Date: November 23, 1998

Grade Level(s): 1, 2, 3

Subject(s):

• Language Arts/Literature/Children's Literature
• Social Studies/Holidays

Description: This lesson introduces students to rhyming words. Students will recognize rhyming words and will form their own.

Goals: Students will learn the phonics elements of onsets and rhymes in a
literature-based lesson.

Objectives: Using cards with onsets and rhymes written on them, students will form at least one pair of rhyming words and say the words aloud.

Materials:

• The Christmans Tree Tangle by Margaret Mahey. McElderry, NY. (1994)
• Teacher mad onset-rhyme cards:

• Make folders by stapling oaktag together.
• Write four pairs of rhyming words on the outside of each folder, and place the corresponding onsets and rhymes in each folder.

Note: In making these cards, the teacher can duplicate some sets so there are enough for each student to have one set to work with.

Initiation: Write the sentence "Look at the book" on the chalkboard or easel next to the book. Begin by discussing the rhyming words and what a rhyming word is. Describe the differences/similarities between the words: book and look.

Procedure:

1. Ask children to listen carefully as you read the story. They are to listen for the rhyming words in the story.
2. Read the story, pausing before the rhyming words, and allowing the students to call out the rhymes.
3. After the story is read, the students are divided into groups of four. Pass out folders containing onsets and rhymes. Each student takes one long strip, and the small squares are placed in the middle of the group. Each student is to find the onsets that go with his/her rhyme. After they do this, the students can trade cards, allowing them to make up to four pairs of rhymes each.

Closure: After the students have put their cards in the folders, but while students are still seated in their small group arrangements, the teacher asks for a volunteer to come up and tell what his/her favorite part of the story was. Then, the teacher turns to that page in the book and re-reads the page, emphasizing the rhyming words.

Assessment: During the small group activity, the teacher walks about the room, checking each student's work for understanding. When each student has a pair of rhyming words made, the teacher asks the students to say the words.