Objectives  Identify letters and letter sounds; learn and sort words based on initial

Teaching Guide
sound; describe school subjects and activities
ABC’s at School
Materials  notepads, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons or colored pencils, chalk, rulers,
school books, and other school supplies found in the classroom

30 minutes, Days 1–3

Build Background
Activate Prior Knowledge  Tell children: Today, you will learn about what
we do at school. Ask children questions about school in general. How do you get to
school? (by bus, car, walking) What did you learn in school last year? (ABC’s, adding, etc.)
What is your favorite subject? (Social Studies, Music, etc.) Encourage children to use
different verb tenses (past, present, and future) when answering the questions.

Introduce the Focus Skill: Letter Sounds  Explain that each school
word in the book begins with a different letter of the alphabet. Review letters
and sounds using the following routine: This is the letter (Cc). Sometimes it makes
the sound (/s/) like in (circle). Point to (circle) on (p. 7). This is the letter (Ss). It also
makes the sound (/s/) like in (snack). Point to (snack) on (p. 24). Repeat after me:
(/s/ circle; /s/ snack). You may wish to use this routine throughout the week to
review sounds that children have difficulty with.

Acquire New Vocabulary  Introduce the New Words on p. 33. Read each word aloud and use it in a sentence, emphasizing
the initial letter sound in the key word. For example, say: Let’s do a science experiment. Then play “Fill in the Blanks” as a class. Divide
the class into two teams. Write only a few letters of one of the New Words on the board. For example: _r r_ _ _ (arrive). Ask each
team to pick a letter. Write any letters that appear in the word on the board. For example, if a student guesses v, write the letter in the
corresponding space. The word on the board will now appear as: _ r r _ v _. Then ask the next team to guess another letter. Whichever
team guesses the word first wins! After the game, have each team write down the definitions of the New Words.

Read and Respond  Display the book. Read the title and author name aloud as you track the print. After reading each
page, point to the letter and say the school word. Have children repeat. Ask them to tell you the meaning of each word and how it’s
associated with school. For example, after reading pp. 8–9, say: We use dictionaries to look up new words. We use an eraser to fix mistakes
that we make. Encourage children to associate terms related to subjects mentioned throughout the book. For example, after reading p. 4,
say: Anita is drawing in art class. Then flip to p. 21 and say: Pedro is showing one of his paintings in art class. Reinforce their knowledge of
verb tenses (past, present, and future) by asking them to use the words yesterday, today, and tomorrow to describe what they do in school.

60 minutes, Days 4–5

˛
SOCIAL
Curricular Enrichment: Social Studies  Explain to children that they will play “School.” First, they will read the
Fun Facts on pp. 34–37. Tell children that the core subjects taught in school are Language Arts (Reading and Writing), Math,
STUDIES
Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Computer Class, and Gym. Then distribute notepads, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons or
colored pencils, chalk, rulers, and school books. Students will take turns, coming up to the front of the class and playing the role
of “teacher.” Tell children to use the aforementioned materials as props. Remind them of the subjects and activities they read
about. For example, tell the first student that he/she is a math teacher. Prompt the student to say: Today I’m going to teach addition.
This is how you add: (Student picks up chalk and writes on the board: 1+1=2). Encourage the class to pay attention to the “teacher” and
to participate by answering his/her questions. Then ask children to describe what it was like to be a teacher.

Home Connection  (Teacher, you may want to photocopy NATIONAL STANDARDS

this activity for children to complete with a family member.)
Language Arts: K-12.1—K-12.12
Talk with your child about the subjects he/she studies in Mathematics: Numbers PK-2.1—PK2.3; Algebra PK-2.1—PK-2.4; Geometry PK-2.1—PK-2.4;
Measurement PK-2.1, PK-2.2; Data & Analysis PK-2.1—2.3; Problem Solving PK-12.1—PK-12.4;
school. Ask which one is his/her favorite and why. For Reasoning & Proofing PK-12.1—PK-12.4; Communication PK-12.1—PK12.4; Connections
PK-12.1—PK-12.3; Representations PK-12.1—PK-12.3
example: What’s your favorite subject? (Science) Why? (Because I love Science: K-4.1—K-4.7
Social Studies: Civics: K-4.1—K-4.5; Economics: K-4.1—K-4.11, K-4.13—K-4.16, K-4.19;
learning about plants and animals.) Encourage him/her to compare Geography: K-12.1—K-12.6; U.S. History: K-4.1—K-4.4
Visual Arts: K-4.1—K-4.6
and contrast subjects and to use the words yesterday, today, and Technology: K-12.1—K-12.6
Theater: K-4.1—K-4.8
tomorrow when giving his/her explanation. Music: K-4.1—K-4.9
Physical Education: K-12.1—K-12.7

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