Weekly Objectives

This week, students will learn about:

• Recognizing and identifying uppercase and lowercase letters
• Beginning sounds associated with each letter
• Blending sounds to form simple words
• Introducing sight words to build vocabulary
• Developing fine motor skills through writing activities

Materials

To complete this lesson, you will need:

• Alphabet flashcards
• Whiteboard and markers
• Beginner reading books
• Notebooks and pencils
• Craft supplies (construction paper, glue, scissors)
• Laminated letters
• Chart paper
• Index cards
• Sight word flashcards

Curriculum Alignment

Area: English Language Arts (ELA)
Level: Grade 1
Curriculum Outcomes:

• ELA1.3: Recognize and identify uppercase and lowercase letters
• ELA1.4: Demonstrate understanding of beginning sounds
• ELA1.5: Blend sounds to form simple words
• ELA1.6: Recognize and read basic sight words
• ELA1.7: Develop and demonstrate age-appropriate fine motor skills

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Day 1: Letter Identification and Sounds

Timeframe: 60 minutes

Activity 1: Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Objective: Review letter identification
Materials: Alphabet flashcards
Procedure:

• Teacher holds up alphabet flashcards one-by-one.
• Each student gets a turn to identify the letter and say a word that begins with that letter. Try to encourage words associated with Islamic culture or values, such as "M for Masjid" or "Q for Quran."

Activity 2: Interactive Group Reading (20 minutes)

Objective: Identify beginning sounds
Materials: Beginner reading books
Procedure:

• Teacher reads a short picture book to the class.
• Pause at specific words in the book, and ask the students to identify the beginning letter and its sound.
• Engage students with interactive questions related to Islamic teachings present in the book.

Activity 3: Hands-on Activity (15 minutes)

Objective: Recognize uppercase and lowercase letters
Materials: Craft supplies (construction paper, glue, scissors)
Procedure:

• Students create individual alphabet books.
• Each page represents one letter; students are encouraged to decorate their letters creatively using craft supplies.
• Allow students to include related Islamic images, such as "C for Crescent Moon."

Activity 4: Closing Circle (15 minutes)

Objective: Reiterate learning
Materials: None
Procedure:

• Gather students in a circle.
• Discuss what letters and sounds they have learned.
• End with an engaging Islamic letter song or chant to reinforce learning.

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Day 2: Blending Sounds

Timeframe: 60 minutes

Activity 1: Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Objective: Review letter sounds
Materials: Whiteboard and markers
Procedure:

• Teacher writes random letters on the whiteboard.
• Students take turns coming up to the board to say the sound each letter makes.

Activity 2: Phonics Game (20 minutes)

Objective: Blend sounds to form simple words
Materials: Laminated letters
Procedure:

• Teacher uses laminated letters on the board to form simple 3-letter words (Consonant Vowel Consonant - CVC).
• Students come up to the board to blend the sounds and say the word aloud.

Activity 3: Writing Exercise (15 minutes)

Objective: Practice writing simple words
Materials: Notebooks and pencils
Procedure:

• Teacher guides students in writing a list of simple words.
• Emphasis on proper letter formation and spacing.
• Incorporate Islamic vocabulary where possible, such as "mat," "hat," or "bat," linking them to prayer mats, head coverings and bats being part of Allah’s creation.

Activity 4: Reading Circle (15 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce blending skills
Materials: Beginner reading books
Procedure:

• Teacher reads a storybook aloud.
• Encourage students to blend the sounds of new words together.
• Choose books with Islamic themes or teachings.

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Day 3: Sight Words Introduction

Timeframe: 60 minutes

Activity 1: Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Objective: Introduce new sight words
Materials: Sight word flashcards
Procedure:

• Teacher shows flashcards with new sight words.
• Students repeat the words together.

Activity 2: Sight Word Bingo (20 minutes)

Objective: Recognize sight words in a fun way
Materials: Bingo cards with sight words, markers
Procedure:

• Teacher distributes Bingo cards that feature sight words.
• Play a game of Sight Word Bingo, with the teacher calling out the sight words.

Activity 3: Crafting (15 minutes)

Objective: Create visual aids for sight words
Materials: Index cards, markers, decorative materials
Procedure:

• Students create their own sight word flashcards to take home.
• They use markers and other decorative materials to make the cards engaging.

Activity 4: Pair Reading (15 minutes)

Objective: Practice reading sight words
Materials: Beginner reading books
Procedure:

• Students pair up and take turns reading from beginner books.
• They identify and read sight words as they come across them in the text.

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Day 4: Fine Motor Skills

Timeframe: 60 minutes

Activity 1: Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Objective: Letter review game
Materials: Alphabet flashcards
Procedure:

• Review flashcards with a physical twist.
• Students perform a physical activity (jump, clap) corresponding to each letter shown.
• Relate movements to Islamic practices, such as bowing during Salah for the letter “S.”

Activity 2: Writing Practice (20 minutes)

Objective: Develop fine motor skills through writing
Materials: Notebooks, pencils
Procedure:

• Students practice writing uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Focus on forming their letters neatly and correctly.
• Include writing simple Islamic phrases, like "Allah" or "Bismillah."

Activity 3: Craft Activity (15 minutes)

Objective: Enhance fine motor skills
Materials: Craft supplies
Procedure:

• Students create artwork related to an Islamic theme like mosques, prayer mats, etc.
• Encourage use of various materials to develop fine motor skills.

Activity 4: Group Discussion (15 minutes)

Objective: Reflect and share
Materials: None
Procedure:

• Gather students in a circle.
• Allow each student to share a letter they practiced and a word they remember.
• Discuss how they can see Allah's name in the beautiful creations they made.

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Day 5: Sight Words Review

Timeframe: 60 minutes

Activity 1: Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Objective: Review sight words learned
Materials: Sight word flashcards
Procedure:

• Flash sight word cards.
• Students repeat each word aloud.

Activity 2: Story Time (20 minutes)

Objective: Reading comprehension and sight word recognition
Materials: Beginner reading books
Procedure:

• Teacher reads a picture book aloud.
• Students listen and point out sight words they recognize.
• Choose a story with Islamic values or teachable moments relating to kindness, sharing, or other virtues.

Activity 3: Interactive Writing (15 minutes)

Objective: Writing using sight words
Materials: Notebooks, pencils
Procedure:

• Students write a short sentence using one or two sight words.
• Assist with sentence formation.
• Example: "I love Allah.”

Activity 4: Closing Circle (15 minutes)

Objective: Reflect on the week's learning
Materials: None
Procedure:

• Gather students in a circle.
• Discuss what sight words they’ve learned and enjoyed.
• End with a collective prayer or Islamic song that includes some of the sight words learned during the week.