Word Family Lesson Plan

• Copy of the lesson Word Families: Lesson for Kids to use as a shared reading
• Dr. Seuss book to read to students, such as The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham
• Index cards with word families written on them
• Small white paper or plastic cups
• Red and black permanent marker
• Chart paper and marker
• Highlight tape or highlighter
• Books with word family rhymes for students to read
• White boards and markers

• Word family

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2.d

• Connect students to the topic and build interest by gathering them on the carpet and reading aloud a Dr. Seuss book such as The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham.
• Pause often to ask students to identify rhyming words and share with a partner.
• Write rhyme pairs on chart paper. For example, 'cat/hat' and 'two/do.'
• Ask students to look at rhyme pairs and make observations. Guide students to notice that some words pairs end in the same letters (cat/hat) and others do not (two/do.)
• Allow students to use highlight tape to put over word pairs with the same endings on the chart paper.
• Now tell students these word pairs are called 'word families.' Write the term on chart paper and ask students to guess where the name comes from, then tell them this lesson will teach them.
• Display the lesson Word Families: Lesson for Kids and the sections 'Word Families' and 'What are Word Families?' with students. Define 'word family' then ask:
  • Why do we call them word families?
  • Where do we find word families?
  • How do we use word families?
  • Why should we learn about word families?
• Read the next section 'Examples of Common Word Families' with students. Allow student volunteers to find the word pairs in the example sentences.
• Now give each student an index card. Instruct them to silently find others with cards in the same word family and stand together.
• Repeat this exercise a few times, challenging students to see who can find their group the most quickly or while hopping on one foot.
• Read the 'Lesson Summary' together with students, then take the lesson quiz together with students.

Activity

• Students will now work in groups to plan a game that will reinforce word family skills. Allow students to remain with the last group they form on the word family game and give them a text with which to work.
• Have groups work together to find word families and record in a notebook or a white board.
• When students finish finding word families, check for accuracy, then distribute cups and markers.
• Instruct students to write the end blends (such as 'an' from fan and can) on an upside-down cup in red. Then have them write consonants on other cups in black. Show students how to do this and leave cups on display for reference.
• When students are finished with their cups, show them how to line them up and make stacks to build different words. Allow them to build words and record them on white boards.
• Stock the cups and boards in your literacy center for play during centers.

• Make word family games using plastic eggs. Write word endings on one side and consonants on the other. Students turn the egg to build new words.
• Make 'Cat in the Hat' hats, instructing students to write words within the same family on each stripe.

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