A-E-I-O-U!

Vowels Game

First Grade Reading

by Natalie Chari July 28, 2015

What do the letters A, E, I, O, and U have in common? They're all featured in this engaging reading lesson. Give
your young learners a chance to play a version of Red Light, Green Light that doubles as a vowel review.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to identify vowels and distinguish between short and long vowel sounds.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Learning Beginning Vowels: A worksheet short vowels

Learning Beginning Vowels: E worksheet long vowels
Learning Beginning Vowels: I worksheet
Learning Beginning Vowels: O worksheet
Learning Beginning Vowels: U worksheet

Attachments

Learning Beginning Vowels: A worksheet (PDF)

Learning Beginning Vowels: E worksheet (PDF)
Learning Beginning Vowels: I worksheet (PDF)
Learning Beginning Vowels: O worksheet (PDF)
Learning Beginning Vowels: U worksheet (PDF)

Introduction (5 minutes)

Ask the students to tell you what the vowels of the alphabet are.
Write the vowels (A, E, I, O, U) on the board.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (15 minutes)

Tell the students that vowels have both short and long sounds. Sound out each short and long vowel
sound.
Ask students for some examples of short vowel words (e.g. "apple" or "cat") and long vowel words
(e.g. "cake" or "ape").

Guided Practice (20 minutes)

Play Red Light, Green Light with the phrase "A-E-I-O-U."

Choose one student and have her face the board. She will be the Catcher.
Others will be standing against the wall on the opposite side of the room.
Have the Catcher say "A-E-I-O-U" and turn around.
While the Catcher is saying "A-E-I-O-U," the other students must make their way towards the Catcher.
They must freeze when the Catcher turns around.
Continue and repeat until someone taps the Catcher's back.
The minute she taps the Catcher, everyone must make their way and run back to the wall for safety.
The Catcher's job is to tag someone in order for her to be the next Catcher. If the Catcher tags someone,

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

 that person must assume the role of the Catcher and face the board.

Independent working time (20 minutes)

Divide students into five different groups.

Assign a vowel to each group (A, E, I, O, and U).
Hand out the corresponding worksheet to each group.
The students have to work together and identify the short and long vowels.
Have the students present their completed work to the class.

Differentiation

Enrichment: For students above level, you can assign two or more worksheets for them to work on
individually.
Support: For students below level, you can give them one-on-one assistance instead of having them
work on their own or in groups.

Assessment (10 minutes)

Ask students to tell you the vowels.

Ask students to tell you the short and long sounds of the give vowels.
Ask students to give examples of short and long vowels.
Assess students' understanding based on their answers.

Review and closing (5 minutes)

Ask students for other short and long vowel words that haven't been included in the worksheets.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

 Learning Beginning Vowels: Short and Long Aa
The short a sound is like rat. The long a sound is like ape. Say the name
of everything in the picture. Color the pictures using the color code.
Same A sound as rat = pink
Same A sound as ape = blue

Copyright © 2010-2011 by Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets

 Learning Beginning Vowels: Short and Long Ee
The short e sound is like net. The long e sound is like leaf. Say the name
of everything in the picture. Color the pictures using the color code.
Same E sound as net = green
Same E sound as leaf = orange

Copyright © 2010-2011 by Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets

 Learning Beginning Vowels: Short and Long Ii
The short i sound is like fish. The long i sound is like tiger. Say the name
of everything in the picture. Color the pictures using the color code.
Same I sound as fish = purple
Same I sound as tiger = orange

Copyright © 2010-2011 by Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets

 Learning Beginning Vowels: Short and Long Oo
The short o sound is like dog. The long o sound is like bone. Say the
name of everything in the picture. Color the pictures using the color code.
Same O sound as dog = red
Same O sound as bone = blue

Copyright © 2010-2011 by Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets

 Learning Beginning Vowels: Short and Long Uu
The short u sound is like bug. The long u sound is like music. Say the
name of everything in the picture. Color the pictures using the color code.
Same U sound as bug = yellow
Same U sound as music = blue

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Copyright © 2010-2011 by Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets