Blends & Digraphs Showcase

Overview

This is the final lesson (16/16) in the "Blends and Digraphs Mastery" unit, designed for Primary 3-4 students (ages 7-9). Students will consolidate and demonstrate their mastery of blends (e.g., bl, tr, st) and digraphs (e.g., sh, ch, th, ph) through creative presentations or projects. This session aligns with the English National Curriculum, focusing on phonics, reading fluency, and spoken language objectives.

National Curriculum Links

English Programme of Study: Spoken Language
- Pupils should be taught to:
  - Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
English Programme of Study: Reading - Word Reading
- Pupils should be taught to:
  - Apply their growing knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes to read aloud and to understand the meaning of new words they meet.
English Programme of Study: Writing - Spelling (Years 3 and 4)
- Pupils should be taught to:
  - Spell further homophones.
  - Spell words that are often misspelt.
  - Use knowledge of morphology and etymology in spelling.
English Programme of Study: Reading - Comprehension
- Pupils should be taught to:
  - Draw inferences such as inferring characters’ feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions, and justify inferences with evidence.

Learning Objectives (WALT)

WALT: Demonstrate our understanding of blends and digraphs by creating and sharing creative presentations.
Recall and apply blends and digraphs accurately in reading and spelling.
Speak clearly and confidently using correct pronunciation of blends and digraphs.
Listen respectfully and respond constructively to peers’ presentations.

Success Criteria

I can correctly identify and read blends and digraphs in words.
I can use blends and digraphs confidently when reading aloud or presenting.
I can create a project or presentation that shows my understanding.
I can listen to my classmates and give positive feedback.

Resources

Large paper or card for posters
Markers, crayons, coloured pencils
Word cards with blends and digraphs
Tablets or cameras (optional) for video/audio presentations
Dyslexia-friendly reading sheets (clear font such as Sassoon Primary, spaced layout)

Lesson Structure

1. Starter (5 minutes)

Brief whole-class discussion: Recap blends and digraphs learned in the unit. Write examples on the board.
Engage students verbally: “Can anyone say a word with the 'ch' sound?”
Use coloured word cards to show blends/digraphs and model pronunciation.

2. Main Activity (20 minutes)

Creative Showcase:
- Students choose one of the following options:
  1. Poster Project: Illustrate and label words containing blends and digraphs. Include at least 5 words with explanations or sentences.
  2. Oral Presentation: Prepare a short, creative story or poem orally highlighting blends and digraphs. Optionally use puppets or props.
  3. Digital/Recorded Presentation: Use tablets to record a video or audio reading of a short passage rich in blends and digraphs.
Provide differentiated scaffolds:
- Word banks with blends and digraphs for support.
- Sentence starters for presentations.
- Dyslexia-friendly sheets, highlighting focus blends/digraphs in different colours.
Allow students to work individually or in pairs according to need and preference.

3. Sharing & Feedback (5 minutes)

Select a few volunteers to present their projects or stories to the class.
Encourage positive, specific peer feedback using sentence starters: “I liked how you said...” or “Your poster helped me learn...”
Teacher offers constructive praise and highlights good use of blends and digraphs.

Differentiation Strategies

For Additional Support:
- Offer pre-printed word lists and sentence frames.
- Partner students with stronger readers with those who need extra help.
- Use multi-sensory resources (e.g., letter tiles, sand trays) during setup to reinforce phonics.
For Advanced Learners:
- Challenge to include words with more complex blends (e.g., spr, scr) or multi-syllabic words with digraphs.
- Create rhyming couplets or alliterative sentences using blends and digraphs.
- Prepare a short quiz or teaching segment for peers on tricky blends/digraphs.

Extension Activities

Encourage students at home to find blends and digraphs in their reading books and bring examples to share.
Create a class blends and digraphs “dictionary” booklet based on student submissions from this project.
Use technology: experiment with apps to create simple eBooks or audio stories showcasing blends and digraphs.

Dyslexia-Friendly Considerations

Use clear, sans serif fonts such as Sassoon Primary or Comic Sans for all printed materials.
Provide text with increased spacing (1.5 line spacing minimum) and avoid justified text.
Use pastel background colours on worksheets and cards to reduce glare and visual stress.
Present verbal instructions alongside written prompts and use visual cues (pictures, colours).
Allow students to dictate their presentations or use speech-to-text tools if available.

Assessment

Formative assessment through observation during activities: note correct pronunciation and application of blends/digraphs.
Listen for confident oral delivery and accurate spelling in projects.
Peer feedback participation provides evidence of comprehension and engagement.
Teacher checklist to track individual students’ demonstration of blends and digraphs mastery.

This final celebratory lesson seeks to cement key phonics knowledge via creativity, speaking, and listening opportunities, catering for all learners and embedding core elements of the National Curriculum for England.