Phonics Fun ABC

Year Level

Year 1 (Western Australia)

Duration

30 minutes

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Identify and recognise the letters A, B, and C.
• Match each letter to its corresponding sound.
• Begin blending letter sounds into simple words.

Success Criteria

• I can say the sounds for the letters A, B, and C.
• I can match the letters A, B, and C to pictures that start with those sounds.
• I can listen for the initial sound and identify the correct letter.

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Curriculum Alignment (Western Australian Curriculum English Year 1)

This lesson aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum achievement standard for Year 1 English, focusing on phonics and phonemic awareness under the strand of Language:

• Recognise and name all upper- and lower-case letters (ACELA1434).
• Recognise the sounds (phonemes) that letters represent and match these to letters (ACELA1433).
• Use knowledge of sounds and letters to decode and spell simple words (ACELA1441).

This ensures students begin building foundational literacy skills, crucial for developing reading and writing abilities.

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Details	Resources
5 min	Introduction & Recap	- Teacher introduces the letters A, B, and C with large colourful letter cards. - Say the letter names and demonstrate the sounds clearly (e.g., "A says /a/ as in apple"). - Use a catchy ABC song focusing especially on these letters for engagement.	Letter cards, ABC song (teacher-led)
10 min	Phonics Sound Matching Game	- Show pictures of objects starting with A (apple), B (ball), C (cat). - Ask the student to match each picture to the correct letter card. - Use magic wand/tactile pointer for selecting letters. - Include multisensory approach: tracing letters in sand or with finger on a textured surface to reinforce letter shape.	Picture cards of apple, ball, cat; sand tray or textured letter mats
8 min	Interactive Story Time	- Read a simple story or rhyme emphasising words starting with A, B, C. - Ask questions like “Can you find the words starting with ‘B’?” - Use props or visual aids to highlight the sounds and letters within the story.	Picture book or rhyme emphasizing A, B, C sounds with props
5 min	Letter Sound Matching Worksheet (Dyslexia Friendly)	- Provide a worksheet with letters A, B, C in bold, clear font and pictures to draw lines between matching initial sounds. - Use sans-serif fonts, spaced letters/lines, and high contrast for dyslexia-friendly reading. - Support verbal instructions and allow oral responses if preferred.	Dyslexia-friendly worksheet, pencils, coloured pencils
2 min	Plenary & Feedback	- Recap the letter sounds using flashcards. - Praise attempts and encourage repeating the sounds. - Brief oral assessment by asking letter sound questions.	Letter flashcards

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Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners

• For English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) students: Use clear visuals and real objects to connect letter sounds and meaning; speak slowly and repeat sounds; pair with peer reading if possible.
• For students with fine motor difficulties: Use larger tactile letters and allow tracing with fingers or soft brushes instead of pencils.
• For gifted or advanced learners: Encourage using the letters to form simple CVC words (e.g., cab, bat).
• For students with attention difficulties: Use movement breaks such as clapping or jumping when chanting letter sounds.

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Dyslexia-Friendly Reading Options

• Use clear, large fonts (such as Arial or Comic Sans) on all materials.
• High contrast between text and background (black on white or cream).
• Provide multisensory activities (tracing letters, listening games).
• Break tasks into small, meaningful sections.
• Provide oral instructions and demonstrations alongside written materials.

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Additional Notes for Teachers

• Emphasise the phoneme, not just the letter name (e.g., A makes the /a/ sound).
• Use multimodal teaching, combining visual, auditory, and tactile learning styles.
• Encourage expressive responses through stories and songs to build enthusiasm.
• Incorporate First Nations Australian languages influence or local examples if relevant and appropriate.

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This lesson has been carefully designed to provide a full but manageable 30-minute phonics session for Year 1 students, directly meeting the Western Australian Curriculum standards on phonics knowledge and early literacy skills . The matching of letter sounds and letters A, B, C will strongly support foundational reading skills and literacy development.