Mastering the Long 'E' Sound

Curriculum Area

Subject: English
Level: Year 8 (Aligned with The New Zealand Curriculum – Level 4)
Strand: Listening, Reading, and Viewing; Speaking, Writing, and Presenting
Focus: Phonemic awareness – pronunciation and spelling variations of the long 'E' sound

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Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson, students will:
✅ Identify different spelling patterns for the long 'E' sound
✅ Recognise and pronounce words correctly with the long 'E' sound
✅ Apply their knowledge to reading, writing, and speaking tasks

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Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Class size: 32 students

Materials Needed:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart paper with different long 'E' spelling patterns
• Word cards with different long 'E' spellings
• Printed worksheet with a mix of correct and incorrect long 'E' words
• A short passage containing multiple words with the long 'E' sound
• Chromebooks or tablets for digital practice (if available)

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes) – Phonics Brain Teaser

• Write the following riddle on the board:
  "I am a letter that can be seen,
  In 'tree', 'key', and 'machine'.
  Sometimes alone, sometimes in pairs,
  What am I?"
• Ask students to guess what the riddle refers to (Answer: The long 'E' sound)

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2. Introduction (10 minutes) – Exploring the Long 'E' Sound

• Introduce the different ways the long 'E' sound appears in words:
  • e (me, she)
  • ee (tree, feet)
  • ea (bean, team)
  • ei (ceiling, receive)
  • ey (key, money)
  • ie (field, thief)
  • y (happy, party)
• Write examples for each on the board and have students pronounce them together

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3. Interactive Activity (15 minutes) – The 'E' Pattern Relay

• Split students into 6 teams
• Each team receives word cards with various spelling patterns
• On a large poster paper, they must sort the words under the correct spelling pattern column
• First team to complete their chart correctly wins
• Discuss the results and clarify any misconceptions

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4. Application (20 minutes) – Reading, Writing & Speaking Challenge

Part A: Reading Challenge (5 minutes)

• Hand out a short narrative passage packed with long 'E' words
• Students underline all words with the long 'E' sound

Part B: Writing Challenge (10 minutes)

• Students write a creative paragraph using at least 10 long 'E' words
• Share in pairs and give feedback

Part C: Speaking Challenge (5 minutes)

• Students form a circle and take turns saying a new sentence using a long 'E' word they haven’t heard used yet

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5. Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes) – Exit Ticket

• Exit question: "What is one new long 'E' word or spelling pattern you learned today?"
• Students write their answer on post-it notes and place them on a feedback wall

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Assessment & Teacher Reflection

✅ Formative: Observations during the relay and reading challenge
✅ Summative: Written paragraphs and reflective exit tickets

Extension for Early Finishers

🎤 Phonics Rap Battle: Students create and perform a short rap incorporating long 'E' words

🚀 Word Detectives: Challenge students to find five more long 'E' words in their library book and share them next lesson

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Teacher Notes & Adaptations

• Diverse Learners: Provide students with phonetic cues and support decoding unfamiliar words
• Digital Integration: Use speech-to-text tools for pronunciation practice if devices are available
• Cross-Curriculum Link: Science – Explore words related to energy (e.g., heat, electricity)

✨ This lesson brings phonics to life, ensuring both engagement and retention! ✨