /a/ (like in “apple”).
Pictures that start with the /a/ sound:
- A for Apple (a sweet fruit)
- A for Axe (a tool for cutting wood)
- A for Ant (a tiny insect)
Key Words
- Apple – A round, sweet fruit.
- Axe – A tool with a blade for chopping.
- Ant – A small insect that lives in colonies.
- A – The first letter of the alphabet.
Sound Rhyme: “A, A, Apple”
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
A, A, Apple, so red and round,
A, A, Apple, on the ground.
A, A, Axe, for cutting wood,
A, A, Ant, so small and good.
A, A, A, I love the sound!
Actions:
- For “Apple”: Make a circle with hands.
- For “Axe”: Make chopping motion.
- For “Ant”: Wiggle fingers like a crawling ant.
- For “A, A, A”: Point to the letter ‘A’ flashcard.
Watch and Practise
Writing: Tracing and Colouring Aa
- We learn to draw the shape of ‘A’ and ‘a’.
- Start from the top, slant down, slant up, then a line across for ‘A’.
- For ‘a’, make a circle and then a short line down.
- Colour inside the lines of the letters.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by greeting pupils and encouraging them to share exciting news from home or the community in a circle time setting. Introduce the letter ‘A’ using large flashcards for both uppercase and lowercase. Emphasize the short /a/ sound, making it clear and repetitive. Use the picture cards to associate the sound with apple, axe, and ant, asking pupils to repeat the words after you. For writing, demonstrate tracing ‘A’ and ‘a’ in the air first, then on a large chart, guiding pupils to use their fingers before pencils.
What to show or demonstrate: Show flashcards of ‘A’ and ‘a’. Display clear pictures of an apple, axe, and ant. Demonstrate the mouth shape for the /a/ sound. Show how to trace ‘A’ and ‘a’ in the air, then on the board, emphasizing starting points and direction. Model colouring within the lines.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “A, A, Apple” rhyme together, slowly at first, then picking up pace. Encourage pupils to do the actions as you sing. Repeat the rhyme several times to reinforce the sound and words.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about the letter ‘A’ and its sound. Play the video, encouraging pupils to sing along and repeat the words they hear. After watching, ask pupils to recall some ‘A’ words from the video and practise making the /a/ sound.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are confusing the /a/ sound with other vowel sounds. Check for correct pencil grip and tracing direction during the writing activity. Ensure all pupils get a chance to share news and participate in the activities.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Repetition
- Practical Activity
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Communication
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets pupils warmly and initiates a “News Time” session, asking pupils to share one interesting thing that happened at home or in their community. The teacher models by sharing a simple piece of news first.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher and take turns sharing their news or happenings from home/community.
Learning Point: Pupils practise listening and speaking skills, and feel comfortable sharing in class.
Step 2: Introduction of Letter A and its Sound
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Direct Instruction/Phonics
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the letter ‘A’ (uppercase and lowercase) using flashcards. The teacher clearly pronounces the short /a/ sound multiple times, guiding pupils to mimic the sound and mouth shape.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the flashcards, listen to the teacher, and repeat the /a/ sound together and individually.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise the visual form of ‘A’ and learn its basic sound.
Step 3: Picture Association and Word Recognition
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Association/Vocabulary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows picture cards of an apple, axe, and ant. For each picture, the teacher says the word, emphasizing the initial /a/ sound, and asks pupils to repeat the word and the sound.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the pictures, repeat the words (apple, axe, ant), and practise saying the /a/ sound at the beginning of each word.
Learning Point: Pupils connect the /a/ sound to familiar objects and expand their vocabulary.
Step 4: Rhyme and Movement
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Rhyme/Motor Skills
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “A, A, Apple” rhyme from the Board Summary, demonstrating the actions for each word. The teacher encourages active participation and repetition.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme along with the teacher, performing the actions for apple, axe, and ant.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce the letter ‘A’ sound and words through a fun, interactive song.
Step 5: Video Reinforcement
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Multimedia Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces a short educational video about the letter ‘A’ and its sound. After the video, the teacher asks pupils to recall some ‘A’ words they heard.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, listen to the sounds and words, and then name some ‘A’ words from the video.
Learning Point: Pupils gain further exposure to the letter ‘A’ and its sound through a visual and auditory medium.
Step 6: Tracing and Colouring Aa
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Fine Motor Skills/Pre-Writing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes worksheets with large outlines of uppercase ‘A’ and lowercase ‘a’. The teacher demonstrates how to trace the letters with a pencil and then colour them neatly, providing guidance and support.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils trace the letter ‘A’ and ‘a’ on their worksheets and then colour them using crayons.
Learning Point: Pupils develop fine motor skills and begin to practise letter formation.
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.
- “Show me the letter ‘A’ (uppercase and lowercase) on the flashcard.”
- “What sound does this letter make?” (Pointing to ‘A’)
- “What is this picture?” (Showing an apple, axe, or ant)
- “Can you trace the letter ‘A’ in the air?”
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: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises pupils for their participation and effort, reiterating that they have learned about the letter ‘A’ and its sound. The teacher reminds them to look for ‘A’ words around them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s praise and acknowledge the lesson learned.
Learning Point: Pupils feel encouraged and motivated to continue learning.
Lesson Keywords
- A – The first letter of the English alphabet.
- Sound – The noise a letter makes, like /a/ for apple.
- Apple – A common fruit that starts with ‘A’.
- Ant – A tiny insect that starts with ‘A’.
- Trace – To draw over the outline of a letter or shape.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who struggle, provide larger letter outlines for tracing, offer hand-over-hand guidance, and give extra oral repetition of the /a/ sound and associated words. Use sandpaper letters for a tactile experience.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, encourage them to identify other objects in the classroom that start with the /a/ sound. Challenge them to draw a simple picture of an apple, axe, or ant.
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