Mastering Consonant Sounds for Clear Speech Work English Grammar JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6
LESSON PLAN
Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 13-14 years
Topic: Speech Work: Consonant Sounds
Sub-topic: Understanding Consonant Sounds in English
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Define what consonant sounds are in speech production.
- Identify the 24 consonant sounds in English.
- Classify consonant sounds based on place and manner of articulation and state of glottis.
- Provide examples of words that contain various consonant sounds.
Key Words:
- Consonant
- Place of articulation
- Manner of articulation
- Glottis
- Obstruction
Set Induction:
The teacher will play a brief audio clip containing different consonant sounds and ask students to repeat the sounds, leading into a discussion about how these sounds are produced.
Entry Behaviour:
Students have prior knowledge of vowels and speech sounds in English.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- Audio clips of consonant sounds
- Flashcards with words showing different consonant sounds
- Chart of consonant symbols and corresponding examples
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Students have previously learned about vowels and are familiar with speech sounds. This lesson introduces them to the concept of consonant sounds, which make up the remaining part of speech sounds in English.
Embedded Core Skills:
- Pronunciation
- Phonetics
- Auditory discrimination
Reference Books:
- Lagos State Scheme of Work for English
- “English Phonetics and Phonology” by Peter Roach
Instructional Materials:
- Consonant sound chart
- Example words for consonant sounds
- Phonetic transcription cards
Content:
What Are Consonant Sounds?
Consonants are speech sounds that are produced when the airflow from the lungs is obstructed in some way. The obstruction may be partial or complete. Consonant sounds are produced with the tongue, lips, teeth, or other parts of the vocal tract.
Classification of Consonants:
- Place of Articulation: This refers to where in the vocal tract the airflow is obstructed. Examples include:
- Bilabial (/p/, /b/): Produced with both lips.
- Alveolar (/t/, /d/): Produced with the tongue against the alveolar ridge.
- Velar (/k/, /g/): Produced with the back of the tongue against the velum.
- Manner of Articulation: This describes how the airflow is obstructed. Examples include:
- Plosives (/p/, /t/, /k/): Air is blocked and then released.
- Fricatives (/f/, /v/, /s/): Air passes through a narrow passage, creating friction.
- Nasals (/m/, /n/): Air passes through the nose.
- State of the Glottis (Voicing):
- Voiced sounds (/b/, /d/, /g/): Produced with vibration of the vocal cords.
- Voiceless sounds (/p/, /t/, /k/): Produced without vibration of the vocal cords.
List of Consonant Sounds with Examples:
| Sound | Example Words |
|---|---|
| /p/ | pan, perfect, nap |
| /b/ | bud, rubber, rub |
| /t/ | tea, seat, heater |
| /k/ | come, marking, pack |
| /d/ | dip, hide, riddles |
| /g/ | get, target, rag |
| /f/ | fork, suffer, cough |
| /v/ | van, river, live |
| /θ/ | anthem, think, both |
| /ð/ | this, father, breathes |
| /s/ | sip, racing, place |
| /z/ | zinc, razor, has |
| /ʃ/ | ship, lashes, fish |
| /ʒ/ | genre, vision, garage |
| /h/ | hat, behave |
| /tʃ/ | cheap, richer, teach |
| /dʒ/ | joy, rejoice, page |
| /l/ | lock, follow, sell |
| /r/ | rag, borrow |
| /w/ | win, rewind |
| /j/ | yes |
| /m/ | man, remain, him |
| /n/ | net, runner, rain |
| /ŋ/ | singer, bang |
Evaluation:
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate consonant sounds:
- The sound /p/ is found in the word ____. (example: “pan”)
- The sound /g/ is found in the word ____. (example: “get”)
- The sound /tʃ/ is found in the word ____. (example: “cheap”)
- The sound /ʒ/ is found in the word ____. (example: “genre”)
- The sound /θ/ is found in the word ____. (example: “think”)
Class Activity Discussion (FAQs):
- What is a consonant sound?
A consonant sound is a speech sound produced with some level of obstruction of airflow. - How many consonant sounds are there in English?
There are 24 consonant sounds in English. - What are the three factors used to classify consonants?
The three factors are place of articulation, manner of articulation, and state of the glottis (voicing). - Can you give an example of a voiceless sound?
Yes, /p/ as in “pan” is a voiceless sound. - Why is the place of articulation important in classifying consonants?
The place of articulation tells us where in the mouth or vocal tract the sound is produced.
Presentation:
Step 1: The teacher introduces the topic of consonant sounds and explains the concept using the consonant chart.
Step 2: The teacher explains the three factors used to classify consonants (place of articulation, manner of articulation, and state of the glottis).
Step 3: The teacher provides examples of words with different consonant sounds and asks students to repeat them.
Teacher’s Activities:
- Demonstrate the production of consonant sounds.
- Guide students in pronouncing different consonant sounds and identifying them in words.
- Show students how to classify consonants based on articulation.
Learners’ Activities:
- Practice pronouncing the different consonant sounds.
- Work in groups to identify consonant sounds in words provided by the teacher.
- Write down words that contain specific consonant sounds.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed based on their ability to correctly pronounce and classify consonant sounds.
Evaluation Questions:
- What are consonant sounds?
- How many consonant sounds are there in English?
- What is the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants?
- Give two examples of voiced consonant sounds.
- Identify the consonant sounds in the word “ranger.”
Conclusion:
The teacher wraps up the lesson by emphasizing the importance of understanding consonant sounds for effective speech and pronunciation. Students are encouraged to continue practicing the sounds in everyday conversation.