Adapting a Literacy Lesson of the letter "S" for Braille Readers

Original Lesson Plan

Adapted Lesson Plan to Enable Access by Braille

Purpose

To learn to say a discrete phoneme, recognise and write the letter that represents that phoneme.

Purpose

To learn to say a discrete phoneme, recognise and write the letter that represents that phoneme in braille

Resources

Fabric snake

Card showing on one side a picture of a snake (mnemonic) in the shape of the letter 'S' with the letter 'S' superimposed in black on the snake on the other side, the letter 'S'

Small whiteboards, pens and wipes or paper and pencils

Resources

Plastic model of snake

Procedure

Hear it and say it

Display the picture of a snake.

Make a hissing noise as you produce a snake from behind your back; show the children the ssssnake and make the snake into an 'S' shape.

Weave your hand like a snake making an 'S' shape, encouraging the children to do the same.

If any children in the room have names with the 'S' sound in them, say their names accentuating the sssss (e.g. Ssssarah, Chrissss, Sssssandip).

Do the same with other words (e.g. ssssand, bussss) accepting suggestions from the children if they offer, but not asking for them.

Procedure

Hear it and say it

Make a hissing noise as you produce a snake from behind your back; show the child the sssssnake and make the snake into an 'S' shape.

Hand over hand with the child, weave your hands down the length of the plastic snake.

If any children in the room have names with the s sound in them, say their names, accentuating the sssss (e.g. Ssssarah, Chrisssssss, Ssssssandip).

Ask the children to say their name if they have an 'S' in it.

Do the same with other words (e.g. ssssand, bussss) accepting suggestions from the children if they offer, but not asking for them.

Feel the objects being named. Listen to the voice of the person whose name is being said. 

See It and Say It

On the card with the picture of the snake, move your finger down the snake

from its mouth, saying sssss and saying sssnake when you reach its tail.

Repeat a number of times, encouraging the children to join in.

Write s next to the snake and say ssssssssssss.

Ask the children to repeat ssssssssssss

Feel It and Say It

Hand over hand show child how to move their finger down the snake from its mouth, saying sssss and saying sssnake when you reach its tail.

Repeat a number of times, encouraging the child to join in.

Draw a snake on embossing film

Use the Braille Writer to write 'S' and stick next to the snake and say ssssssssssss.

Ask the child to repeat ssssssssssss

Ask child to read a line of words beginning with 'S', write in grade one (use grade two if appropriate)

Ask child to think of some other words beginning with 'S'.

Find objects from around the environment that begin with the letter 'S'