Daily Lesson Plan -- Lesson 26

Silent Letters

Subject: English | Class: Prep | Series: Skillford

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Overview

In this lesson children learn about silent letters. A silent letter is written in a word but never said. It is there on the page and gone from your mouth. Children read rows of words with a silent w, k, b and c, then write the missing silent letter in each word.

Learning Objectives

• Say what a silent letter is
• Read words with a silent w, k, b and c
• Listen for the letter that says nothing
• Write the missing silent letter in a word

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Day 1: The Letter That Says Nothing (35 minutes)

Materials

• Textbook page 41, word cards for the words on the page, a small sticky note

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Say "knee" and ask children what sound they hear at the start. Then show the word and point out the letter they did not say.

Main Activity (20 minutes)

• Read the rule: "A silent letter is written in a word but never said. It is there on the page and gone from your mouth."
• Read the instruction: "Read each row aloud and listen for the letter that says nothing."
• Read the four rows on page 41. Children repeat each word and point to the silent letter:
  • w: wreck, wrist, write, wrap
  • k: knife, knee, knock, know
  • b: comb, lamb, crumb, limb
  • c: scene, scent, science, scissors
• Teacher's Note: say each word and have children say it back. Then show the letter they did not say: the "k" in "knife", the "w" in "wrist", the "b" in "comb". Ask them to cover the silent letter with a finger and read the word again.

Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

• Teacher says a word from the page. Children name the silent letter (for example lamb, b).

Differentiation

• Support: Work on one row at a time (for example only the "k" words)
• Extension: Children say where the silent letter sits in each word (at the start, at the end or in the middle)

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Day 2: Activity Time (35 minutes)

Materials

• Textbook page 41, pencils

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Read the four letters together: w, k, b, c

Main Activity (20 minutes)

• Read the instruction: "Write the silent letter that is missing from each word."
• Say each word slowly, listen for the letter that says nothing, then write it:
  1. wrap
  2. knife
  3. limb
  4. scent
  5. know
  6. comb
  7. knee
  8. wrist
• Read each finished word aloud, then cover the silent letter and say it again

Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

• Children read their finished words to a partner and point to each silent letter

Differentiation

• Support: Give the choice of two letters for each word (for example k or w for knife)
• Extension: Children think of one more word from a row on the page and say its silent letter

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Teaching Tips

• Always show the letter children did not say
• Cover the silent letter with a finger and read the word again
• Say "it is on the page but gone from your mouth" every time