Grade 1/2 Magic e Literacy Station
British Columbia Grade 2 Curriculum Connections
Big idea:
- Playing with language helps us discover how language works.
Curricular Competency:
- Read fluently at grade level.
- Use developmentally appropriate reading, listening, and viewing strategies to make meaning.
Content:
- Word patterns, word families.
- Reading strategies.
- Vocabulary associated with texts.
How It Works!
- Prepare the following materials: star magnifying glass print-outs, letter blocks (I used linking cubes and Sharpie), and magic e word cards. See the image above.
- Spread the blocks on a table and give each student a magnifying glass. This activity is designed for small groups of 3-5.
- Hold up a magic e word card and cover the e. Ask students what the cvc word is without a magic e on the end. Then, uncover the e and ask what the word is now with a magic e (cvce).
- Once students have answered the card, have the students create the word using the linking blocks.
- Once every student has created the word, get each student to place their magnifying glass on the magic e block (all e blocks should be yellow to match the word cards).
- Then repeat with another word card!
How It Went!
Students were split into small groups of 3-4, which made the experience enjoyable for everyone. I was able to work 1-on-1 with most students and provide specific feedback to them! The activity was so much fun. The kids loved working with the blocks and using a magnifying glass. For early finishers, I asked them to help their friends find any blocks they may need, and they loved it! At first, the activity would start as an individual game, then by the end of the cards, each group was collectively working together. My suggestion is have the students wait until everyone has built their word before using their magnifying glass to foster community in small groups. My one challenge was some of the kiddos being silly with their blocks instead of building words, but having them wait for their friends to finish eliminated most of the silliness. Overall, this was an incredibly fun literacy station that the students enjoyed doing, and I will definitely be using it again in the future.
We feel accomplishment, power, and joy when we comprehend and connect with what we read.
Bright, Robin. Sometimes Reading Is Hard
Bright, R. (2021). Sometimes reading is hard : Using decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies to inspire fluent, passionate, lifelong readers. Pembroke Publishers, Limited.