Pronunciation and Usage of Vowel Sound /æ/ Speech Work English Grammar JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Lesson Note on Vowel Sound /æ/

Subject: English Grammar (Speech Work)
Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 11–12 years
Topic: Vowel Sound /æ/
Sub-topic: Pronunciation and Usage of Vowel Sound /æ/
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Recognize the /æ/ sound in words.
2. Correctly pronounce words with the /æ/ sound.
3. Identify words with the /æ/ sound in spoken and written forms.
4. Differentiate between the /æ/ sound and other similar vowel sounds.
5. Use words containing the /æ/ sound in sentences.

Keywords:

• Vowel
• Sound
• /æ/
• Pronunciation
• Phonetics

Set Induction:

The teacher will engage students by asking them to pronounce simple words like cat, bat, and man. The teacher will then introduce the /æ/ vowel sound based on the pronunciation of these words.

Entry Behaviour:

Students can already pronounce simple English words but may not be familiar with the specific phonetic sound /æ/.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Flashcards showing words with the /æ/ sound
• Audio recordings of native English speakers pronouncing /æ/ words
• A phonetic chart

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Students are already familiar with some English words, but they may not be aware of how the vowel sounds are produced. The teacher will connect this lesson to their previous knowledge of vowels in English.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Listening skills
• Speaking and pronunciation
• Phonemic awareness

Learning Materials:

• Pictures of objects like cat and bag that have the /æ/ sound in their names
• Audio pronunciation clips

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• English Phonics and Pronunciation for Junior Secondary Schools, JSS 1

Instructional Materials:

• Flashcards with words containing the /æ/ sound
• Audio recordings of the /æ/ sound in sentences
• A list of common /æ/ sound words

Content:

1. Definition of Vowel Sound /æ/:

The /æ/ sound is a short vowel sound found in many English words. It is made with the mouth slightly open and the tongue low in the mouth. The sound is similar to the “a” in cat or bat. It is called the “short a” sound.

2. Common Words with the /æ/ Sound:

• Cat
• Bat
• Man
• Bag
• Hat
• Apple
• Back
• Lamb
• Hand
• Gas

3. How to Pronounce the /æ/ Sound:

• Open your mouth slightly.
• Place your tongue low and towards the front of your mouth.
• Say the sound as in the word “cat.”
• Practice saying words like bat, man, and hat out loud.

4. Differences between /æ/ and Other Vowel Sounds:

• The /æ/ sound is different from the /ɑ:/ sound in words like car or father.
• The /æ/ sound is shorter and more forward in the mouth.

Examples of Words with the /æ/ Sound:

1. Bag
2. Hat
3. Man
4. Hand
5. Apple

Evaluation (15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options):

1. The vowel sound in the word cat is ____.
   a) /æ/
   b) /e/
   c) /i/
   d) /o/
2. The sound /æ/ is found in the word ____.
   a) father
   b) bag
   c) saw
   d) toe
3. The word man has the vowel sound ____.
   a) /æ/
   b) /i/
   c) /e/
   d) /u/
4. The word hat contains the vowel sound ____.
   a) /æ/
   b) /e/
   c) /i/
   d) /o/
5. The /æ/ sound is a ____ vowel sound.
   a) short
   b) long
   c) rising
   d) falling
6. The word back contains the vowel sound ____.
   a) /e/
   b) /i/
   c) /æ/
   d) /u/
7. The word bat has the vowel sound ____.
   a) /æ/
   b) /i/
   c) /u/
   d) /e/
8. The sound in apple is ____.
   a) /e/
   b) /i/
   c) /æ/
   d) /o/
9. The word hand has the vowel sound ____.
   a) /æ/
   b) /i/
   c) /e/
   d) /o/
10. The /æ/ sound can be found in the word ____.
    a) car
    b) gas
    c) toe
    d) shoe

Class Activity Discussion (15 FAQs with Answers):

1. What is the /æ/ sound?
   The /æ/ sound is a short vowel sound found in words like cat and bat.
2. How is the /æ/ sound produced?
   It is produced by slightly opening the mouth and placing the tongue low in the mouth.
3. Can you give an example of a word with the /æ/ sound?
   Cat is an example of a word with the /æ/ sound.
4. Is the /æ/ sound a short or long vowel sound?
   It is a short vowel sound.
5. What is the difference between /æ/ and /ɑ:/?
   The /æ/ sound is shorter and more forward in the mouth than /ɑ:/, which is longer.
6. Does the word apple have the /æ/ sound?
   Yes, it does.
7. Is the /æ/ sound in the word man?
   Yes, the word man has the /æ/ sound.
8. Does the word father have the /æ/ sound?
   No, it does not. The word father has the /ɑ:/ sound.
9. Is the /æ/ sound found in the word back?
   Yes, it is.
10. Can you find the /æ/ sound in the word gas?
    Yes, the word gas has the /æ/ sound.
11. Which sound is found in the word hat?
    The /æ/ sound is found in the word hat.
12. Does the word toe have the /æ/ sound?
    No, the word toe does not have the /æ/ sound.
13. Is the word hand pronounced with the /æ/ sound?
    Yes, it is.
14. Is the word bat an example of the /æ/ sound?
    Yes, it is.
15. What is a common word with the /æ/ sound?
    Bag is a common word with the /æ/ sound.

Presentation:

Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic on vowel sounds, specifically the /e/ and /i/ sounds.

Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic by explaining the /æ/ sound, showing examples like cat, bat, and man. The teacher demonstrates the correct pronunciation and writes the phonetic symbol /æ/ on the board.

Step 3: The teacher asks students to give more examples of words with the /æ/ sound. The students are encouraged to practice pronouncing the words out loud, and the teacher corrects any mistakes.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Explain the definition and pronunciation of the /æ/ sound.
• Give examples of words with the /æ/ sound.
• Demonstrate the correct pronunciation of the /æ/ sound.

Learners’ Activities:

• Listen to the teacher’s explanations.
• Practice pronouncing words with the /æ/ sound.
• Write down the examples given.

Evaluation Questions (10 Short-Answer Questions):

1. What is the /æ/ sound?
2. Give two examples of words with the /æ/ sound.
3. How is the /æ/ sound produced?
4. Does the word cat have the /æ/ sound?
5. What is the difference between /æ/ and /ɑ:/?
6. Name a word with the /æ/ sound.
7. Is the /æ/ sound found in the word man?
8. Does the word back have the /æ/ sound?
9. Which sound is found in the word gas?