Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before this lesson, ensure you have prepared large cut-out letters Jj, picture cards of objects like a jug, juice, and jeans, and a sand tray or individual tracing sheets. The central idea is for pupils to recognise the letter Jj, associate it with its /j/ sound, and begin to form it. Observe pupils as they repeat the sound and attempt to trace the letter, as this will show their successful learning.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: Second Term
Week: 1
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Literacy
Curriculum Theme: Literacy
Previous Lesson: Introduction to Letter Ii sound, words and writing.
Topic: LETTER J: 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 Jj to Jug, Juice, Jeans. Writing: Tracing, colouring and writing Jj. 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 letter ‘J’ and lowercase letter ‘j’.
- Recognise and make the /j/ sound.
- Name familiar objects that start with the /j/ sound, such as jug, juice, and jeans.
Affective Domain
- Show interest in learning new letters and sounds.
- Participate actively in discussions and singing activities.
Psychomotor Domain
- Trace the letter ‘Jj’ in the air, sand, or on paper.
- Colour the letter ‘Jj’ and pictures of J-words.
- Act out simple actions related to J-words or songs.
Social Domain
- Share simple news and happenings from home or community with others.
- Take turns speaking during group activities.
Reference Materials
- NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 2
- Early Childhood Care and Education curriculum resources
- Approved early-years literacy workbook
Instructional Materials
- Large flashcards of uppercase ‘J’ and lowercase ‘j’
- Picture cards or real objects: a jug, a bottle of juice, a pair of jeans, jam.
- Chart showing letter Jj and related pictures
- Sand tray or salt tray for tracing
- Worksheets with large outlines of Jj for tracing and colouring
- Crayons, pencils
- Storybook or picture book featuring words with ‘Jj’ (e.g., “Jam,” “Jump”)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson introduces pupils to the letter Jj and its sound, which is a foundational step in early literacy. By connecting the sound to familiar objects and engaging in hands-on activities like tracing and singing, children develop phonological awareness, expand their vocabulary, and build pre-writing skills. This helps them understand that letters represent sounds and words, fostering early reading and writing readiness.Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can recognise some letters of the alphabet, make simple sounds, and talk about familiar things around them. They have also been introduced to basic pre-writing patterns.Lesson Content/Board Summary
LETTER J: SOUND RECOGNITION, PICTURE READING AND WRITING
The Letter Jj
The letter J is an alphabet letter.
- Uppercase J
- Lowercase j
The Sound of Jj
The letter Jj makes the /j/ sound.
Say: /j/, /j/, /j/ (like the beginning sound in ‘jump’).
Words that start with Jj
- Jug: /j/ /j/ jug (show picture of a jug)
- Juice: /j/ /j/ juice (show picture of juice)
- Jeans: /j/ /j/ jeans (show picture of jeans)
- Other words: Jam, Jump, Jellyfish.
How to Write Letter Jj
Uppercase J:
- Start at the top.
- Draw a straight line down.
- Curve to the left at the bottom.
- Draw a small line across the top.
Lowercase j:
- Start in the middle.
- Draw a straight line down.
- Curve to the left at the bottom.
- Put a dot above the line.
Jj Sound Rhyme
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
J says /j/, J says /j/,
Like in jug and yummy juice.
J says /j/, J says /j/,
Jeans we wear and we can jump.
J says /j/, J says /j/,
Everywhere the J sound comes.
Actions: Point to letter J, mimic pouring a jug, pretend to drink juice, point to legs (for jeans), jump up and down.
Watch and Practise
Key Words
- J – The tenth letter of the alphabet.
- Jug – A container for holding liquids, often with a handle.
- Juice – The liquid from fruits or vegetables.
- Jeans – Trousers made from denim fabric.
- Jump – To push oneself off the ground into the air.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Introduce the uppercase ‘J’ and lowercase ‘j’ using large flashcards or by drawing them clearly on the board. Emphasise the /j/ sound by making it clearly and asking pupils to listen and repeat. Use call-and-response for the sound. Point to each word (Jug, Juice, Jeans) as you say it, ensuring pupils see the initial ‘J’.
What to show or demonstrate: Show the actual objects (jug, juice bottle, jeans) or clear, large picture cards. Demonstrate how to trace ‘J’ and ‘j’ in the air with a large arm movement, then in a sand tray or on a large paper. Model the correct pencil grip for tracing on worksheets.
How to use the rhyme/song: Lead the “J says /j/” rhyme, singing it slowly at first and performing the actions. Repeat the rhyme 2-3 times, encouraging pupils to join in with both singing and actions. Praise their efforts.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about the letter J. Play the video once for pupils to watch and listen. After watching, encourage pupils to repeat any J-words they heard in the video and practise making the /j/ sound as shown.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are correctly making the /j/ sound, identifying J-words, and attempting to trace the letter with correct directionality. Provide individual support for those struggling with sound production or letter formation.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Repetition
- Practical Activity (tracing, colouring)
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Communication/Rapport Building
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly and asks them to share any interesting news or happenings from their homes or community. “Good morning, children! How are you all today? Did anything exciting happen at home or on your way to school?”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and take turns sharing short pieces of news or observations.
Learning Point: Develops oral communication skills and creates a positive classroom atmosphere.
Step 2: Introduction to Letter Jj and its Sound
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recognition/Phonics
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the letter ‘Jj’ using a large flashcard. “Look, children! This is our new letter for today. This is uppercase J and this is lowercase j. The letter Jj makes a special sound: /j/, /j/, /j/.” The teacher demonstrates the sound clearly and asks pupils to listen.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the letter Jj, listen attentively, and attempt to repeat the /j/ sound after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to recognise the letter Jj and associate it with its initial sound.
Step 3: Introducing Jj Words with Pictures/Objects
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Association/Vocabulary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows real objects or clear picture cards of a jug, juice, and jeans. “What is this? It’s a jug! J-j-jug. This is juice! J-j-juice. And these are jeans! J-j-jeans. Can you hear the /j/ sound at the beginning of each word?” The teacher repeats the words, emphasising the /j/ sound.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the objects, repeat the words after the teacher, and try to make the /j/ sound for each word.
Learning Point: Pupils associate the /j/ sound with familiar words and objects.
Step 4: Rhyme/Song and Video Reinforcement
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Auditory Learning/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the “J says /j/” rhyme with actions, encouraging pupils to sing along. Then, the teacher introduces and plays the short video about the letter Jj. “Let’s sing our J song! Now, let’s watch a fun video about the letter J and its sound!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the rhyme with actions, watch the video, and repeat J-words or sounds heard in the video.
Learning Point: Reinforces the /j/ sound and J-words through song, movement, and visual media.
Step 5: Pre-writing Practice for Jj
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Fine Motor Development/Pre-writing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to form uppercase J and lowercase j in the air using a large arm movement. Then, the teacher guides pupils to trace the letters in a sand tray or salt tray. “Now, let’s make the letter J in the air! Up, down, curve! And a line across the top. For little j, down, curve, and a dot!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils imitate the teacher, tracing J and j in the air and then in their sand trays.
Learning Point: Pupils develop fine motor skills and learn the correct strokes for forming the letter Jj.
Step 6: Guided Writing and Colouring
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Handwriting/Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes worksheets with large outlines of Jj for tracing and colouring. The teacher walks around, guiding pupils on correct pencil grip and tracing direction. “Now you can trace and colour your own letter Jj. Remember how we traced it in the sand.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils trace the letter Jj on their worksheets and colour it, as well as any J-word pictures provided.
Learning Point: Pupils practise forming the letter Jj and reinforce its recognition through a hands-on activity.
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.
- “What letter did we learn today?” (Show Jj flashcard)
- “What sound does the letter Jj make?”
- “Can you name one word that starts with the /j/ sound?”
- “Show me how to trace uppercase J 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/Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their hard work and participation. “Well done, children! You all did a great job learning about the letter Jj today. Keep practising your /j/ sound and looking for J-words around you!”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the praise and tidy up their materials.
Learning Point: Consolidate learning and encourage continued practice outside the lesson.
Lesson Keywords
- Jj – The letter learned today.
- Sound – The /j/ sound that Jj makes.
- Jug – A container for liquids.
- Juice – A drink from fruits.
- Jeans – A type of trousers.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, provide larger tracing outlines, hand-over-hand guidance for tracing, and extra oral repetition of the /j/ sound and J-words. Use only one or two J-words for focus.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, encourage them to identify other objects in the classroom or from their daily lives that start with the /j/ sound. They can also attempt to draw a simple picture of a J-word.
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