Uses the book Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming to demonstrate beginning letter sounds applied to verbs.  Students will each choose their own verb, identify the beginning letter sounds, identify the actual letter, and act out their verb.  Digital pictures will be taken of each student acting out their verb to create the class' own alphabet book.

Goals: 

Students will be able to identify first-letter sounds of verbs.

Students will be able to work cooperatively together in a group to create their own action-word alphabet pages.

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to identify 2 beginning letter sounds of two verbs.

Students will take turns having pictures taken for their own alphabet pages.

• Fleming, D. (2002). Alphabet Under Construction. Henry Holt, New York.
• 26 extra-large cards with pictures of each letter of the alphabet.
• List of new words from the book for vocabulary preview.
• List of at least one action word for each letter of the alphabet.
• Digital Camera, computer, and printer.

• Review the book and make a list of unfamiliar words to define to the students before reading the book.
• Make a list of 26 verbs that are simple for students to act out, each for one letter of the alphabet.
• Set up the LMC story area with a display of the extra-large cards of the letters of the alphabet.
• Have the class come to the LMC.  Explain to the students that you're going to read the book that identifies the first letter sound of action words or verbs.  Give an example of action word or verb, identify the first letter sound, and hold up the appropriate letter card.
• Do a vocabulary preview, giving the students definitions to the list of unfamiliar words you already developed.
• Read the book to the class.   After reading, go back to some pages for examples and have the class identify the action-word, first letter sound, and corresponding letter. 
• LMS will pretend to do an action herself (e.g. bending), identify the first letter sound and choose the letter from the alphabet card display.
• Explain to the students that each one will be helped to do the same thing and that the LMS will take a picture of them doing their action and create an alphabet book for the class.
• Call the students up individually to act out actions from the alphabet.  Students can be given a choice to think of their own actions or can be given one from the LMS' list.
• Each student will choose an action-word, identify the first letter sound, retrieve the letter from the display, and then act out the word while the LMS takes their picture.  Find a way to display the letter card in the picture.
• If other students are too antsy while some are doing their pictures, have them choose books to check out, preferably under the supervision of a collaboraing teacher or library aide.
• Remind the students that the pictures will be displayed in the LMC and that a book of them  will be made for the class.
• After class, load the pictures onto the computer and print out two copies.  One to display in the LMC and one for the class' own alphabet book.

Observation of students' participation and note differing levels of proficiency.

Individual assistance of each student and note how much scaffolding is required.

Student comments during and after lesson.

Fleming, D. (2002). Alphabet Under Construction. New York: Henry Holt.