Lesson Overview 

Purpose:  

• Strengthen decoding skills through active phonics practice. 
• Reinforce recognition of common exception words. 
• Build confidence in forming and saying complete sentences using target words. 

Duration: 30–40 minutes 

Structure:  

• Hook & phonics warm-up 
• Teacher modelling 
• Interactive picture hunt 
• Immediate feedback 
• Reflective plenary 

 

Learning Objectives 

• Decode words accurately using taught grapheme-phoneme correspondences. 
   How: Model blending aloud, highlight tricky graphemes, and check meaning with visual cues. 

• Recognise and recall common exception words. 
  How: Use flashcards and quick-fire games during warm-up for instant retrieval. 

• Form and say complete sentences using target words. 
  How: Oral sentence round in plenary with teacher scaffolding (e.g., “Can you use ‘ship’ in a sentence?”). 

 

Links to Key Frameworks 

1. National Curriculum (KS1 English – Reading & Writing) 

Reading Objectives: 

• Apply phonics knowledge and skills as the route to decode words. 
• Respond speedily with the correct sound to graphemes for all 40+ phonemes. 
• Read common exception words. 
• Read words containing taught GPCs and –s, –es, –ing, –ed, –er, –est endings. 

Writing Objectives: 

• Say out loud what they are going to write about. 
• Compose a sentence orally before writing it. 

• Use phonics knowledge to spell words correctly. 

Phonics focus:  

• Grapheme-phoneme correspondence reinforced in warm-up and hunt. 
• Blending and segmenting modelled during teacher demonstration. 
• Common exception words included for retrieval practice 

3. Writing Framework  

• Emphasises oral rehearsal before writing  
• Encourages sentence-level composition 
• Builds automaticity in decoding  
• Promotes purposeful, engaging contexts for language 

Materials & Set-Up 

Resources:  

• Word cards (aligned with SSP sequence) 
• Picture cards (labelled for matching) 
• Clipboards & recording sheets 
• Pencils or mini whiteboards 
• Optional motivational props: magnifying glasses, stickers 

Room Arrangement:  

• Hide picture cards in plain sight (walls, chair backs, under ledges). 
• Ensure clear walking routes for safe movement. 
• Prepare a “hunt zone” with boundaries explained to pupils. 

 

Step-by-Step Instructions 

1. Hook & Revisit (5–7 mins) 

Phonics warm-up:  

• Grapheme flashcards for today’s focus sounds. 
• Air-writing letters to reinforce motor memory. 

Blend Race: Pupils compete to blend words quickly. 

Ping-Pong Game: Teacher says a word, pupils echo and spell aloud. 

Purpose: Energise pupils, activate prior knowledge, and set a positive tone. 

 

2. Teacher Modelling (5 mins) 

1. Select a word card (e.g., ship):  
2. Model decoding aloud: “sh-i-p”. 
3. Compare with distractor (shop) to emphasise meaning-checking. 
4. Discuss why one picture fits better than another. 
5. Group and pair reading for reinforcement. 

 Tip: Use think-aloud strategy: “I’m checking the sounds… now I’m checking the picture to see if it makes sense.”. 

 

3. Picture Hunt (15 mins) 

1. Pupils work in pairs:  
2. Read each word aloud. 
3. Find matching picture card hidden in the room. 
4. Record the letter label on their sheet. 

Teacher circulates:  

• Give micro-feedback on tricky graphemes (e.g., /ai/ vs /ar/). 
• Praise accurate decoding and safe movement. 
• Scaffold where needed: “What’s the first sound? Can you blend it slowly?”. 

 

4. Immediate Feedback 

As pairs finish:  

1. Check matches together. 
2. Correct misconceptions with quick prompts: 
   “Look at the first sound—does it match the picture?”. 
3. Note recurring issues for plenary discussion. 

 

5. Plenary & Retrieval (5–8 mins) 

• Review 3–4 commonly confused words/pictures. 
• Pupils vote with fingers for correct match. 

Oral Sentence Round:  

• Choose pupils to form sentences using target words. 
• Scaffold with prompts: “Can you add an adjective?”. 

Quick retrieval:  

• Flashcards for blending new decodable words. 
• Challenge: “Who can spot the odd one out?”. 

 

Adaptation 

Support:  

• Reduce word set for emerging readers. 
• Use picture-supported word cards. 
• Provide visual prompts and allow first-language talk for EAL/SEND. 

Challenge:  

• Add affixed forms (e.g., ships, shipping). 
• Construct extended noun phrases (“the big red ship”). 
• Introduce a “mystery word” for decoding without a picture clue. 

 

Extension Ideas 

Home Activity:  

• Mini hunts with household objects. 
• Decodable book reading with family. 

Classroom Challenge:  

• Create sentences using all matched words. 
• Introduce comparative language: “Which word is longer?”.