Large group lesson to teach letter recognition. In this lesson, the students will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of print and non-print text. They will make a class alphabet book with "cuttings" from magazines, or "clippings" from the computer.

Primary Learning Outcomes:

Can I identify the shape of the various letters of the alphabet? Can I find items that begin with the sounds of the letters of the alphabet?

 

Additional Learning Outcomes:

Can I put the letters of the alphabet in order?

  

1.      Assorted “Alphabet” library books.

2.      Alphabet City by Stephen T.  Johnson.

3.      Magazine pictures (precut out by student “library monitors”

4.      26 – sheets of Alphabet letters *(for recognition)

5.      Large poster board sheet for chart.

6.      Scissors, crayons, markers, construction paper, if needed.

 

Step:  1 Duration: varies

Teacher preparation: Have library books with the alphabet theme available. Distribute printed letters from a Web resource – one letter per page, to the children (perfect “fit” if there are 26 children!)  Hold them up separately as we sing the “Alphabet Song.” [Alternatively, children can sit in a large circle and stand up when their letter is called out].

Step:  2 Duration: 20-25 minutes

Show the students the book Alphabet City –as you display each page, have each student hold up his/her letter next to it, so they can identify each letter.  Ask the students to recall words that begin with each letter respectively, as you turn each page of the book.

 

Be sure to differentiate between the upper and lower case letters.

Step:  3 Duration: 5 minutes

Tell students they are going to make a class alphabet book using the letters of the alphabet and “cuttings” from magazines, or “clippings” from the computer. Demonstrate how to look through a magazine to locate pictures that begin with different letters of the alphabet [and if you have an aide – use the clip art feature of a computer (with

Pre-selected “tableau of pictures”)]

Step:  4 Duration: 15 minutes

Seat the children in groups of 4-6 at each table.  Using assorted magazine pictures (that have been pre-selected) group the pictures according to the various letters of the alphabet – that have been “assigned” to each table.  Let the children dialogue among themselves, but circulate to help students decide on the pictures for each letter.

 

Step:  5 Duration: 15 minutes

Regroup the children together in front of the chart -- be sure each group brings its pictures. Write the name of each item on a chart. These should be in ABC order on the chart but children can brainstorm, randomly.

Step:  6 Duration: 5 minutes

Afix the pictures atop the “alphabet” pages together in front of the students, reciting the alphabet as “THE BOOK” is being put together.

Step:  7 Duration: 5 minutes

Bind or staple the book and read it together as a class: “A” is for…,”B” is for…., and so forth. Use the chart to reconfirm the “NAME” of each item!

Let the students use various web resources/games to ascertain how much they are learning.

Follow-up activity:
For students who need more re-inforcement, continue to encourage them to use the web resources. Also, give them individual alphabet letter sheets on which to glue (more) pre-cut magazine pictures of various items as they had done in the group activity.