Daily Lesson Plan -- Lesson 14

Letter Nn

Subject: English | Class: Playgroup | Series: Leeds

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Overview

This lesson introduces the letter "Nn". Learners look at a hospital scene on page 16 with a nurse, a big number nine on the gate, a nut and a nest with two eggs. They say the four words, chant "n / n / nine", "n / n / nut", "n / n / nurse", and learn the rhyme line about the nest. On the second day they say the chant again, trace "Nn" in the air and in sand, and colour. All talk is oral and playful. Learners are not expected to read or write words.

Learning Outcomes

• Introduction to Nn (Lesson Planner, page 2)
• Recognition of N used in different words (Lesson Planner, page 2)
• Say the sound /n/ and the chant from page 16

Key Vocabulary

• nine
• nut
• nurse
• nest

Chant and Rhyme Line

• "n / n / nine", "n / n / nut", "n / n / nurse"
• "n / n / nest holds two eggs."

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Day 1: Look and Say (30 minutes)

Materials

• Textbook page 16
• A large number "9" card
• Picture cards (or the book pictures) of nine, nut, nurse, nest
• A big "Nn" letter card

Circle Time Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Sit the learners in a circle and sing a hello song together
• Hold up the big "Nn" card. Say: "This is big N and this is small n"
• Say the sound /n/ through your nose, like "nnnn"
• Learners touch their noses and say /n/ with you three times

Show and Tell (5 minutes)

• Hold up the number "9" card and say: "This is nine"
• Clap nine times together, counting aloud
• Say together: "nine, /n/ /n/ nine"

Look and Say (10 minutes)

• Open page 16 and point to the big red "Nn"
• Point to each picture and say the word; learners repeat twice:
  • nurse
  • nine
  • nest
  • nut
• Ask: "Where is the nurse?" (at the hospital) and "How many eggs are in the nest?" (two)
• Point to the little squirrel holding the big nut
• Play "Point to it": say a word, learners point to the right picture in their book

Chant Time (6 minutes)

• Read the chant box slowly, clapping on each "n":
  • n / n / nine
  • n / n / nut
  • n / n / nurse
• Learners echo each line
• Say the rhyme line: "n / n / nest holds two eggs." Learners echo it in a sing-song voice and hold up two fingers

Action Game (3 minutes)

• Call out a word and learners act it:
  • nine: hold up nine fingers
  • nurse: listen to your heart like a nurse
  • nest: cup your hands like a nest
• Say the word each time: "nine", "nurse", "nest"

Wrap-Up (1 minute)

• Hold up the "9" card and ask: "What does nine start with?" Learners say /n/
• Wave goodbye to the nurse: "Bye-bye, nurse!"

Differentiation

• Support: Let shy learners point to pictures instead of saying words; say the word with them
• Extension: Ask confident learners to name each picture when you point, without help

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Day 2: Chant and Trace (30 minutes)

Materials

• Textbook page 16
• A sand tray (or a tray of flour or salt)
• Board and marker
• Crayons (brown, blue, green)
• A sheet with a big nest outline on a branch for each learner

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Show page 16 again. Point and say: nine, nut, nurse, nest
• Say the chant together, clapping on each "n"
• Say the rhyme line together: "n / n / nest holds two eggs."

Find the N (4 minutes)

• Point to the big "Nn" on page 16 and ask learners to touch it
• Point to the chant box and ask learners to find the pink "n" letters
• Learners only point and count; they do not read the words

Air and Sand Tracing (8 minutes)

• Draw a big "N" on the board: line down, back up, slant down to the right, then straight up
• Draw a small "n": short line down, back up, then one hump over and down
• Learners draw "N" and "n" in the air with a finger, saying /n/
• Learners take turns tracing "n" in the sand tray with one finger
• Praise every try: "Lovely n with one hump!"

Little Artists (10 minutes)

• Give out the nest outline sheet
• Learners colour the nest brown and draw two blue eggs inside it, like the picture on page 16
• Colour the leaves on the branch green
• As they work, ask: "What is this?" Learners say "nest"

Picture Hunt (2 minutes)

• Say: "Find the nut!" Learners point on page 16
• Repeat with nine, nurse and nest

Wrap-Up (1 minute)

• Draw "n" in the air one last time and say /n/
• Cup hands like a nest and say "Bye-bye, nest!"

Differentiation

• Support: Hold the learner's hand while tracing in the sand; trace with one finger together
• Extension: Let confident learners draw a big "n" on the board with a marker

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Teaching Tips

• The Lesson Planner (page 2) places Nn with Oo in Month 5, Week 2; Mm, Nn and Oo are revised together in Week 3
• Use only the four page 16 words (nine, nut, nurse, nest)
• Use the book picture for "nut" rather than real nuts, in case any learner has a nut allergy
• Small "n" has one hump; small "m" (last lesson) has two humps