Grade Levels: K-3

In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades K-3, students watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie Long O and explore related resources to learn about the long “o” sound and what letter combinations produce this sound. Students will then go on a long “o” scavenger hunt, identifying words that make the long “o” sound.

 

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Brainstorm words that make the long “o” sound.
  2. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. Long O movie to learn about this long vowel sound and the letter combinations that produce it.
  3. Go on a long “o” scavenger hunt, identifying words that make the long “o” sound.

Materials:

  • Internet access for BrainPOP
  • Interactive whiteboard
  • Pictures of or actual items that have a long “o” sound. Examples: yoga, oval, bowtie, globe rose, soap, toast, toe, boat.
  • Books that emphasize the long “o” sound, such as Move Over Rover by Karen Beaumont and Things That Float and Things That Don’t by David A. Adler  (OPTIONAL)

Preparation:

  • Display the object and/or images of long “o” items (see Materials)
  • Display storybooks with long “o” emphasis (see Materials)

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Point to the long “o” items and images you’ve displayed around the room. Point to each item and say the word aloud or ask a volunteer to say what you’re pointing to (alternatively, you can point to items that are just in the classroom anyway, such as coat, elbow, window, soap, etc.).
  2. Ask students how all the words spoken are alike, or specifically, what sound is alike in all the words. Make sure they recognize that they all have the long "o" sound in them. Ask if they can think of other words that have this sound. Jot their ideas on the board.
  3. Display the BrainPOP Jr. movie Long O on an interactive whiteboard for the whole class. Pause as needed to reinforce student understanding. 
  4. After the movie, instruct students to open their Make-a-Map assignments (or if not assigned, just open Long O Make-a-Map). Instruct them to watch the movie again in pairs or independently, this time typing each long “o” word that Annie says in the movie and adding an image to go with each or a clip from the movie. If needed, you can model how to do this on the white board.
  5. When students have completed their notes, invite pairs to go on a long “o” scavenger hunt around the classroom. Remind them to look at the images and objects you’ve displayed around the classroom. If you’ve brought in books, they can also look through those or any books in your classroom. If time allows, you can go beyond the classroom, to other places at school: library, gym, cafeteria, playground, etc. As students find long “o” words, have them add them to the Make-a-Map.
  6. Bring the class together and have each pair share their maps with the class. What unusual long “o” words did they come up with? Gently note any words they may have identified that are not long “o” and explain why.
  7. Conclude the lesson by challenging students to the Easy or Hard Quiz to assess their understanding.