Activity: Phoneme Encoding Hunt

Objective: To help 8-year-old pupils practice encoding words with the phonemes ‘ue,’ ‘ew,’ and ‘u-e.’

Materials needed: - Whiteboard or chart paper - Markers - Flashcards or word cards with words containing ‘ue,’ ‘ew,’ and ‘u-e’ phonemes - Small paper slips or sticky notes - Pencils or crayons

Instructions:

1. Introduction (5 minutes):
   • Begin by explaining to the students that they will be playing a fun game to practice encoding words with the ‘ue,’ ‘ew,’ and ‘u-e’ phonemes.
   • Write the three phonemes on the whiteboard or chart paper and explain their sounds.
   • Give a few examples of words containing each phoneme, such as ‘blue,’ ‘new,’ and ‘tube.’
2. Word Sort (10 minutes):
   • Distribute the flashcards or word cards among the students.
   • Ask the students to sort the cards into three groups based on the phoneme they hear in each word.
   • Encourage them to discuss their choices with their peers and provide explanations for their decisions.
   • Monitor their progress and provide assistance if needed.
3. Encoding Hunt (15 minutes):
   • Explain that the students will now go on an encoding hunt around the classroom.
   • Place small paper slips or sticky notes with various words around the room, ensuring that each word contains either ‘ue,’ ‘ew,’ or ‘u-e’ phoneme.
   • Divide the students into small groups and provide each group with a pencil or crayon and a clipboard with a blank sheet of paper.
   • Instruct the students to search for the words around the room and write them down on their paper, categorizing them based on the phoneme they hear.
   • Encourage them to work together and help each other if they get stuck.
   • Once they have found all the words, gather the students back together and discuss their findings as a class.
4. Word Creation (10 minutes):
   • Explain that the students will now have the opportunity to create their own words using the ‘ue,’ ‘ew,’ and ‘u-e’ phonemes.
   • Provide each student with a blank sheet of paper and ask them to fold it into three equal sections.
   • Instruct them to write one of the phonemes at the top of each section.
   • Encourage the students to come up with as many words as they can using each phoneme and write them in the corresponding section.
   • Circulate around the room, providing assistance and suggestions as needed.
5. Wrap-up (5 minutes):
   • Gather the students back together and have a brief discussion about the activity.
   • Ask the students to share some of the words they created and explain which phoneme they used.
   • Congratulate the students on their hard work and progress in encoding words with the ‘ue,’ ‘ew,’ and ‘u-e’ phonemes.

Note: This activity can be modified based on the students’ abilities and the available resources.