Introduction:
Welcome back, word detectives! Today, we’re going to uncover a secret in English: silent letters. These letters are like ninjas in words – you see them, but you don’t hear them!
Part 1: What are Silent Letters?
- Silent letters are letters that are written in a word but not pronounced.
- They might seem tricky, but they often follow patterns, which can help us learn them.
Activity:
- Let’s brainstorm some words we know with silent letters. (Examples: know, walk, island)
Part 2: Common Silent Letter Patterns
- Silent E:
- The silent “e” at the end of a word often makes the vowel before it says its name (long vowel sound). Examples: cape, kite, bone, cute.
- Silent K:
- The letter “k” is usually silent when it comes before the letter “n.” Examples: know, knight, knee.
- Silent G:
- The letter “g” is often silent when it comes before the letter “n.” Examples: gnat, gnome, sign.
- Silent W:
- The letter “w” is often silent when it comes before the letter “r.” Examples: write, wrong, wrist.
- Silent B:
- The letter “b” is often silent when it comes after the letter “m” at the end of a word. Examples: lamb, comb, bomb.
Activity:
- Look at the words on the board.
- Circle the silent letter in each word.
Part 3: Reading Words with Silent Letters
- Now, let’s practice reading some words with silent letters:
- knife
- calm
- doubt
- ghost
- hour
Activity:
- Read the words on the board.
- Can you find the silent letter in each word?
- Can you think of other words that have the same silent letter pattern?
Wrap-up:
- Silent letters are part of English spelling.
- They can be tricky, but they often follow patterns.
- By learning these patterns, we can improve our reading and spelling skills.
Homework:
- Find five more words with silent letters.
- Write a sentence using each word.
Additional Notes for Teachers:
- Use visual aids to help students identify silent letters in words.
- Create a word wall with common words that have silent letters.
- Play games like “Silent Letter Bingo” or “Silent Letter Match.”
- Use tongue twisters to practice pronouncing words with silent letters (e.g., “The knight knew the knot was not right”).
