Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Before the lesson, prepare flashcards or real objects for words like Dog, Doll, Door, Drum, and Duck. Ensure you have large printouts of uppercase ‘D’ and lowercase ‘d’ for tracing and colouring, along with crayons and pencils. The central idea is for pupils to recognise the letter ‘Dd’, identify its sound, and associate it with familiar objects, while also engaging in simple oral communication. Successful learning will be observed when pupils can point to ‘Dd’, make the /d/ sound, name objects starting with /d/, and attempt to trace the letter.
Class: Pre-School Level 2
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 3 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Literacy
Curriculum Theme: Literacy
Previous Lesson: Identifying Letter C and its sound
Topic: LETTER D: 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 Dd to Dog, Doll, Door. Writing: Tracing, colouring and writing Dd. 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
- Recognise the uppercase letter ‘D’ and lowercase letter ‘d’.
- Identify the sound /d/ associated with the letter ‘Dd’.
- Name familiar objects that start with the /d/ sound, such as Dog, Doll, Door.
- Recall simple news or happenings from home or the community.
Affective Domain
- Participate actively in discussions about news and happenings.
- Show enjoyment when singing songs and rhymes related to the letter ‘Dd’.
- Listen attentively to the teacher and peers.
Psychomotor Domain
- Trace the uppercase letter ‘D’ and lowercase letter ‘d’ accurately.
- Colour pictures of objects starting with ‘Dd’.
- Attempt to write the letter ‘Dd’ with guidance.
- Act out simple characters or actions from songs and rhymes.
Social Domain
- Share simple news or experiences with the class.
- Take turns when speaking and listening to others.
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
- Learning Stamps
- Story Book
- Picture Book
- Chart Posters (showing Dd and related pictures)
- Video (on letter Dd sound and formation)
- Crayons
- Pencil
- Chalk
- Exercise Books/Paper
- Flash Cards (with Dd and pictures of Dog, Doll, Door, Drum, Duck)
- Picture Charts
- Jigsaw Puzzles (featuring letter Dd or related objects)
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson is important for 3-year-olds as it builds foundational literacy skills by introducing the letter ‘Dd’ and its sound, which are crucial for future reading and writing. It also encourages oral language development through sharing news, helping children connect classroom learning to their daily experiences and fostering communication skills.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils can already identify some other letters of the alphabet (e.g., A, B, C) and their sounds. They can also engage in simple conversations and name a few familiar objects.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
LETTER D: SOUND RECOGNITION, PICTURE READING AND WRITING
Listening and Speaking: Sharing News
- We talk about what happened at home or in our community.
- We use simple words to tell our friends and teacher.
- Example: “I saw a dog at home.” “My mummy cooked rice.”
The Letter Dd
- Uppercase D: Looks like a big stick with a big round tummy.
- Lowercase d: Looks like a small stick with a small round tummy.
D d
The Sound of Dd
- The letter ‘Dd’ makes the sound /d/, /d/, /d/.
- It sounds like when you beat a drum: /d/, /d/, /d/.
Picture Reading: Objects Starting with Dd
- D is for Dog
- D is for Doll
- D is for Door
- D is for Drum
- D is for Duck
Writing Dd: Tracing and Colouring
- Tracing D: Start from the top, draw a straight line down. Then go back to the top and draw a big curve to the bottom.
- Tracing d: Start in the middle, draw a small curve to the left, then go up and draw a straight line down.
- We can colour pictures of dogs, dolls, and drums.
Sound Rhyme: “D, D, D”
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Lyrics:
D, d, d, the letter D,
/d/, /d/, /d/, for all to see.
D is for Dog, woof, woof, woof,
D is for Doll, so soft and proof.
D, d, d, the letter D,
/d/, /d/, /d/, for you and me.
Actions: Point to letter D, make /d/ sound with hands, bark like a dog, hug an imaginary doll.
Watch and Practise
Key Words
- D – The fourth letter of the alphabet.
- Dog – A common pet animal.
- Doll – A toy that looks like a baby or person.
- Door – The entrance to a room or building.
- Drum – A musical instrument that you hit.
- Duck – A bird that swims and says “quack”.
💡 Teacher Guide for Using This Board Summary
How to teach the content: Begin by greeting pupils and asking them to share one piece of good news from home or the community, encouraging simple sentences. Introduce the letter ‘Dd’ using large flashcards or drawing on the board, clearly showing both uppercase and lowercase forms. Emphasise the /d/ sound by repeating it and linking it to familiar actions like beating a drum. Use picture cards or real objects for Dog, Doll, Door, Drum, and Duck, asking pupils to repeat the words and the /d/ sound. For writing, demonstrate tracing ‘D’ and ‘d’ in the air first, then on a chart, guiding pupils to trace on their papers with crayons or pencils.
What to show or demonstrate: Show large flashcards of ‘D’ and ‘d’. Display pictures of a dog, doll, door, drum, and duck. Demonstrate the /d/ sound clearly. Show how to trace ‘D’ and ‘d’ with your finger in the air, then on a large chart, using correct starting points and strokes.
How to use the rhyme/song: Sing the “D, D, D” rhyme twice, performing the actions. Encourage pupils to join in with the singing and actions, repeating the /d/ sound and the example words.
How to use the video: Introduce the video as a fun way to learn more about the letter ‘Dd’ and its sound. Play the video once, then play it again, encouraging pupils to repeat the sounds and words, and to make the actions shown in the video. After watching, ask pupils to name one thing they saw in the video that starts with ‘D’.
What to watch for: Observe if pupils are making the correct /d/ sound and distinguishing it from other sounds. Check their pencil grip and tracing direction for ‘D’ and ‘d’. Encourage shy pupils to share their news by asking simple, direct questions.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
- Play-based Learning
- Demonstration
- Guided Practice
- Songs and Rhymes
- Picture Talk
- Question and Answer
- Repetition
- Practical Activity (tracing, colouring)
- Video Learning
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Engagement/Oral Communication
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils warmly. She asks pupils to share one piece of news or something interesting that happened at home or in their community since the last lesson.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils greet the teacher and take turns to share simple news or happenings from their homes or community.
Learning Point: Pupils practise oral communication and sharing experiences.
Step 2: Introduction of Letter Dd and its Sound
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recognition/Phonics
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the letter ‘Dd’ using flashcards and chart posters. She clearly pronounces the /d/ sound, asking pupils to listen and repeat. She shows both uppercase ‘D’ and lowercase ‘d’.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils look at the letter ‘Dd’, listen to the sound /d/, and repeat the sound after the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils recognise the letter ‘Dd’ and identify its sound.
Step 3: Picture Reading and Association
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Association/Vocabulary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shows picture cards of objects starting with ‘Dd’ (e.g., Dog, Doll, Door, Drum, Duck). She names each object and asks pupils to repeat the name and the /d/ sound.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the pictures, repeat the names of the objects, and make the /d/ sound.
Learning Point: Pupils associate the /d/ sound with familiar objects.
Step 4: Rhyme Reinforcement
Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Auditory Learning/Memory
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in singing the “D, D, D” rhyme, performing the actions. She sings it twice, encouraging pupils to join in.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing along with the teacher, repeat the /d/ sound, and perform the actions for the rhyme.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce the /d/ sound and ‘Dd’ recognition through song and movement.
Step 5: Video Learning
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Multimedia Engagement/Visual Learning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the educational video on the letter ‘Dd’ sound and formation. She encourages pupils to watch carefully and repeat sounds/words as prompted by the video.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video, listen to the sounds, and repeat words or actions demonstrated.
Learning Point: Pupils gain further exposure to the letter ‘Dd’ and its sound through visual and auditory stimulation.
Step 6: Tracing, Colouring and Writing Dd
Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Fine Motor Skills/Pre-writing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to trace the uppercase ‘D’ and lowercase ‘d’ on their exercise books or prepared worksheets. She demonstrates the correct strokes and encourages them to colour pictures of ‘Dd’ objects. She provides hand-over-hand support where needed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils trace ‘D’ and ‘d’ with their crayons/pencils and colour the pictures of ‘Dd’ objects.
Learning Point: Pupils develop fine motor skills and 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.
- “What letter did we learn today?” (Teacher shows Dd flashcard).
- “What sound does this letter make?”
- “Name one thing that starts with the /d/ sound.”
- “Show me how to trace the big ‘D’ 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: Summarisation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and good work. She reminds them to keep practising the letter ‘Dd’ and its sound at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher and tidy up their learning materials.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate learning and are encouraged for continued practice.
Lesson Keywords
- D – The fourth letter of the English alphabet.
- d – The small form of the letter D.
- Sound /d/ – The phonetic sound made by the letter D, as in ‘dog’.
- Dog – A common pet.
- Doll – A toy.
- Door – An opening to a room.
- Trace – To draw over a line or shape.
- Colour – To fill a shape with colour.
Differentiation
- Support: For pupils who are struggling, provide larger tracing templates for ‘Dd’ and guide their hand-over-hand during tracing. Use more repetition of the /d/ sound and provide only 2-3 picture examples for identification.
- Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, encourage them to identify other objects in the classroom or at home that start with the /d/ sound. Ask them to draw a simple picture of an object starting with ‘Dd’ after tracing.
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