The English sounds of [s] and [z]
lesson plan by Laura Andrea Gracia Fajardo
• Lesson plan title/topic: Minimal Pairs – Final [s] and [z] sound
• Length: 60 minutes (1 hour per session) – 1 session
• Target group: 6th grade
• Students’ number: 35 students (23 girls, 12 boys)
• Grammar item: Pronunciation of the “s” and “z” sound
Objectives
• Main objective: To properly recognize and pronounce words that contain the [s] and [z] sounds in oral communication. • Specific objectives: • Differentiate the [s] and [z] sound.
• Learn patterns, rhythm, and articulation of the [s] and [z] to develop communicative competence.
• Contents: Minimal Pairs, games, Drills, and exercises that include the [s] and [z] sounds.
• Resources and materials: Videos, vocabulary flashcards, digital activities to develop during the class, Internet, paper. • Skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
procedure
procedure
procedure
procedure
procedure
At the beginning of the class, the teacher greets the students in English and reminds the classroom rules to have a good classroom environment. The teacher will then show a video related to the topic. (8 minutes)
video
video
Afterward, the teacher asks the students to work in pairs to play a Dominoe game (Annex A) to ensure that the students are familiar with the meaning of each word. The instructions to play the game are the following: Each pair will have 12 pieces, 6 for each. Then, each player will pronounce the word that is seen on the piece in order to do the next play, etc. (12 minutes)
As a following activity, students will be asked to listen to a list of words to fill out the handout and categorize them in each sound (Annex B). (10 minutes)
List of words (Audio 9)
Then, the students will individually take a quiz using their cell phones to reinforce the topic. (10 minutes)
As a final activity, the teacher will ask the students to work in groups of four students to create and perform a short play using the words learned in class, emphasizing the pronunciation of the [s] and [z] sounds. (20 minutes)
ASSESSMENT
Assessment type: Collaborative, Listening and Speaking Assessment
Assessment criteria: Students will interact with their partners; at the same time, they are learning the accurate pronunciation of the [s] and [z] sounds. They will contribute by adding their thoughts and insights to a collaborative presentation.
Assessment type: Reading and Writing Assessment
Assessment criteria: Students will read their scripts, discuss key points in their groups, and present their interpretations to the class. Then, individually, they will take a quiz to reinforce their learning. This activity encourages collaborative learning and boosts both reading and writing skills.
Assessmemts Tools
*Participation in class, group work, spelling words correctly, writing topic using extended sentences. *Organize speaking by using main ideas as well as examples and details. *A checklist or observation sheet to track students' participation and contributions during the discussions. (Annex C)
Assessmemts Tools
*Participation in class, group work, spelling words correctly, writing topic using extended sentences. *Organize speaking by using main ideas as well as examples and details. *A checklist or observation sheet to track students' participation and contributions during the discussions. (Annex C)